It’s been six months since I began my year in industry at The Institute of Cancer Therapeutics. Time flies when you’re having fun! I began my placement search hoping to enter Year 3 and beyond with a clearer mind. Approaching the finish line at the race of university tends to ignite a whirlwind of emotions. One minute you’re complaining at the mass of upcoming deadlines, next minute you’re looking back at the hurdles overcome, wishing you were back in freshers week. Taking the time to build on my skills has definitely boosted my confidence in tackling those final few metres through university and whatever comes next.
Transferable skills
You’ve most likely heard the extensive list of trusty transferable skills since the beginnings of your degree. Written and verbal communication, data handling, time management, teamwork. These qualities can be applied during a year in industry, regardless of the field.
An undergraduate bioscience degree will introduce you to a well rounded foundation of skills. Outside of the lab, you learn to handle different data types and discuss them academically. And how to present science to a target audience and organise yourself around a busy uni lifestyle. Within the lab, new protocols allow you to practice basics like lab book keeping, pipette handling and aseptic technique. While showing the range of possibilities for experimentation.
Programmes such as York Strengths also gave me a fantastic, objective view on my general qualities in the workplace. While I’m grateful for my degree, I wish I had realised sooner that my previous experience could never be copied-and-pasted into a professional setting. I’ve recognised that transferable skills are far from static; approaches will change and develop with unique challenges and new environments. It’s okay to feel like you’re relearning things that you were once confident in!
alive in the well.
Specific skills
That being said, I hope to carry some notable lessons from my year in industry with me in future. First, my presentation skills have drastically improved. Every week I do a short update to either my supervisor or group. With the odd long presentation around my work or an interesting report. This has been a great way to slowly desensitise the anxiety and disdain I feel around presenting! Furthermore, both my own and others report PowerPoints have been great practice in navigating academic literature.
Focusing on one topic area this year and learning, step by step, how to manage my own time, work new equipment, and collaborate efficiently, has allowed me to truly analyse my working strategies. I probably did not reflect on the specifics as much as I could have in Years 1 and 2. Next year, I will definitely take back new routines and leave behind others to ensure I get the most out of my final marks.
Alongside my project, I’ve been granted the free time to get involved in new opportunities to grow. Writing these blogs is a perfect example of something I never thought of doing. However, learning to articulate myself in a different style has been beneficial for my writing as a whole.
All in all, it’s quite difficult to pinpoint all of the different lessons I’ve learned, and am still learning, on my year in industry placement. The most important thing is realising that I always have more room to grow. My academic journey is not a race against those around me. It’s a never ending obstacle course with each challenge, whether that be overcome alone or with a team, shaping me for the next step.
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