Getting experience with a Bio degree

[sourlemon]

My sister graduated about half a year ago, but she's having trouble finding a job. She doesn't have any work experience related to Bio but she worked at CVS and H&M before doing retail work. I'm worried for her. Every job posting requires work experience or a certificate.

For those of you who didn't work during your college years, how did you guys get your foot in the door? Did you volunteer at hospital? If so, what position? Do you know if there's any internship that's offered for student who graduated? I came across a few, but they all aimed at undergrad mostly :(

 

[caldweab]

A biology degree isn't really useful for getting a job right out of school unless you teach. However the federal government has a pathways program where they hire new graduates and pay them pretty well, if you do well then you move on to better jobs and pay. www.usajobs.gov

 

[sourlemon]

That's a great website. Thank you caldweab :) I'll tell my sister to start looking through it

 

[mal4mac]

Why not go the retail route? With a degree she might be able to get on a fast track management path. In a few years she could be earning a lot more than any biologist, or any federal employee.

 

[sourlemon]

She doesn't like retail. She likes biology so it'll be nice to find something of that sort.

 

[mal4mac]

What about environmental work? It's easy to find volunteer work in that area. Some areas of retail are biology related, like anything to do with food standards, e.g. local sourcing:

http://www.asdasupplier.com/about-us/local-sourcing

Or why not farming? You can volunteer to work on organic farms, and a lot of agriculture is heavily science based.

 

[ModusPwnd]

She doesn't like retail. She likes biology so it'll be nice to find something of that sort.

She should go to graduate school then. "Pure" science degrees are best complimented with a graduate degree if you want employment in the field.

 

[sourlemon]

Haha, she's also tired of school. But it looks like that's one of the best option right now. She's currently taking free online courses so it's a step forward I hope :/

mal4mac, environment work sounds like a good choice. Farming is not a bad idea either. Obviously not at the moment since the weather is so cold. But I'll look into that. Thanks.

 

[Ritzycat]

From what my mom has told me all of the people she knows that got bio degrees typically don't get sustainable jobs. Grad school is most likely the best option because PhDs in a science discipline are usually necessary to get the job in the field.