At the end of last year I was approaching the mid way point of my degree. Many of my friends were finishing university and moving out in to the “real” world and getting “real” jobs, while I was left contemplating another two years of assignments, labs and exams. As I thought about the oncoming two years, I realised I had no idea how I was possibly going to get where I wanted to be. Grades aren’t everything. In order to stand out from the crowd you need something a little different. That’s when I decided to join Chiasma.
As I am studying towards a degree in biotechnology, getting involved in Chiasma seemed like a natural choice for me. I get to work on a team that connects science students with the industry, while equipping them with the business knowledge they need to be truly successful. It was like a dream come true! In todays’ world tertiary study has become the standard next step in order to get good jobs in many different industries. This means students are constantly being pushed to find other ways to stand out amongst the crowd.
Getting involved in an organisation during your study is something I cannot recommend highly enough. All you need to do is take the plunge and you’ll find yourself meeting great new people, learning vital new skills, and exploring life away from the textbook. With hundreds of students applying for the same jobs, employers need to see that you can do things other than memorise complex biochemical pathways and recite the elements of the periodic table in order. You need real life skills, you need to be able to work well in a team, and you need to stand out. And what better way to do that than joining an organisation or team, just like I joined Chiasma!