As businesses increasingly rely on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, there is a growing need for STEM professionals. This is brilliant news for those with an interest in these areas and the future looks bright for STEM professionals. Organizations need STEM professionals in order to get the most out of science and technology and this can be used to help businesses in many ways, including streamlining operations, reducing costs, keeping customers happy and making the business more competitive. While the future is bright for STEM professionals, it is also important to note that it will be competitive, and you need to know how to find success. Keep reading for a few tips for aspiring STEM professionals.
Explore Your Options
First, you should explore your options. There are many different career options for those interested in STEM, so you should first think about what kind of area you are interested in. This will help you to determine what path you need to follow, what skills you need and what qualifications. There are many good options for careers right now, including:
- Financial advisor
- Accountant
- Mechanical engineer
- Data scientist
- Statistician
- Information security analyst
- Software engineer
- Actuary
Develop Strong Technical Skills & Knowledge
Once you have an idea of the role or sector that you want to get into, you can start to focus on developing your technical skills and knowledge. If you are in school, you can focus on these areas, but if not, then you can develop strong technical skills and knowledge with your own research and by signing up for courses. Obviously, you need strong technical skills and knowledge in all fields when it comes to STEM, and this can require a lot of hard work and many years of study.
Dont Forget Your Soft Skills
Strong technical skills and knowledge are essential, but you should not overlook the importance of soft skills. There is a misconception that those in STEM careers do not need soft skills and will spend most of their time alone, but most STEM careers require excellent communication skills. Often in these roles, you will be responsible for presenting your findings and communicating with those that do not have an understanding of your work. Therefore, you need to be an excellent communicator and able to easily explain complex ideas.
In addition to communication skills, STEM professionals need to be able to both lead and work as part of a team and have strong time-management and organization skills. Soft skills can always be developed if you have any weaknesses, and this will be essential for getting your foot in the door in any organization. This is an area that some will neglect, so it could give you a competitive edge and will help you to make a strong impression when in the job market.
Gain Relevant Experience
As with any type of career, it is always helpful if you are able to gain relevant experience early on. This will depend on your chosen field, but if you can get an entry-level position, apprenticeship, work experience, or even voluntary work at an organization in your chosen field, then this will put you in a great position in the future. This is because it will allow you to develop key skills, learn how to work in this kind of environment, and make important contacts that could come in handy down the line. Use this opportunity to learn as much as you can and to get used to working in your chosen field.
Network At Every Opportunity
Leading on from this, you should be networking at every opportunity to make a large pool of professional contacts and to raise your profile. With so many STEM careers, there are always networking opportunities, and a large professional network can be a great resource that allows you to get support, form strong relationships and open new doors. You should be making an effort to network in person as this allows you to form the strongest relationships, but you can also network online, and online communities can be a great way to connect with those all around the world.
Additionally, social media and LinkedIn can be a great way to maintain your network over time and keep in touch with people no matter where they are. When the time comes to find work, you can then ask around in your network to find opportunities.
Use A Support Network
Leading on from this, you will find it useful to have a support network that you can rely on. STEM careers require a lot of hard work, and it will only become more competitive, so it is helpful if you have people in your life that you can lean on for support when you need it. Family and friends can be helpful when it comes to handling career stress, so do not shy away from reaching out if you feel that you need support at any time in your career. You should celebrate with these people when you make important strides and find success on your career path.
Find A Mentor
If you are able to find someone, a mentor can be a real game-changer when embarking on a STEM career. Mentors can help by providing advice and guidance, giving you support when you need it, and opening up doors for you. You might be able to find a mentor in your first place of work, but if not, then you could find one through networking or signing up for a mentor program.
Develop A Strong Work Ethic
Having a strong work ethic will always help you to get ahead no matter what field you are in. STEM professions are highly technical and often require many years of study, so a strong work ethic is essential for developing the required level of knowledge and skill set. Additionally, the work itself in STEM professions can be incredibly demanding and complex, and you will be working in high-pressure environments. This also means that you need to be able to concentrate, work in stressful environments and focus for long periods of time.
Obtain A Masters
It is important to obtain a masters degree in your chosen field in order to develop the required skills and knowledge and bolster your resume. For those looking to get into statistics and data roles, a masters in applied statistics is an excellent qualification that will help you to find work. This is because courses like this will help you to apply theories and models in a real-world, problem-solving way so that you can become a valuable asset to any organization. A masters in applied statistics will prepare you for success in a business setting and can open up many career opportunities, including actuarial analyst, statistician, and economic analyst just as a few examples.
Develop Business Knowledge
Following on from this, STEM professionals can also stand out by having a strong understanding of how businesses operate. You need to understand how your work can affect the bigger picture, so you may find a business qualification useful and a way to bolster your resume. You could have excellent technical skills and knowledge, but if you cannot see the big picture, then you may find it hard to adjust to a professional setting and communicate with those outside of STEM roles. You do not need to be a business guru, but basic knowledge of how businesses operate, and the basics of corporate strategy can go a long way.
Stay Current
When it comes to STEM careers, you will find that there are constantly changes and developments that are happening often as a result of technological developments. This means that even with a masters degree, you still need to commit to continuous learning in order to find success. You can stay current by attending industry events, reading respected industry publications, listening to podcasts, taking additional courses, and reading blogs just as a few examples.
Work On Your Interview Skills
In any competitive job market, you need to make sure that you have strong interview skills. This is the area that many people struggle with, and it is easy to see why because it can be stressful and cause anxiety, which can impact your performance. While some anxiety is normal and expected, you will find that you can greatly reduce this and increase your chances of success by working on your interview skills. This should include working on how to make a good first impression, preparing answers to questions that you will face and practice interviews. Additionally, ask for feedback from any interviews where you do not get the job – this can be hard to hear, but it will give you the best ideas for ways to improve for next time.
Hopefully, this post will be useful for anyone aspiring to a STEM career. There are many excellent STEM roles that can provide a lucrative, rewarding, and stable career, but STEM careers can also be hard to qualify for and they will become competitive in the coming years.