Nontraditional Careers for Chemists: New Formulas in Chemistry - Softcover

Balbes, Lisa M.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0195183673 ISBN 13: 9780195183672

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2006

Synopsis

A Chemistry background prepares you for much more than just a laboratory career. The broad science education, analytical thinking, research methods, and other skills learned are of value to a wide variety of types of employers, and essential for a plethora of types of positions.

Those who are interested in chemistry tend to have some similar personality traits and characteristics. By understanding your own personal values and interests, you can make informed decisions about what career paths to explore, and identify positions that match your needs.

By expanding your options for not only what you will do, but also the environment in which you will do it, you can vastly increase the available employment opportunities, and increase the likelihood of finding enjoyable and lucrative employment.

Each chapter in this book provides background information on a nontraditional field, including typical tasks, education or training requirements, and personal characteristics that make for a successful career in that field. Each chapter also contains detailed profiles of several chemists working in that field. The reader gets a true sense of what these people do on a daily basis, what in their background prepared them to move into this field, and what skills, personality, and knowledge are required to make a success of a career in this new field. Advice for people interested in moving into the field, and predictions for the future of that career, are also included from each person profiled. Career fields profiled include communication, chemical information, patents, sales and marketing, business development, regulatory affairs, public policy, safety, human resources, computers, and several others.

Taken together, the career descriptions and real case histories provide a complete picture of each nontraditional career path, as well as valuable advice about how career transitions can be planned and successfully achieved by any chemist.

About this title

About the Author

Lisa M. Balbes is Sole Proprietor, Consultant, and Technical Writer, Balbes Consultants.

Review

"The book was really an intensive job of research, because the author has interviewed dozens and dozens of chemists who are in a very wide variety of positions, all 'non-bench' jobs. ... It is a very complete text, and a wonderful read."-- ScienceCareers.org

"The organization and writing in each chapter make for a rewarding read that provides useful responses to real questions faced by those considering a transition to a nontraditional job."--The Capital Chemist

"This book is a very welcome addition and is addressed to anyone interested in chemistry and seeking general information on employment in the field."--Choice

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0195183673
• ISBN 13: 9780195183672
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 320