Research and Development: A Lucrative Employment Market for Young Scientists By Ann-Kathrin Akalin

Enthusiasm is highly sought after

So how do scientists and companies find the right match? Bayer, for example, finds scientists by organising its own recruiting events which include courses for doctoral students and postdoctoral workshops as well as through its website - www.mybayerjob.de. The company is also represented at university fairs and graduate conferences in Germany and abroad. Bayer is on the look-out for qualified staff in all areas, particularly those with expertise in natural sciences, engineering, economics and IT. The overwhelming majority of jobs offered to graduates in the natural sciences are as laboratory managers for which a doctorate is necessary. According to Pfenning, successful candidates must have motivation skills, managerial abilities and communication skills in addition to excellent subject knowledge. "At Bayer we want lateral thinkers who can look at a situation and see possibilities which might seem unorthodox at first".

At Daimler they also organise special events to encourage young engineers and women into technical careers. On "Engineers Day" for example, participants are given an overview of the numerous different job options on offer. Daimler is looking for engineers and university graduates from disciplines such as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, communications technology, automotive engineering, industrial engineering, IT, information management, aerospace engineering and process engineering. According to HR expert Maria Riolo, the key requirements for potential candidates are the ability to work as part of a team, a genuine personality, an understanding of other cultures and good English language skills. "A CV which highlights a period of time spent living abroad is a definite plus" comments Riolo, Head of Global Recruiting.

At Siemens, Ulrich Eberl describes Corporate Technology as an important entry point for university graduates who may move to other managerial units at a later stage in their careers. Each year, Siemens sets up around 500 research partnerships world-wide which, in addition to the standard research, facilitate contact with leading researchers who may ultimately want to move into industry. The company is particularly interested in experts in areas such as mathematics, chemistry, electrical engineering and physics. While a doctorate may be regarded as helpful during the application process, overall applicants are assessed on the basis of their qualifications, titles take second place.

Attractive salaries

A crucial point in favour of research and development jobs in companies is that the salaries are more attractive in comparison to universities or public research institutes. While researchers in universities and public research institutes receive on average €41,000 per annum, their counterparts in industry earn on average between €52,000 and €56,000 per annum. The difference is even obvious for those just starting their careers with the average annual public sector salary of €34,000 compared to €41,000 in industry.

Salaries do, however, vary quite significantly depending on a person's qualifications and work experience. At Bayer a graduate can expect to earn €54,000 per year while someone with a doctorate can expect to earn €63,000 Euro. On top of this, a range of variable income components such as bonuses which are dependent on the company's performance are on offer as well as supplements for previous experience. In addition to normal salaries, Daimler also offers a range of employer benefits such as pensions, etc. The prospect of an attractive salary is just one more reason to take notice of the possibilities on offer in industry.

academics :: July 2009