Michael DeSafey | Executive Recruiter and HR Professional
Career Advice and Pathways for People Pursing a Biology Degree
Career Advice and Pathways for People Pursing a Biology Degree
Biology is the study of living things — how they evolve, grow, adapt, and interact with the environment. Careers in biology are worth pursuing and many biologists work in lucrative fields like microbiology, environmental, life sciences, and research labs. They may need to travel to remote and exotic locations in pursuit of their work. If academia is your passion, you can also pursue higher education in the view of becoming a teacher or become a researcher.
However, a degree in biology does not restrict you to a limited career path. It equips you with essential skills that are transferable across many professions:
- Problem solving
- Decision-making
- Communication and collaboration
- Creativity
- Interpersonal skills
With these tools in your toolkit, you are now equipped to work in a variety of industries.
Healthcare
Healthcare is ever growing and always in need of specialized personnel. With a degree in biology, you are well set to pursue a graduate program in a variety of healthcare fields, including becoming a doctor, nursing, pharmacy, and occupational therapy. Occupational therapists work with people with physical and intellectual disabilities, using various activities in a therapeutic way to improve their daily lives. They may work in hospitals, outpatient clinics, schools, and in private practices.
Technology
If you like technology as much as you do biology, consider the field of biotechnology or chemical engineering. Biotechnology is a broad term involving studying at the molecular and genetic level. It finds applications in fields like environmental sciences, the food industry, and medicine. Genetic engineering is one such application of biotechnology. Here, scientists are involved in specialized research at the molecular level, in pursuit of solving the mysteries of our environment, improving the potency of vaccines, and finding cures to disease. Chemical engineering is the study of raw materials and how they can be improved for human use, be it in the food industry, pharmaceutical plants, or environmental agencies. To pursue an education or a career in those fields, students should have strong mathematical analytical skills.
Environment
In the race against time to save our planet from the effects of global warming, environmental jobs are in high demand. Environmental engineers focus on ways to reduce pollution to protect the environment. They work primarily in manufacturing companies, where they manage processes to reduce waste and improve the safety of the water we drink and the air we breathe. With a degree in biology, you can follow up by studying the earth’s composition and other physical aspects to become a geoscientist. Geoscientists can further specialize in hydrology —the study of underground and surface water quality. Alternatively, become a landscape architect and specialize in designing outdoor areas for residential and commercial development. Their focus is to harness natural resources to create a sustainable design.
With amazing options available, deciding which field to engage in can be confusing and daunting. Follow your instincts by asking yourself these questions:
- What kind of work do I enjoy the most?
- What areas and industries I am more drawn to?
- Will I be happier in the private or public sector?
- Do I enjoy research or exciting fieldwork?
If you are in the field of biology, you have chosen a lucrative career with a variety of options.
Michael DeSafey is a leading executive recruiter for professionals in the construction, engineering and environmental industries. He is currently the President of Webuild Staffing www.webuildstaffing.com . To learn more about Michael or to follow his blog please visit www.michaeldesafey.com
How to Navigate the Job Marketplace
How to Navigate the Job Marketplace
Whether you’re fresh out of school and ready to start your career or you’re hoping to move jobs within the construction or engineering industries, navigating the job marketplace can be confusing. Finding open positions is often challenging, especially during slow times. Even more challenging is the struggle to find the company that’s right for you. If you’re ready to start navigating the job marketplace, following these key tips can help.
Build Your Network
From the first time you set foot on a job site or in a professional venue where you have the opportunity to interact with construction workers, engineers, subcontractors, and others within your field, you need to focus on building your network. Develop potential connections.
Get to know people. Whether you’re just starting out or you know you’re going to be changing jobs soon, building your network is the key to knowing what positions are open and getting your foot in the door with employers to find your next career opportunity.
- Carry business cards. This may seem like a cliche, but it’s one of the best ways to literally get your name in the right hands.
- Visit trade shows and talk people there.
- Get to know the people who are coming to your job sites. You never know when one of them will be ready to offer you your next job.
- Volunteer. Whether you’re just starting out in construction or you’ve been working in a specialized position for years, there are jobs out there that need to be done. Check out Habitat for Humanity in your community, donate your time to a local school that’s trying to get a building repaired, or work with local churches as they handle building mission trips. Contractors in your community are working there, too–and they’ll take note of your presence and the quality of your work.
Try to Leave on Good Terms
You know that your current job isn’t working out. Your superintendent has a bad attitude, your hours keep you away from your family when you most need to be with them, and the terms of the contract you signed aren’t being adhered to. No matter how bad it is, however, you want to make sure that you leave your current job on good terms. Give appropriate notice, try not to leave in the middle of a project, and keep your work ethic strong even in the last days of your employment instead of trying to “go out with a bang.” The construction and engineering communities in your city are relatively small, and burning your bridges with one company may make it harder for you to get your next job.
Build Your Skills
Both the construction and the engineering industries are experiencing a shortage of qualified individuals to take those open positions. That means that the more skills you have, the more positions are open for you. Taking the time to develop specialized skills will make it far easier for you to acquire a job in the future. Any time you’re on a job site, ask questions. While you shouldn’t walk away from your own work to watch or help someone else, being available and willing to learn new skills is the mark of a great construction worker–and those skills can be of immense benefit to you later.
Work with a Staffing Company
Staffing companies that are specifically dedicated to construction or engineering are a great first step, especially if you’ve been struggling to get a job or are afraid that you’ve left a bad impression on a previous employer that might be impacting your future employment opportunities. A staffing company can help get you a temporary or long-term position that could eventually turn into permanent employment, especially if you take advantage of that position to improve your network and reach out to other potential employers.
Navigating the job market can be frustrating, but it’s not impossible! By following these key steps, you’ll find the right job for you and improve your chances of being hired at the company of your choice. While it might not happen overnight, there’s a job opening with your name on it. You just have to find it!
Michael DeSafey is a leading executive recruiter for professionals in the construction, engineering and environmental industries. He is currently the President of Webuild Staffing www.webuildstaffing.com . To learn more about Michael or to follow his blog please visit www.michaeldesafey.com