WATER CAREERS 101
How Final-Year STEM Students Can Prepare for a Water Career
A new academic year in university is just around the corner. For final-year students, while maintaining academic excellence is key, you also need to start upping your game in career planning. If you're looking to build a water-related pathway - perhaps convinced by our previous blogs - we have a few tips to help you get started!
But first, a strategic overview. For students with degrees in water-adjacent fields like hydrology or environmental engineering, your foundation is solid. But you can gain an edge by showcasing soft skills like cross-sector perspective and systematic thinking. Think about how your technical skills could be used in a different context. A lot of the innovation we've talked about in this series is happening at the intersection of traditional water roles and other disciplines.
And vice versa if you're a student with a transferable STEM background, such as data science and biology. Your skills are incredibly valuable. The key is to find opportunities to demonstrate your interest and knowledge about water issues.
What’s your game plan? Credit:
Now, let’s dive into the tips:
What’s your game plan? Credit: 1 Click
Make good use of your dissertation project
Use it to solve a real-world water problem or participate in an industry-sponsored dissertation project. The work you do for your dissertation can be a fantastic way to build expertise and showcase your passion.
Take part in competitions or challenges
Look for water-related hackathons or innovation challenges. They are a great way to build skills and get noticed. Something like the P&G Fluidics Hackathon at Imperial College London.
Keep an eye on:
Grow your network
LinkedIn is a no-brainer. There are also industry networking events where you can potentially build real-life connections. But don’t forget about your university’s career services department! Ask to be introduced to alumni or mentors working in the water sector. Nothing beats a warm intro.
Don't just search for internships. Create them!
Identify organisations or startups you admire and propose a project. It shows initiative and a willingness to create your own path.
Don’t miss out on graduate schemes
Many water companies, both big and small, have structured graduate programs that offer a fantastic entry point into the industry. Sign up early so you never miss a deadline!
Open now:
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This is by no means a full action list. Drop yours down below in the comment section!