From Monday 4th November to Friday 8th November 2024, the University of Liverpool hosted its fourth annual Biosciences Employability Week (BEW) and it was a real success. Packed with engaging activities and work-related opportunities, the week aimed to equip students with essential insights, skills, and professional connections to confidently explore their options within the Biosciences and beyond.
The event attracted over 1,800 student registrations across 17 diverse sessions, with students rating the week an impressive 6.1 out of 7 for its usefulness and engagement. Feedback from students, employers, and academics was positive, highlighting the event’s ability to help students expand their professional networks, explore previously unconsidered career paths in industry and postgraduate study, and gain fresh perspectives on their futures.
This collaborative initiative between the School of Biosciences and the Careers and Employability team demonstrates the sustaining value of BEW. Now in its fourth year, it’s inspiring to see how this event continues to deliver tangible benefits to students, shaping their career trajectories and fostering connections across the Biosciences community.
Monday: What Can You Do with Your Degree?
The week began with the “I Don’t Know What to Do with My Biosciences Degree” session, an annual favourite that reassures students they’re not alone in navigating career uncertainty. The session encouraged participants to apply their research skills to explore career options, understand what paths are available, and uncover what might be the best fit for them after graduation.
Across the day, 212 students engaged in a series of online events designed to help them reflect on the wide range of opportunities their biosciences degree can offer. Highlights included practical guidance on maximising the university’s Handshake platform and insights into working with small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The sessions were packed with actionable advice and ideas, encouraging students to take the first steps in shaping their future careers.
Tuesday: Postgraduate Day
Tuesday spotlighted the wealth of postgraduate opportunities within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, attracting around 150 students eager to explore their next steps. The day featured engaging presentations and networking with academics showcasing 20 diverse postgraduate degrees and alternative career paths.
A session on Applications to Postgraduate Study provided practical advice on crafting strong applications while students gained insights into interdisciplinary opportunities and professional qualifications. The day left attendees inspired and equipped with clear steps for their postgraduate journey.
Wednesday: Get Hired Day
Nearly 500 students participated in multiple sessions across five sector-specific panels: Careers in Nature, Ecology & Wildlife, Medical Communications, Roles in Research & Development, Graduate Schemes & Alternative Careers, and Pharmaceutical Careers.
The event welcomed representatives from 17 local, national, and global organisations, all seeking to connect with students from a wide range of degree programs at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. These organisations offered a variety of opportunities, including graduate roles, undergraduate placements, and work experience or taster days.
The conversations between employers and students were highly engaging, fostering meaningful connections and providing valuable insights into potential career paths.
Thursday: Enterprise and Gaining Experience Day
Thursday was all about interactive skill-building and unlocking opportunities. The day featured the Enterprise Challenge, where 17 students teamed up to tackle a real-world problem set by Liverpool Shared Research Facilities (LIV-SRF). Participants brainstormed solutions, pitched ideas, and explored entrepreneurial concepts like design thinking and idea generation. The challenge developed key skills such as commercial awareness, creativity, and problem-solving, with the winning team earning a one-week work experience opportunity at LIV-SRF
Meanwhile, over 40 first-year students took part in an exciting escape room experience designed to introduce them to opportunities to gain work-related experience. The hands-on, competitive challenge encouraged teamwork and showcased ways to get involved in fun and engaging ways.
Friday: Application Masterclass
The week concluded with Friday’s Application Masterclass, equipping students with the tools to excel in the job market. Held online, the sessions focused on crafting impactful CVs, tailoring applications to specific roles, and mastering interview techniques.
These practical workshops provided invaluable guidance, helping students boost their confidence and stand out to employers. It was the perfect end to a week of career-focused activities, leaving participants ready to take the next step towards their future goals.
Feedback:
Dr Gemma Wattret, Employability and Opportunities Lead for the School of Biosciences- “ Biosciences Employability Week has been an outstanding success, providing our students with invaluable skills, insights, and connections. It’s particularly rewarding to see students actively networking and securing internships and short work experience opportunities during the week. A lot of hard work goes into organising this event, so thank you to our Careers and Employability team, SoBS staff, and the Employers who attended. Finally, thanks to the students for making it such a success”.
Students rated every session in the week out of 7 stars. The whole week scored 6.12 out of 7 stars.
Student quotes:
- “I feel like I will be able to plan out and organise what I will be doing this week even better. This session has made me consider my values and what exactly I want from my career, and I'm more understanding about the fact that these values will change over time.”
- "Mind-blowing… loved it!... Really helpful in terms of what companies are looking for in applicants.”
Employer Feedback:
- "Really well organised and structured event - and good engagement with the students too both in-person for one-to-one engagements as well as at the foyer stall. Thank you all so much."
- "I think that offering the students an entire week of options and opportunities as you are doing for Employability week is an incredible offering for students and certainly goes above and beyond any other university offering in terms of careers that I've experienced so far. Well done :)"