How passionate are you about making sense of the world? Do you seek out answers using data, conduct experiments to test your hypotheses, and relentlessly pursue the truth? If you’re nodding enthusiastically, this article was written just for you.
Celebrating National Science Week 2024
As self-proclaimed STEM enthusiasts, the team at Explore Careers couldn’t be more excited to kick off celebrations for National Science Week 2024.
The people behind National Science Week have a tonne of exciting in-person and online activities planned, including fascinating virtual tours and DIY science! In short, it’s set to be an unforgettable week.
So, You’re Thinking About a Career in Science?
If you’re thinking of starting a career in science, you’re already starting your workforce journey off on the right foot! Science careers don’t just allow you to contribute to the world around you and be a part of exciting scientific advancements, but they also allow you to specialise in a variety of exciting fields. Essentially, you can do meaningful work that caters to your own interests!
However, before fully committing to a science-related job, it’s smart to ensure that you have a solid understanding of what they involve. To help you start off on the right foot, we’ve put together a guide to understanding STEM, starting out in your science career, and what kind of roles are available.
What is STEM?
Careers in science fall under the category of STEM, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. According to the brilliant brains at Coursera, STEM occupations are expected to grow by a whopping 8 per cent by 2029, so pursuing a career in science is a pretty safe bet.
If we haven’t already sold you on a science career, this enticing fact might: the National Association of Colleges and Employers 2020 list of 10 top-paid majors comprised only STEM fields.
Why Should I Go into Science?
When you pursue a career in science, the possibilities are truly endless! Go down the medical science route and find lifesaving cures, become an environmental scientist and save the earth from evil forces like pollution and global warming, or pursue a career in bioengineering to fight against social issues. In short, the possibilities are endless! However, if you also want to know a little more about what scientists actually do, we’re about to give you a brief rundown!
The day-to-day responsibilities of a scientist vary hugely depending on their field. That being said, one thing all scientific fields have in common is research! Like any job, there are exciting and not-so-exciting parts. For instance, a scientist might make an incredible new discovery on Monday and then spend the rest of the week doing repetitive follow-up experiments. However, if you’re a solutions-driven research fan, a career in science could be perfect for you.
How Do I Start a Career in Science?
When you’re faced with the challenge of breaking into a big industry filled with super-passionate brainiacs, it can be difficult to know where to start. To help you overcome the initial hurdles and get your foot in the door, we’ve put together a list of steps to help you secure a science career!
Pick Your Specialisation
There are so many different areas of scientific research, which means you’re sure to find a specialisation that’s perfect for you! By selecting your area of expertise early, you’ll have more time to research, learn, and stand out from the crowd. Essentially, picking your specialisation ASAP is integral to landing a science career!
Get Ahead
Luckily for you, science fanatics, you can start taking courses in your chosen area as early as high school (and trust us, you’ll want to take full advantage of this)! The earlier you get started, the more you’ll know when you get to university, and the easier your degree (and eventually, your science-related job) will be.
Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Science
While there are alternative pathways to a lot of degrees nowadays, most scientists are still hired based on their university qualifications. Thus, it’s safe to assume you’ll need to gain a bachelor’s degree (at the very least) to lock down your dream science career. What’s more, academic science courses can open up opportunities to work as an academic scientist which, if you ask us, sounds like a pretty cool job!
Secure Some Work Experience
Once you’re done learning about all things scientific at school, you’ll want to lock in some work experience! Work experience won’t just allow you to explore your field and what the work is actually like, but it’ll also make your resume stand out when you’re chasing a real career in science. It’s a win-win!
Discover Some of the Most Fascinating Science Careers
According to career experts, some of the most common science careers fall under the following categories:
- Research Scientist
- Government Scientist
- Academic Scientist
- Lab Scientist
- Expert Scientist
- Corporate Scientist
- Entrepreneur Scientist
Under each of these categories falls a tonne of exciting specialisations, so once you familiarise yourself with the types of science careers, you just need to combine your preferred option with your specialisation and, bravo! You’ve created your career path!
Kickstart a Career in Science Today!
There’s no better time to start a career in science than during National Science Week, so we think it’s time you visited our dedicated STEM employers page. By clicking on the link, you’ll familiarise yourself with some of Australia’s top STEM employers and discover pathways to lock in the science career of your dreams!
What are you waiting for? Forge a future in science today!
