If discovering something new gives you a thrill, and you are driven by a passion for your subject, then a career in science or engineering may be for you. The options are many and varied, though the majority of jobs are in research and development. This might be in a university environment or an industrial environment, for a small and specialist firm or for a large and well-known company, even for the government. Lab-based work can be sociable and fun, and as you gain more experience, opportunities to take on more responsibility in administration and management will almost certainly arise. Working in an academic environment also gives you the option of teaching undergraduates, and staying or becoming more involved with university life.

If working in a lab doesn't appeal to you there are many other employers who will appreciate your scientific expertise. Entry is competitive and training is intellectually demanding, but work in patent law is a challenging and lucrative option for a scientist. If your written skills are excellent, then you might consider scientific writing, either technical or non-technical (see media section). Specialist consultancy is also a growing sector, particularly in engineering, and the recruitment demands are subsequently becoming tougher.