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Science in New Zealand Supplement to Salient, Vol. 28, No. 7. 1965.

Careers In Science

page 13

Careers In Science

The Employment Of Science Graduates In New Zealand

There is certainly no shortage of jobs for science graduates in New Zealand, but there may not necessarily be enough openings in some particular areas, especially for women. Science graduates usually find employment in one of three fields: research in government organisations or universities; teaching; and technical administrative positions in industry, commerce, or the public service. I shall be commenting mainly on the third area of employment, which is probably less familiar to students than the other two.

Apart from mentioning that there is still an acute shortage of science teachers, especially in Physics and Mathematics, I assume that there is no need to elaborate, as most students are reasonably well aware of what teaching can offer. However, I hope that this will not be taken as belittling what is a very challenging and rewarding career.

To avoid any possible misunderstanding, I would like to emphasise that my remarks are confined to opportunities for employment in New Zealand. As a final qualification, it is impossible to be very specific in an article of this length, and therefore I have set out to give more of a birdseye view of career opportunities, rather than details of salaries, pension schemes and other particular conditions of employment.

Research:

For pure, and most applied research of any consequence, employers want people with good degrees. Even lower second class honours graduates have difficulty finding employment in this area, and those with lesser qualifications are only likely to be employed as research assistants involving technician's work rather than that of the research scientist. Also, it is hard to draw the line between pure and applied research. If a person hopes to enter "pure research," he or she should remember that even the most brilliant graduates will be supervised and directed in their work initially. Today's research equipment is too expensive for it to be used uneconomically, and most research work is subjected to some overall control.

Those students who are completing suitable degrees for research work, will no doubt be well aware, through their teaching departments, of the institutions in New Zealand engaged in research of interest to them. It might be worth adding here, that some students perhaps decide too hastily that this country cannot offer them sufficiently challenging or interesting research work. While no one would suggest that another Rutherford should stay here on patriotic grounds, it should be remembered that even the student paying all his own tuition fees has been subsidised about 2 for 1 by the New Zealand taxpayer.

Most opportunities for reasonably advanced research occur in universities, D.S.I.R., other Government Departments and Research Associations. There is very little scientific research in industry. However, there will be a small but increasing number of opportunities for applied research using raw materials and methods peculiar to New Zealand, and technological work with the development of industries

Nearly all manufacturers rely on overseas parent companies, or associates, to carry out their basic research for them.

Research or Administration?

We often hear of a prominent scientist complaining that too much of his time is taken up with administrative work, or that he finds paper work being foisted on him. In many areas of employment, there is likely to be limited scope for promotion above a certain level, unless a person moves away from purely technical work. In general, this move towards administrative work will take place earlier in industry.

By Armour T. Mitchell, Secretary to the Victoria University of Wellington Appointments Board.

However, there are nonetheless many firms with a scientist as Technical Director, who is a member of the board. Also, it is possible to reach a salary of nearly £3000 p.a. in the State Services employed as a Scientific Officer. Those who have proven ability as scientists, and who move into administration, have usually done so because they find the work more challenging. In summary, few scientists, if any, are likely to be almost compelled to deal with administrative matters as they become more senior, but promotion prospects may be enhanced by a person showing some willingness to shoulder wider responsibilities.

Industrial Servicing and Technology:

New Zealand industries fall into two categories; the few which are entirely self-dependent, and those which rely on technical assistance from overseas companies with which they are associated. Both types of industry require trained scientists, the former to carry out their research and development work on which the progress of the industry is entirely dependent, the latter to adapt overseas technology to local conditions and materials and to solve problems arising in their manufacturing departments. Firms of both types often have Research and Development Laboratories and they may also employ scientists in their Production Departments.

Research Laboratories: The scientist in a Research Laboratory may be primarily concerned with attempting to solve the problems arising in the firm's manufacturing processes. Often, a rapid solution is essential, although long range research projects can arise from these investigations. These may ultimately lead to changes in manufacturing processes or to the development of new products.

Development Laboratories: These laboratories are primarily concerned with improvements in manufacturing plant and methods. The accent will be on the application of existing knowledge. Development laboratories often operate a pilot plant in order to bridge the gap between the Research Laboratory and the Production Department.

Control Laboratories: Control Laboratories are directly associated with the manufacturing operations of the organisation. They carry out routine control and much of this may depend on the use of instruments.

Frequently, in small companies, the three types of laboratory may be combined.

Production Departments: There is an increasing trend for the employment of trained scientists in the Production Departments, particularly when the type of production is such that a thorough knowledge of scientific principles is advantageous. It is not uncommon to fill such posts with men who have spent some time in the Research and Development Departments. Such men are often promoted to senior executive positions.

Executive Training Schemes:

There are many firms which provide courses of training designed to enable graduates to turn their theoretical training to practical account within the minimum space of time. These courses vary in length between a few months and one or two years. In some cases, the graduate is invited to regard his university training as a basic discipline on which to superimpose the training provided by the company and aimed at producing executives from whom will be drawn its future leaders. Such companies recruit graduates from almost any faculty, since what they want is 'the trained mind' rather than any specific course of training.

Specialisation:

It has been said that a specialist learns more and more about less and less until or she knows everything about nothing. In what we sometimes call the Age of Specialisation, it may seem to be a paradox that in industry, a science graduate's specialised knowledge is of very little use. Academic specialisation, although important for its value to the individual, is chiefly useful to graduates in a job because it has acquainted them with the methods of acquiring further specialised knowledge. The university produces few graduates who may immediately call themselves physicists, or geologists, or chemists, or mathematicians anyway. For example, very few honours graduates could find a job in New Zealand industry involving a direct continuation of their thesis research project—a field in which they have briefly specialised. New graduates are ready to become useful scientists, but very few already are so without a good deal of training on the job.

Many people today feel that there is a danger in becoming too specialised as this restricts prospects for promotion. Today, nearly all employees start work in a specialised area. However, the specialist, by virtue of his or her narrow field, must be in constant liaison with other people. As people increase in seniority, they move up the 'pyramid' of the organisation chart, and the area under their control becomes larger and larger. During this process, the work becomes less detailed, and more time is spent on co-ordinating other people's activities. In a modem organisation, there are virtually no specialised departments from which a graduate cannot rise to a position where his or her abilities are used to the maximum.

Small Or Large Firm?

Some of my previous comments apply to the larger type firm in New Zealand. There are some very good opportunities with smaller firms. The smaller firm will often pay a graduate more, especially in the first few years. This is partly because, with a smaller organisation, a person must become something of a 'jack of all trades' very quickly. Also, a graduate may very quickly reach his or her highest level of seniority relative to the manager (and usually owner) of the firm. After this, increased responsibility can only come from the growth of the company. This involves a certain amount of risk, as the company could perhaps become bankrupt, but on the other hand it could grow in ten or twenty years into a very large organisation. Generally speaking, the larger company offers a more secure and steady rate of development, and the smaller can offer a wider range of opportunity, but with some risks involved.

General Administration:

Industry, commerce, and the State Services are becoming more and more interested in employing science graduates for general, often non-technical work in a variety of administrative areas. Executive Trainee schemes have already been mentioned. Employers are particularly interested in science graduates entering jobs which require a quantitative approach.

In any administrative position, personality is probably more important than academic qualifications. A person thinking of a career in general administration will usually have participated in a number of student activities, and enjoy meeting a wide variety of people. Of course, a good academic record on top of this, is ideal.

Opportunities For Women:

There are very few positions outside the State Services for women graduates. The Appointments Board is doing what it can to improve this, but we do not expect any spectacular results. There are some reasons why an employer will be a little reluctant to employ women, but I am sure that in many cases these reasons do not justify the rigid policies some companies have.

However, I would not like to think that this comment will discourage women graduates from seeking positions in industry or commerce.

Indeed, actions speak louder than words, and every woman who talks her way into a job in spite of a company's policy will do more to improve the situation than any amount of arguing by this board.

What Do You Know?

Many science graduates feel that employment in any other field than one involving their major subject will be a waste of their degrees. I think many people with this view have an inflated idea of their degrees' worth. Graduates should be mainly conscious, in fact acutely conscious, of what they do not know, and they should have the tenacity and techniques to fill the gaps in their knowledge — especially in areas which particularly interest them. This knowledge may be scientific or it may not, according to the taste and interest of the individual.