Good Chemistry: SMEs Offer Science Grads a Strong Mix of Job Benefits
Publié le 4 February 2013
Variety is the spice of life, and science students looking for an interesting career path may find more excitement in small businesses.
In many fields, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) offer more opportunities than larger companies for graduates entering the workforce. The work is usually more diverse and less repetitive, which provides a broader base for training and work experience. Young workers also find they have more of a say in what goes on day-to-day in a smaller company.
Bruce McLeod is vice-president of human resources at Bioniche Life Sciences, a Canadian biopharmaceutical company with 240 employees in three different countries. He says his employees find many advantages in working for a smaller company. “We often hear from employees that because we’re smaller, there are more opportunities to get your hands on more aspects of the operation,” McLeod says.
Bioniche researches, develops and manufactures products intended for human or animal health markets, which requires employees with a wide range of skills. McLeod says in large companies within this market, employees usually have much more streamlined roles that tend to be very specific. “In smaller companies, you have the chance to try on different hats, and get cross-trained in a variety of areas relative to your field,” he says.
He says they often hire recent bachelor of science graduates from a wide range of programs. Employees can be hired for technical or management streams, and can use their skill sets for anything from quality assurance to manufacturing a product. “We’re a firm believer of promoting people from within, so we try to hire not just for a particular position, but for the future,” McLeod says.
Many science graduates will gain a diverse set of skills from working at an SME because they are likely to have more than just one specific task, says Mandi Crespo, a science student success officer at Carleton University. “It’s great for new graduates to get a variety of experience, because it can lead them into a more specific career path in the future,” she says.
Although many science students choose to pursue graduate school, Crespo says high-achieving students will still find many opportunities in the workforce, especially in smaller companies. Within SMEs, entry-level employees generally have more opportunities to interact with high-level management. “Some people really feel like they have more of a connection or say as to what goes on overall in the business,” Crespo says. This level of interaction, combined with fewer employees, may also give them a chance to move up faster within the organization.
However, there can be drawbacks to working for an SME as well. Crespo warns that it could be riskier in some instances to go with an SME, as employees may make less money or have fewer benefits than they would in a larger organization. Smaller companies don’t always have the resources to provide employees with a lot of benefits or retirement plans.
Science graduates entering the workforce generally choose careers within government departments, education or the private sector, says Fred Michel, an environmental science professor at Carleton University. Those interested in entering the private sector and working for an SME have a choice between hundreds of small consulting companies throughout the country, he says.
“As opposed to a big institutional type of environment, smaller businesses tend to have a lot more flexibility in the type of work and the hours,” he says. They also offer the chance for more independence; in larger companies you are just one person within a large team.
Environmental science students have an advantage in these types of workplaces because the program tends to be more interdisciplinary than traditional sciences, Michel says. This allows students to integrate information from different subjects, or excel in a variety of positions in the workplace.
However, Michel warns that small companies need to be more aggressive in winning contracts and growing their business. Failing to do this can lead to downtimes when there isn’t a lot of work to do, and employers may cut hours. “As long as work is being generated, you’re fine. But when things slow down, often the small ones are hit significantly,” he says.
No matter where science graduates end up, Crespo encourages them to get some background in research, such as volunteering at a lab on campus, because many employers look for these skills. She also suggests that students put more focus on their writing skills if they want to be competitive in the workplace; they can do this by taking a writing-intensive course. “It can really help them out in looking for the jobs in the future. There’s a lot of opportunity for science and technical writing out there,” Crespo says.
Overall, employers tend to want students who are dependable, involved in extracurricular activities, and who achieve good grades, Crespo says: “Employers want people with a good work and personal balance, who can achieve decent grades while involved in other activities.”
By Laura Jakobschuk
Laura Jakobschuk is a journalism student at Carleton University.
