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One of the most important decisions for graduates and young professionals in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) is choosing their career path.
Nowadays, an increasing number of STEM graduates are choosing a career in the industry over academia. However, landing your first industry job is neither easy nor straight-forward.
Our mission is to help every STEM-qualified candidate to reach their full potential by creating a one-stop-shop for entry to an industry career through our exclusive signature Industry-Bridging Program.
Clueo Clinical
Clueo Clinical recently surveyed STEM-qualified candidates in Australia to understand why they desire to pursue an industry career and their struggles in entering the industry. The survey is still ongoing, but we want to highlight some important preliminary findings from the 75 responses collected so far.
Those surveyed are aged between 18 to 35 with 63% being female. Equal proportions of survey respondents have achieved either a Bachelor’s, a Master’s or a Doctorate (PhD) degree.
Results show that the majority (83%) of STEM-qualified candidates want a career in the industry. Only 7% are not interested in entering the industry.
Why do STEM graduates want to work in industry?
Our survey shows that the current generation of STEM graduates – largely Millennials – seek career opportunities and job stability. This stands in sharp contrast with what many academics assume to be the main motivation for pursuing an industry career, namely, money.
Firstly, about one-third (34%) of STEM graduates and young professionals responding to our survey considers “career progression” as their most important motivation for pursuing an industry career.
Since research funding cuts are getting worse each year, a future in academia for many STEM graduates and young professionals can seem bleak. As such, many STEM researchers in academia feel stuck due to the lack of clear career progression.
Secondly, the prospects of having “job security” (21%) and “work/ life balance” (23%) from an industry career are equally desirable to STEM candidates responsing to our survey.
Given the scarcity of jobs opportunities in universities, research shows that many young academics are pressured to “prove their worth” in their current role. This leads to constant burnouts. The COVID-19 pandemic has made matter worse. It dramatically reduced many job options for across the economy, including universities.
Finally, our survey shows that pay is not the most important motivator for entering the industry. The desire to create “a positive impact in society” through their industry job (16%) is more important for STEM candidates than “high pay” (only 6% of respondents).
Together, these preliminary data tell us that Millennial STEM graduate and early career professionals care more about having a balanced, impactful career with clear career progression rather than just earning a high salary.
Sadly, only about half of STEM students find full-time employment within 4 months of graduating. Could this be because university students lack practical skills, applied knowledge and ‘hands-on’ experience for getting an industry job?
How Clueo Clinical helps STEM graduates
At Clueo Clinical, we recognize the many challenges faced by STEM-graduates and young professionals with little or no industry experience to break into the industry. Our mission is to help every STEM-qualified candidate to reach their full potential by creating a one-stop-shop for entry to an industry career through our exclusive signature Industry-Bridging Program.
“We will guide your every step until you land the job you want.” That is our promise.
References
- https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2019/06/18/why-are-stem-students-abandoning-academic-career-paths/
- https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2019/05/work-life-balance/590662/
- https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/work-life-balance
- https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/aug/08/science-and-it-students-struggle-to-get-jobs-upon-graduation-study-finds
- https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/work/2019/10/22/australian-university-graduate-jobs/
Ms. Megan Soon
Megan is a biomedical scientist with expertise in immunology and infectious diseases. She is completing her PhD that uses the latest wet-lab single-cell technology to deepen our understanding of the immune system, in the hope to develop personalized therapy.
Megan’s background in academia has provided her insights into the gap between academic research and industry opportunities. She has a strong passion to bridge this gap and help others do so too. Apart from research, Megan is also always keen to educate and inspire others in the field of science.
