STEM Careers

There is a vast array of careers available for those choosing to study STEM subjects. This page is designed to give pupils a better idea of the potential job opportunities after they finish their time in education.

These two websites list some of the possible options to give you some ideas.

As with any career path, it is a good idea to look at the qualifications needed for that role and then make a step-by-step plan for getting those qualifications.

For example, if you wish to be an agricultural vet, what degree would you need and which universities offer it? Which A-levels and grades would you need to get onto that degree? Do any local colleges specialise in those A-levels? Which GCSEs grades will you need to get into that college? Do you need to take technology or separates sciences?

An additional benefit of doing this is the potential for boosting your grades as studies have found that students know the grades they require for their next steps achieve higher

Of course many people do not have a particular career in mind. If this is the case, STEM subjects are still and excellent option as the open the door to so many different. Below are some real life examples of people who have pursued STEM careers

PA: I studied maths, further maths and chemistry for my A levels, and went on to study for a bachelor’s degree in maths at the University of Sheffield, with a focus on statistics in my final year. After leaving university I took a year out to travel, and then studied for a master’s degree in Actuarial Science at Cass Business School in London. This gave me the opportunity to start working for a financial services company as a trainee Actuary, developing mathematical models to help fully understand the impact of potential random future events. I studied in my spare time for 4 years while working to become a fully qualified actuary, and in 2017 I became a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (FIA). It is a varied and interesting field, which can be very challenging, and is ideal for people with an interest in mathematics.

MR: I went to university of sheffield initially to do biology which I chose because I had enjoyed it and excelled in it at A-level. During my first year we studied half of the modules from the biomedical science course. I found I was more interested in those modules so I changed courses over Christmas of my first year. I was planning on doing a PhD after university but after completing a summer lab internship and a lab module in my final year I found research very frustrating so decided it wasn’t for me. After graduating I considered medicine but decided I didn’t want to continue studying into my late 20s. I started a PGCE planning to become a biology teacher but never had the passion for it so changed career path. Since then I’ve moved into a career working in supply chain management for BAE systems, in my current role I don’t directly use the biology aspects of my degree but the critical analysis skills I learnt have been very useful. My experience shows the importance of having a STEM qualification that gives the flexibility to change plans as you grow.

If you are interested in working a STEM related industry in future and are unsure about how to get there, speak to your science teacher or book an appointment with the school careers advisor, Mr Focorilli.