Even though many of our graduates will have progressed in their careers since completing a case study, they are still of interest to students who wish to gain an understanding of the world of work.

I work in the Cambridge office Logistics department. Our job is to process incoming antibodies, kits etc. into saleable units and move them into stock. When customers place orders with Abcam we retrieve the requested products and package them up for delivery.

My specific responsibilities in the department involve managing the product processing clean room. It is my job to ensure that an accurate inventory is kept of all equipment and consumables are kept stocked, that the centrifuges and biosafety cabinets are used correctly and serviced annually. I also oversee regular cleanings and an ongoing quality management project called Project Asepsis. Otherwise I will be involved in various housekeeping and administrative tasks to keep the department running smoothly.

I will often communicate with other departments and offices to ensure that our products are processed accurately, on time and that quality issues are addressed.

A normal day might start with Goods In receiving deliveries from suppliers or other Abcam sites "known as internals". I could be moving such units into stock until 10am at which point we have a departmental standup in which the day's workload is described, points are raised and tasks assigned.

Then I might focus on product processing. Taking bulk stocks and splitting them into saleable units of 100-1000 micrograms. This could last up to and beyond lunch. After that I might be called through to Goods Out to assist in packaging or settle down for some administrative work.

My team is undoubtedly the best aspect of my job. The Logistics department is full of entry level graduates which means I am spending a lot of time with young people my age with whom I can socialise outside of work. Teambuilding events are common. I have many opportunities to work on projects and display the results to the rest of my team.

I also like how despite the fact that Abcam is a global company, it feels like a very tight-knit community. I am on speaking terms with the CEO and often get chances to represent the company at science fairs.

Abcam prides itself on express delivery of orders to its customers. This means processing orders and getting them out the doors on the same day that they are placed. Although there is collective responsibility in meeting these demands it leads to a very fast-paced working environment which can be pressurising. My responsibilities in keeping consumables stocked can leave me liable if they run out which can be stressful at times.

Following graduation with a scientific degree I wanted to start working in a scientific company. Cambridge appealed to me as it has a good reputation for scientific study.

My scientific knowledge is used daily. I consider myself an expert in using pipettes and Project Asepsis has me handling microbiological plates. An understanding of the products is essential - most are temperature sensitive and concentration calculations are common when processing stock. The job also requires solid IT skills and effective communication both verbally and by email.

Graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2013. Was unemployed for a few months until September 2013 when I got an office-based temp job in data management in my home town of Ipswich for three months. Following the end of my contract I did some voluntary work, learned to drive and attempted to build new IT skills.

I was offered a temporary job as Logistics Technician at Abcam in June 2014, the job went permanent in September 2014. In July 2015 I was put in charge of the product processing room. In November 2015 I was authorised to start raising purchase orders. In April 2016 I was promoted to Logistics Specialist Quality and Purchasing and launched Project Asepsis.

As of 2017 I have been continuing my responsibilities in quality management and for the first time managing a small team of my own. The company is developing a new software platform and I will have to help bring product processing in line with the new system when it goes live.

The company is growing and in 2019 will be moving to a new site in the (still under construction) Cambridge Biomedical Campus. I expect to be still working in the company when that happens, running several detailed projects. My long-term aims lie in scientific project management and I hope to one day be managing a laboratory myself. There are opportunities for promotion in the department leading to training and team lead roles which I hope to fill as I become more experienced.

I have no plans to leave Abcam in the foreseeable future or to return to higher education.

The hardest part of any career is getting your first job post-graduation. Unless you've been able to walk straight from university into a relevant job you can't guarantee that your first job will be scientifically related. This isn't necessarily a problem as you will still have opportunities to seek out your dream job and learn new skills. As a new graduate I would definitely recommend seeking entry level roles targeted at STEM graduates. Careers websites are a definite help as is networking.

Once in a job if you want to progress, positivity, confidence and communication is everything. It is as important as any scientific knowledge you posses. Work on your people skills and personal organisation to impress your managers. Long term plans are looked favourably upon so make your ambitions clear.

I am thrilled to be an Abcam employee and feel like I've struck gold with this company. It would not have been possible without my degree which makes me grateful towards the University of Sheffield. I am now settling down in my own house and thinking seriously about future investments. My adult life is well and truly in gear and it all started at Sheffield.