Lara Husain studied Anatomy, Developmental and Human Biology BSc at King’s College London, and started her Step internship shortly after her final exams as she wanted to have experience of working full-time in an office environment.
The role was to work in the King’s College London employer liaison team, talking to employers about the various careers fairs and skills programmes throughout the year at King’s College London.
Lara says, “I was not stuck making the tea or photocopying; from day one I was treated like a real member of staff and given real responsibilities. These included meeting employers, working on the careers fairs and skills programmes, and also researching the scope for new careers events. The most important thing that I learnt was to be a lot more realistic about my opportunities as a graduate in the current economic climate; that I would need to work hard and build up my CV in order to get to my dream job”.
Previously, during her summers, Lara worked in restaurants or shops; however, her Step internship was much more meaningful than any of her previous part-time jobs in developing useful skills to stand out from other graduates.
After her internship, Lara successfully applied for the role of Employer Engagement Officer at the Society of Biology due to the combination of relevant work experience and a scientific background. She is now working to help increase industry awareness of the Society of Biology’s Degree Accreditation Programme, which addresses the skills gaps between undergraduate study and employment in bioscience research and development by highlighting academic excellence, and recognising degrees that provide opportunities for students to gain substantial practical research experience.
Laura Hussain