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Asked by anon-353892 on 9 Mar 2023.
Question: Do you think its worth pursuing a career in sciences if your not necisarilly the best at it, even if you enjoy it ?
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Joshua Bray answered on 9 Mar 2023: last edited 9 Mar 2023 1:08 pm
Absolutely. You may not think you’re the best at it now, but you will inevitably find something you’re excellent at in the future. If you enjoy your job, then you will find something that you excel at. Not all scientists wear white coats in a lab! It’s more and more common nowadays for people to progress in their career as a scientist through data analysis, programming, people management, plant operations, engineering, field study, sales and maintenance… You’d be surprised at the range of jobs which a “scientific” career can provide. Many of those jobs don’t necessarily require you to follow the traditional route through a university degree.
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Claire Sycamore-Howe answered on 9 Mar 2023:
Yes, it’s really important that you do something you enjoy! It’s more important than if you are good at it. Science isn’t just for people who are “good” at it, it’s for everyone. Science is a very practical subject so if you like doing things with your hands but struggle a bit with knowledge, there are lots of science roles you can do that are lab based or more vocational (hands-on).
My dad said to me when I started work “get a job you enjoy, because if you do you’ll never work a day in your life”. I didn’t really understand what he meant and I did things for money or skills development rather than enjoyment, or because I thought I should.
I started a PhD (another qualification you can do when you leave university, it’s another 3-4 years of study) when I was 22, because I was very academic and I was very “good” at Chemistry. But I hated it, it didn’t make me happy, I should have left in day one but I stayed for a year and a half before I left, and I was miserable.
But the role I have now I love and I really enjoy my job, I’m still working in Chemistry but it’s more about education and I still use my chemistry knowledge every day. I want to get up in the morning because I like what I do and the organisation I work for. I’m much happier
Always make sure you pick something because of enjoyment
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Jade Markham answered on 9 Mar 2023:
100%. Do what you love! If you go on to study and work in that area, you need to enjoy it to be motivated and try your best.
If you do something that you find boring, then you will spend all your time wishing you were doing something else.
I know people who scored very low grades at uni. They just were not good at tests, but they were good in the lab or they had passion for the subject and they have successful careers in science.
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Martin McCoustra answered on 9 Mar 2023:
It is always best to chose a career that you enjoy. So even if you are not the best scientist there are lots of science related careers out there. Doing science at university is a good foundation for those careers.
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Maryam Sani answered on 9 Mar 2023:
Yes, Allana. You don’t have to be the best to pursue a career in sciences, you just need to be interested. It is really important to enjoy what you do, so that’s a great start. When you are at school you study many topics in science but you are likely to find some topics that grab your interest more than others. Those would be the ones to explore now and give more attention to when deciding on a career.
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Maike Wilschnack answered on 9 Mar 2023:
Hi Allana, yes absolutely! And what does it even mean to be the best at it? I think to be passionate about something already means you are one of the best for the job. I was never the best in science in school or at university in my undergrad and master class. This meant that I had to study a little bit more than my peers, and sometimes I would still not get the same grades. But for me it was totally worth it, because I enjoyed learning more about science. And I enjoy the job I have now. Also, I always saw myself as worse than I really was. This is very typical for people who are not typically represented in science, for example girls and women.
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Craig Johnston answered on 9 Mar 2023:
100%. For example, when looking for PhD students I try to find someone who is self-motivated and passionate about science because they are doing something they enjoy. This means if they have any weaknesses they are more than willing to learn and improve. No one is perfect and you should follow your own path.
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Graeme Dykes answered on 9 Mar 2023:
Studying science should be fun. That’s what keeps you going. More than the technical knowledge, you learn about how to approach problems, how to design experiments to challenge ideas, how to analyse the results and how to communicate with other people. If nothing else, these are key skills.
Maybe you just need to find a branch of science which is new to you.
In fairness, if you don’t like theories, facts and calculations then you will have to put in more effort.
It will be worth it! -
Nathalie Oguntona answered on 9 Mar 2023:
Definitely worth pursuing if you enjoy it. Enjoying what you do is the best place to be.
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Jo Ellis answered on 9 Mar 2023:
Totally you should go for what you enjoy, chemistry and science can be a gateway to several job roles.
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Clara Zehe answered on 10 Mar 2023:
Absolutely! The most important thing when choosing a career is that you are interested in what you are doing and enjoying it. School provides you with a small outlook about science, but there are so many more things you can do as a scientist. If you pursue a career in science you will have more freedom to choose the field that you enjoy the most. Staying curious and persistent will naturally make you better at it (just like with any skill). The most important thing is that you enjoy what you are doing.
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Sophie Strickfuss answered on 10 Mar 2023:
Absolutely! Successful scientists also need what is called transferable skills, for example communication skills, innovation, teamwork, attention to details, ability to learn, adaptability… You can develop those skills at school but also outside of school, through sports, hobbies, part-time jobs… Those skills are very valued by employers and are often one of the main reasons someone is successful as a scientist.
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Christy Sadler answered on 10 Mar 2023:
Yes! Enjoying science is the main part! You can learn new skills but enjoying what you do is key to make sure you are motivated to study!
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Arno Kraft answered on 13 Mar 2023:
Definitely. Grades only indicate that someone is good at exams. While background knowledge of your area of expertise can help on occasion, it is not a good indicator of being a successful chemist. In research, practical skills can be even more important. In development and running a production site, it is taking on responsibility. In management, it is personal skills and delegating.
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