Graduating in a Recession!

Congratulations to the many students who have reached the end of their studies! A lifetime of opportunity begins to unfold, but in contrast to the last eighteen or more years (since the last recession) there are fewer jobs available, and there is genuine concern that many young people will not be able to find the ladder at all, let alone the first rung!

All is not lost however! Harriet Swain wrote some wise words in The Guardian on 12th May:

A good way to survive graduating in a recession is to remain unfailingly optimistic, even in the face of mounting rejection letters, debts and unrealistic expectations from parents.
It isn't just parents who must learn to be flexible. If you've set your heart on becoming a forms analysis manager (strategy) in the Vancouver office of Buggins and Buggins plc, you may have to reset it, and try a different company, location, or even job title. You may find an alternative job suits you even better, and if not, you can still pursue your ideal while gaining experience elsewhere.
For those graduating with no other ambition than to pay off their debts, it makes sense to consider careers in areas that are likely to grow over the next few years. Computers, climate change and the public sector are good places to start. But if you've always dreamed of being an investment banker, don't feel you have to give up the dream. It may just take longer to realise.
In a recession you have to be especially quick off the mark in applying for jobs, scholarships, even unpaid work experience in your local chippie.
You may feel you deserve a rest after three years of hard thinking, reading and house-sharing, but when employers are receiving hundreds of CVs for every job application, you need to make sure your CV has something on it. Ideally, this should be a job, preferably related to whatever position you are applying for.
But even if you've not secured paid employment, getting involved in some activity is better than hanging around at home eating cereal and trawling Facebook. Volunteering always goes down well with personnel officers, and gives you the chance to gain skills and do good. Travelling is also a way of skipping this year's tricky jobs market while giving you the edge in later job interviews, so long as you remember where you've been.
Then there's becoming a postgraduate. Make sure you enjoy being a student and can think of something you want to study. If you act fast, you may even be able to get someone else to pay for you. And if you get a PhD you'll be able to call yourself Dr even if you spend the rest of your life flipping burgers.
For those determined to break into employment, every failed application or job interview has to be treated as a learning experience and chance to build up contacts.
And remember if, in 10 years' time, the burger bar remains your career high, at least you can blame it on the fact that you graduated during a recession.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/may/12/students-higher-education

Seltek also offers help, advice and job opportunities to graduates in the life science and high technology fields:

http://www.seltekconsultants.co.uk/just_graduated.html

Or, to cut a long story short, telephone Guy Buncombe on 01279 657716 or email guy@seltekconsultants.co.uk

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Ding Ding Hau!

The Editor returned recently from an amazing trip to China, visiting Beijing, Xi-An and Shanghai in the process. Competent linguist that he is, he returned with two Chinese phrases in his vocabulary, which he passes on to you to help, when you take his advice and visit that astonishing land:

Ni Hau! It's a greeting - hello/hi, how are you.
Ding Ding Hau! It means 'excellent' and will unfailingly raise a laugh when applied to - for example - a meal in a restaurant.

The trip The Editor went on was booked through Emirates Tours http://www.emiratestours.co.uk/Destination/FarEast/DestinationChina/Tours/TheColoursofChinaTour.aspx

...and he recommends this without hesitation. The overriding impression that I (for it is me!) came away with, is that China is a place with not only an exotic and interesting history, but also a future laden with potential. And the Chinese are a friendly helpful people who will undoubtedly feature prominently in the way the world unfolds in the next few years. Positively Ding Ding Hau, in fact!

So much so, that I would advise any young graduate who is temporarily out of a job, that it would be worthwhile making inroads into learning Chinese, because it struck me there's a wealth of opportunity there, and a shedload of money to be earned! Heck, if I can learn two phrases in nine days, I'm sure you can do better!

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Further Reason for Optimism!

Alistair Darling insists the recession will be over by Christmas, despite growing doubts over his economic forecasts.
In an interview with the Times, the chancellor stuck by his predictions...
"I am not going to change my forecasts," Darling said. "I remain confident that we will see a return to growth at the turn of the year."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/may/20/recession-alistair-darling

This is surely the most excellent news...it means that there are only 147 working days until the worst recession known to mankind is over!

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Maslow's Triangle of Needs

Maslow's hierarchy of needs is predetermined in order of importance.It is often depicted as a pyramid consisting of five levels: the lowest level is associated with physiological needs, while the uppermost level is associated with self-actualisation needs, particularly those related to identity and purpose. Deficiency needs must be met first. Once these are met, seeking to satisfy growth needs drives personal growth. The higher needs in this hierarchy only come into focus when the lower needs in the pyramid are met. Once an individual has moved upwards to the next level, needs in the lower level will no longer be prioritised. If a lower set of needs is no longer being met, the individual will temporarily re-prioritise those needs by focusing attention on the unfulfilled needs, but will not permanently regress to the lower level.

The five levels are:
1 Physiological - air, water, food
2 Security - of self, health, family
3 Love/Belonging - friendship, family, sexual gratification
4 Esteem - self esteem, confidence, achievement, respect of others
5 Self-actualisation - creativity, understanding of existence, spiritual peace

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs

Surprisingly, this contrasts to The Editor's hierarchy of needs, which expressed in its simplest form, goes: a comfortable bed, access to a golf course, beer. My education of The People's Republic of Great Britain will continue.

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Hot Jobs

The long hot summer is about to begin (although someone depressed me the other day when he said that the nights would shortly begin to be drawing in!). For the moment though, let us rejoice that Swine Flu - that foul scourge of humanity - has been expunged, if not from a few odd pockets of humanity, at least from the tabloid headlines, and we can relax and enjoy a feast of fun including The Champions League Final, Open Golf, The Ashes, hot hot weather and a few lollipops along the way.

And to help you pay the extortionate price Mr Drippy is demanding for your average mivvi, here are some excellent jobs, or if you are an employer, some Ding Ding Hau candidates who will help you recover the missing millions!

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• Summary: Attention all immunologists and cell biologists! Do you want to get into sales with a company selling products with an unmatched reputation in life science? Cover key accounts in London and the South East?
• Why you should apply for this job: Be given fantastic support and training and join a very friendly team out in the field! Become part of a growing team, with a highly supportive work environment, and take over a well established area with some strong key accounts on territory!
  

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£35,000 basic salary

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£48,000 OTE, uncapped bonus, car or car allowance, pension, healthcare

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• Summary: This is an outstanding opportunity to join a global leader in genomic research instruments, associated consumables and services.
  
• Why you should apply for this job?  You will be supported by a highly skilled marketing and applications team as and when required, along with a brilliant sales manager who will be dedicated to developing your skills in the job. This role is ideally suited to a regional account manager or applications person looking to step up into a more focused key account role as full support and training will be available to make this step forward in your career.

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Product Support Specialist

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£29,000 basic salary

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£32,000 OTE, full package of company benefits

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• Summary: Do you love to travel? If the answer is yes then consider this internationally focused role. A niche scientific instrumentation company is expanding due to increased business with market leading technology in UV spectroscopy-based instrumentation.
• Why you should apply for this job: Work internationally visiting customer sites to install, demonstrate, troubleshoot, service and upgrade new or existing units. Full training will be provided so your specific scientific background is not as important as your desire to learn and be part of a commercially focused team!
  

Clinical Jobs

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• Summary: Here is a full-scope international project management role with a leading, expanding biopharmaceutical company which has a strong product pipeline in oncology! You'll be involved in the full product lifecycle from phase II POC to marketing and phase IV activities! This is an office based role in Berkshire with one day working from home, and offers the flexibility to work either full or part time.
• Why you should apply for this job: This is truly an exciting time to join this company, with some exciting and novel products in development and a strong pipeline in R&D they are really going places!
  

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• Summary: A rare and exciting opportunity to develop your career in clinical research as a CRA! This role would suit either a Junior CRA looking to take on full site management responsibilities or a highly experienced CTA looking for your first CRA job!
• Why you should apply for this job: The company is a very well respected international CRO with state of the art offices in Berkshire! You will benefit from excellent training and development opportunities, a competitive salary and generous benefits package.
  

Hot Candidates

Scientific Sales & Marketing Division

Account Manager

• BSc Biology. Has undertaken courses on Operational Management and Making Your Point Effectively
  
• Sells medical refrigeration to hospitals, and monitoring specifically blood banks. Also visits hospices, pharmacies, biotech and private companies and any company using specialist refrigeration
• Has maintained a meteoric progression into sales and management roles
• Works with distributors in order to cover the large territory
  
• Why should you employ this candidate: A thoughtful, investigative, keenly proactive and exciting young woman. Life would be the worse without her.

Reference 100897PSP
£30,000 basic, £40,000 OTE
Will relocate anywhere!

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Technical Support Scientist

• BSC Molecular & Cellular Biology, PhD Biochemistry (Cambridge)
  
• Expert in the use of SNPstream, expert in the use of Taqman, expert in the use of SNP tagging software including Haploview and TagSNPs
• Skilled in biochemical and cell-based assays, DNA isolation (from blood and cells), PCR, gel electrophoresis, transfection of cells, drug treatment of cells, microscopy, western and northern blots and the use of robotics
  
• Why you should employ this candidate: As someone with a passion for salsa dancing and boxercise, she is clearly someone to tangle with, or not (depending on circumstances!)

Reference 101101CRD
£27,000 basic
Anywhere!

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Technical Support Specialist

• HNC Medical Laboratory Science, PG Cert. Medical Microbiology
• Specialised technical knowledge of serotyping, biochemical identification of enteric pathogens and phage typing of Escherichia coli O157 and Shigella sonnei.
• Trained in internal audit and laboratory accreditation to CPA standards.
• Excellent communicator at all levels, able to work effectively as part of a team or independently as required.
• Skilled in GLP, COSHH, LIMS, DNA, SDS-PAGE, ELISA - probably good at Scrabble too!
• Why you should employ this candidate: Why not? Life is short.

Reference 101011SJW
£32,000 basic
Anywhere!

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Technical Service Specialist

• BSc Biochemistry, PhD Molecular Biology
• A flexible and highly experienced former-researcher who is looking to make the move into a new career
• Extensive knowledge of laboratory procedures and practice
• Highly skilled in genetic manipulation, including mutagenesis, transfection, PCR and RT-PCR
• Why you should employ this candidate:  A fascinating blend of the dynamic and the curious. More complex than the glass bead game.

Reference 101022JKP
£20,000 basic
Anywhere!

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Field Applications Engineer

• HNC Electrical & Electronic Engineering
• Management of in-house product testing, worldwide on-site commissioning, and after-sales technical support, supervision of test and service engineers
• Responsible for implementation of quality systems, training, procedures and technical documentation
• Development and delivery of in-house and on-site technical training programmes to employees and customers
• Why you should employ this candidate: Because - you know what life's like - everything will start to go wrong if you don't!

Reference 91166SJP
£28,000 basic
North West

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Clinical Research Division

Senior Clinical Research Associate SCRA

• BSc Psychology
• A very high caliber self-motivated individual skilled in communication, organisation and attention to detail. 
• Currently in a CRA position - performing UK clinical monitoring and administrative management to Phase I and Phase II Oncology studies.
  
• Previously in a Contract CTA position - provided vital administrative assistance to CPMs, CRMS and Lead CRAs on Phase I & Phase II Urology studies.
  
• Why you should employ this candidate: As indicated by her interests - Mosaic Tiling, Rugby, Travelling, Snowboarding and Cross Country Running - this candidate is interesting, resourceful and energetic!

Reference 101152DE
£25,000
London/M4 Corridor/Home Counties

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Clinical Research Business Development Manager

• BSc Psychology with Biological Sciences
• Prospecting for new clients – identification of leads, matching requirements and capabilities. From starting with no client base, RFPs in 2007 at $5 million, rising in 2008 to $25 million and currently for 2009 at $39 million
• Responsible for European marketing, including conference organisation, marketing literature and a specific Indian market
• Why you should employ this candidate: Accomplished at using persuasive and communication skills in complicated  situations. Not easily bamboozled!

Reference 78335DE
£45,000 basic salary
M4 Corridor