Job Hunter
In month two of our job
hunter diary series,
have things changed
for our graduates?
Graduated 2006 way that I
University: Queen Mary University of had. I
London was
Courses: Molecular Biology with Forensic advised
R
a
c
h
el
Science that my
original
Since my last entry the job hunt has CV was far better
progressively improved! However, it hasn’t all than the 4-page version I received back
been plain sailing and I still encountered a few after 6 weeks!
setbacks. Having applied for various positions
through job boards, my CV was picked up by a Although disappointed at first I continued
head-hunter who wanted to put me forward more determined than ever and after months
for one of his positions. This was exactly what of searching and applying, I finally started to
I needed to hear at the time, as it had been receive the kind of responses I was waiting
over 8 months since I graduated and had any for. I had calls from specialised scientific
positive responses within the scientific sector! recruitment agencies that were keen to put
However there was a catch. This particular my CV forward for contract positions within a
company said my CV was not of the correct well-respected, global, pharmaceutical
format to present to the recruiter. To be company. I managed to secure two interviews
considered for an interview I was encouraged within the same company but in different
to get my CV reformatted for a fee of £40 departments. As the interviews drew closer I
which I was told would be reimbursed to me if received emails from the agency with lots of
I were successful in obtaining an interview. helpful advice and questions that I should
Although reluctant at first, I went ahead with prepare for. Although the interviews were with
this only to discover that I the agency didn’t the same company, the interview styles were
even send my CV to the company, so I didn’t quite different. One was quite informal and the
stand a chance of getting my money back! other was slightly more challenging and
After weeks of disappointments from this technical, based on various scientific
company, I learned through other agencies techniques I had previously used. A week later
that my CV was very similar to thousands of I now find myself in yet another challenging
other recent graduates who had targeted predicament – which job to choose as I
managed to secure both positions!
their CV towards science roles in the same
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14