Chemistry
Your skills and the employment market
As well as gaining knowledge in traditional fields of
chemistry (organic, inorganic, physical and analytical),
most chemistry degrees also include modules in
interdisciplinary areas (chemical biology and physics) and
some may include modules in applied chemistry
(medicinal, environmental). This gives a good balance of
scientific knowledge, both specialist and general.
Transferable skills developed during your degree include:
 analytical and problem-solving skills: finding
solutions to qualitative and quantitative problems;
examining and interpreting results;
 time
management:
planning and
executing
experiments; undertaking individual and team project
work; completing your final year project;
 communication: sharing your research findings via
written reports and oral presentations to different
audiences; assimilating scientific theories and
arguments for discussion and debate;
 strong mathematical and numerical ability
 IT and technology: understanding and using computer
software/models; processing data.
Sample job advertisements
Jobs advertised recently that may suit students/graduates
included (jobs shown for illustration purposes only):
Baxter EMEA Operations Graduate Development
Program. A 3 year rotational program, with at least one
international rotation. The program will give the
participant the possibility to work and learn from different
areas in manufacturing, quality, engineering, in an
international environment. Requirements: Degree in
Science or Engineering.
Patent Examiner, European Patent Office. Daily work
combines scientific expertise with analytical research and
an eye for the legal aspects of intellectual property.
Candidates must meet the following formal requirements:
Citizenship of one of the member states of the EPO. Full
university degree in physics, chemistry, engineering or
natural sciences.
Analytical Chemist, Complete Lab Solutions, Galway.
Degree in analytical chemistry and a good understanding
of water chemistry. Carry out routine analysis in both
inorganic & organic environmental chemistry sections.
Involved in analytical quality control measures.
Material Scientist, Lab Scientist or Analytical
Chemist, Element Six, provide materials analysis support
to customers, production and R&D functions, quality
control checks & use of high tech analytical equipment.
Possible career opportunities
Laboratory
Analyst
Process
Chemist
Quality Control
Chemist
Scientific
Writer / Editor
Teacher /
Lecturer
Laboratory
Technician
Research
Assistant
Development
Chemist
Environmental
Chemist
Forensic
Scientist
Formulation
Scientist
Patent Officer
Diagnostic
Technician
Analytical
Chemist
Food Analyst
This list is a sample representation of positions available.
Up to 40% of graduate employment opportunities are
open to graduates of all disciplines. In most cases,
however you will need further postgraduate study or
professional training.
The Irish pharmaceutical industry is a great commercial
success, employing thousands of scientists in research
facilities and manufacturing plants with 50% graduate
employment. Ireland is the 15th largest exporter of
pharmaceutical and healthcare products with 120 overseas
pharmaceutical companies located here, including 10 of
the top companies in the world.
Graduates with a Chemistry Degree are employable
across a range of industry sectors including:
 Food & Drink
 Manufacturing
 Cosmetic
 Water
 Finance
 Environmental Control
 Agricultural
 Scientific Publishers
 Education
 Government Depts (State Laboratories)
 Business
 Health
 Research
 Energy
 Plastics.
Further study opportunities
Information resources in the Careers Service
For certain career choices, employers may look for
candidates with further qualifications and training.
Reference material in the Information Room includes:
 Job Sector files ‘V’ including Science in industry and
Science in the public sector.
 Careers with a degree in Science –book
 New Scientist magazine (and graduate special)
Some of the courses chosen by graduates in the past at
NUI Galway (www.nuigalway.ie/courses) were:
 Professional Diploma in Education (now Professional
Masters of Education)
 Structured PhD (Science)
 PhD
 Masters in Occupational Health and Safety
 M.Sc. Software Design & Development
Other courses taken by graduates were:
 Masters in Chemistry, UCC
 PGDip in Accountancy, GMIT
 Masters in Science, UL
 Higher Diploma in Statistics, UCC
 PGCE, Nottingham University
 PGCE, St Marys Twickenham
 MSc Forensic Science, University of Strathclyde
 Masters in Environmental Science, Imperial College
London
 MSc in Environmental Analytical Chemistry, UCC
www.nuigalway.ie/conversion covers conversion courses
at NUI Galway and also links to full time, online and part
time courses.
The
website
www.postgradireland.com
contains
information on postgraduate courses in Ireland,
www.prospects.ac.uk is an excellent site for researching
opportunities in the UK while http://europa.eu.int/ploteus
covers the EU.
What past graduates have done
Here is a sample of job titles and employers currently
occupied by past students who studied Chemistry. This
has been taken from our survey that takes place 6 months
after graduation.
 QC Analyst, Athlone Laboratories
 Lab Analyst, Allergan
 Quality Control Representative, Elanco Sligo
 Teaching in Dubai
 Laboratory work, OMAC Laboratories, Loughrea
 Laboratory work, Coca Cola, Ballina
 Data analysis manager, Allergen
 Chemist (QA analysis), Baxter healthcare SA
 Laboratory Technician Pharmaceuticals, Allergan
 Analytical Chemist – Chanelle Medical Loughrea
 Lab Technician – Pfizers Cork
Postgraduates:
 Process Development Chemist, Merck Sharp &
Dohme
 Postdoc chemistry researcher, Liverpool University
 Process Engineer, Intel
 Researcher, BASS Netherlands
 Analytical Scientist, Bioniche Galway
 Quality Processor, Abbott Diabetes
 Associate Operations Specialist, Quintiles
We also have a range of titles to reference on taking
psychometric tests, going for interview, writing a CV or
personal statement… and much more.
Drop into our information room and we will be happy to
assist you – there’s no need to book an appointment to
browse through our resources.
Be sure and pick up our free booklets ‘Your CV’ and
‘Interview Skills’.
Useful websites
We have found that the following websites contain
relevant and interesting information on opportunities with
a degree in Chemistry.
Ireland:
 www.nuigalway.ie/careers
 www.nuigalway.ie/chemistry/
 www.gradireland.com
 www.chemistryireland.org/
 www.pharmachemicalireland.ie
 www.ida.ie - search companies by sector
 www.newscientistjobs.com - UK and Ireland and
twitter.com/NS_ChemistryJob
 www.science.ie
 www.ibec.ie/IBIA
 http://chemistryjobs.ie/
Abroad
 www.prospects.ac.uk/options_chemistry.htm
 www.rsc.org - Royal Society of Chemistry
 www.srg.co.uk - science recruitment group
 http://careers.abpi.org.uk - careers in Pharmaceuticals
 www.cefic.be/allcheme/workforeurope/contents.html
 http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/
 http://jobs.sciencecareers.org/
 http://chemistryjobs.acs.org/
 www.eurosciencejobs.com/
There are many social media sites and groups helping
people who are looking for work. Search LinkedIn,
Twitter, Facebook to find people, companies and
discussion groups to follow. Or use query sites such as
www.twitjobsearch.com/, www.google.ie/alerts to search
for latest news items.
See our FAQ at
www.nuigalway.ie/careers/students/faq/socialmedia.html