Health and Pharmaceuticals
The health and pharmaceuticals industry has a more highly skilled workforce than virtually any other industry. And for good reason, because in this business getting things right can mean the difference between life and death.
Careers in this sector offer the opportunity to improve the lives of others through direct health care, groundbreaking research, and developing drugs to treat life-threatening illnesses, so it's easy to see the value and wider importance of a job.
There are several giant companies operating in the pharmaceutical sector that employ tens of thousands of people, such as Johnson & Johnson, GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer. They are always on the look-out for talented graduates and offer extensive training.
A broad range of careers are available, depending on the type of degree you have. If you have a degree in chemistry, for instance, you might like to consider becoming a research scientist or a biochemist at a pharmaceutical company, or if you like the idea of running your own business you could look into setting up a community pharmacy.
Working hours depend on the type of work you are involved in but, on the whole, jobs in this industry follow a normal weekday working pattern.
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On average, a pharmacist earns £38,260 per year. Salaries for research scientists vary depending on experience, but graduates can expect an average starting salary of around £25,000 rising to £50,000 with extensive experience.
Biochemists earn an average of £27,500 per year.
Most roles in health and pharmaceuticals require a relevant science degree and sometimes a postgraduate or masters degree. Large pharmaceutical companies often employ graduates through recruitment schemes and offer extensive training in the specific area of work. It?s important to gain work experience in the area you are interested in working in.
A broad range of skills are needed to be successful in the health and pharmaceuticals industry. But problem-solving skills, the ability to remain focussed and excellent attention to detail are particularly important in this line of work. You are also likely to need good teamworking and communication skills, excellent mathematics and numeracy skills, and strong IT and organisation skills.
