Have you just graduated and are looking for your first role out of university? Or are you in your final year and are starting to think about life after exams?  Job hunting can be a daunting task, and can require plenty of work before getting a job offer. Here is our approach to help you prepare the best possible application. 
Firstly, it is a good idea to register your CV with a specialist scientific recruitment agency (for example Whitehall Recruitment!). That way, when new roles do come through, you will be one of the first to know if they think your CV matches the job, as you will already be on their database. Sign up with job boards too such as CV Library, Reed and Totaljobs, as recruiters use these as a valuable source of CVs, and give you a good chance of your CV being spotted, even if you haven’t applied directly for a job. 
LinkedIn is also a useful tool when job hunting, as it can put you in contact either directly with hiring managers or recruiters. Look to expand your network as much as possible by asking to connect with your colleagues, peers or other contacts you have met through work or university. You can also add an “Open to Work” frame on your profile picture, to show that you are actively looking for a new role The About section of your LinkedIn profile is also a great way of telling people more about your skills, experience and personality – for example, you could highlight here any research projects you have worked on in your studies so far. You can also write a short Headline so that anyone seeing your profile pop up will instantly know your job role or level of education (e.g. BSc Chemistry Graduate from the University of…).
 

CV Advice
Your CV is the first part of your application that recruiters or hiring managers will see. It is therefore crucial to put as much time and effort into it as possible. 
Use a clean and concise format – there are plenty of templates out there, many of which are eye-catching, but sometimes not so easy to read. Recruiters are usually looking for keywords or company names and job titles, so you want to make sure that that this essential information can be clearly seen and read, more so than any other information or interesting colour schemes. Use a clean, clear font - Calibri or Ariel are a safe bet. 
At the top of your CV you should include your name, contact details (phone number and email address), your address (or just post code if you don’t want to give your full address), and potentially your LinkedIn profile for an additional professional touch.

Profile – your CV should start off with a short summary of your skills and the experience you have developed in your CV so far, in around 100 – 150 words. The idea is to introduce yourself to the reader in a way that your job history can’t. Try to write in a passive, third person tense – for example, try to avoid personal pronouns as I, me or my, as if it were written by someone else about you. This tends to look more professional than if it were written in the first person. 
You can start by saying what your current role is, and then describe yourself in terms of your personality and strengths. Round off by declaring what sort of opportunity your are looking for. 
An example could be as follows: 
“A proactive and ambitious Chemistry MSci Graduate with a year in industry. Is interested in the industrial applications of chemistry. Completed a 12-month industrial placement, gaining a broad range of experience and understanding about how business meets chemistry in the coatings industry. Has excellent communication, analytical and practical laboratory skills and is seeking a graduate role in the Coatings industry”. 

Work Experience – Usually we advise to include your Work Experience history as the next heading, above Education. However as a recent graduate or final year student, you are unlikely to have a significant career history to demonstrate, unless you did an Industrial Placement or an Internship. If your jobs so far are limited to weekend or part-time roles, then skip straight to Education so that your university studies are straight after your Profile. If you did do an Industrial Placement, then you can include this as the next section after the Profile, as it will help your CV stand out. That’s not to dismiss any hospitality or retail work as irrelevant; any responsibilities you can mention here are very important as they demonstrate crucial transferable skills, and suggests that you are a more rounded person than just your studies, but when applying for jobs as a graduate, usually employers will want to see your degree first.
Starting with the most recent first, list each role, clearly stating your job title, employer and the dates you worked there. Under each role, list your responsibilities in bullet points, in a concise tone.  You could list any achievements separately here too. It is also helpful to include a short description of what that company does in a single sentence, directly under the company name.

Education –  As with Work Experience, start with the most recent first and list your qualifications, grades, name of the institution that awarded them, and the dates you studied there. As mentioned previously If you have just graduated and do not yet have a substantial career history to show, it may be worth putting the Education section above Work Experience to clearly show this. If this is the case, you should elaborate as much as possible, including any research projects you carried out, specific modules you studied or lab skills and analytical instruments you used. 
After these sections, include separate headings for any training courses you have attended, plus any additional languages, before finishing off with a section on Hobbies and Interests. This part often feels like an afterthought, but you should put as much emphasis here as the rest of your CV, not least because it is the only other section where your personality can shine through! Any eye-catching hobbies that can provoke a discussion in an interview are good to include, but make sure you can back them up if asked! Sometimes a common interest with the person who is interviewing you can be a perfect way to break the ice. Elaborate where you can; if you enjoy reading, say what genre it is that you like in particular. Listing single word activities can often look mundane and non-descript (e.g. running, music, films, etc) so be specific where possible. 

Finally, if you have publications with your name on it can stand out to potential employers so you can list these with references as appropriate. 

It is also worth pointing out that ideally  your CV should be no longer than 2 pages, particularly if you do not have a long career history. Employers often have many CVs to review, so they will want to read as much about you in as succinct a way as possible. It is also shows that you are able to condense relevant information, which is a good skill to have.   
Once you feel that your CV is complete, make sure to proof read, and then get a friend or relative to double check! 

Interview Preparation

Research the company thoroughly, by looking at their website, social media and any other information you are able to find about them in the news or other sources. You can be easily caught out if you not properly looked into the company. At the very least ensure you are able to identify the types of products or markets the company operates within, and then you can back that up with questions of your own (more on those later).
Study the job specification in detail and try to relate each of the roles and responsibilities back to your career or studies to date, giving specific examples of where you have demonstrated these points. For example, if the job description mentions liaising with other departments, think about a time when you have worked in a team and made a positive impact.
Prepare answers for questions that you may be asked along the lines of “why would you be a good fit for this job” and “why do you want this job”. You are almost guaranteed to be asked at least one of these questions, so it is essential that you have a rehearsed answer to this, drawing on your experience to date and aspirations for the future.

We have some example questions below: 

•    What interests you about this job?  
•    Why do you want this job?  
•    What applicable attributes / experience do you have?   
•    What do you know about this company?     
•    What is your greatest strength?  
•    What motivates you?  
•    Tell me about yourself.  
•    Questions about your career goals.  

In addition think about any other questions which may come up, based on the key aspects of the job spec or perhaps a job role in your CV. For technical questions, consider the products and formulations that the company produces, and research into these as well.
Once you have your answers, practise them verbally as much as possible so that you remember them and also so that you are more confident saying them. Ideally practise in front of a family member or friend as well. 
Prepare your own questions to ask. An interview should be a two way process! It is as much of a chance for you to make the sure the opportunity is right for you, as it is for the Hiring Manager to decide that you are right for them, so do not be afraid to ask questions to make sure you definitely want the job. Also, asking questions shows that you have an understanding of the role and company, so you are more likely to impress the Hiring Manager. 
Always dress professionally, even for a Teams or Zoom interview. If in doubt, it is always better to be overdressed than underdressed.
Ensure you are arrive on-site with plenty of time, and likewise get everything ready for a Teams / Zoom call with at least 15 minutes to spare. This ensures you are still on time if you have any issues such as heavy traffic, or problems with your Teams login. This also shows to the Hiring Manager that you are reliable and can mange your time well. 
Show enthusiasm! You want to prove to the Hiring Manager that not only do you want the job, but  you are engaged in your surroundings. If you are given the opportunity to look around the site, make sure to show plenty of interest and ask questions. 
Finally, at the end of the interview it is a good idea at the of the interview to take the opportunity to summarise both your understanding of the role and the strengths that you specifically can bring  to it. This will leave the hiring manager with a positive lasting impression of you as a candidate. 
So, whether the role you have applied for is in the Lab, Sales or Regulatory, follow our advice to give you the best chance of landing that first role! 

With Summer finally arriving in May, Whitehall Recruitment exhibited at Chem UK, the UK’s largest chemical supply chain expo. With this year’s edition being the first that Whitehall had attended, we were eagerly anticipating what the show would bring. By the end of the two day event however, it was by all accounts a resounding success. The show offered us a chance to meet and speak with our clients and candidates, with the added benefit of reaching out to a wider section of the chemical industry, and we were certainly kept busy for most of the time. The sticks of rock that we were handing out also proved a hit!

It was a brilliant show to explore, and we had fun having a go at some of the competitions on the stands and admiring the many industrial pumps that were on display! The atmosphere around the venue was buzzing, which lasted throughout both days. It is increasingly becoming an important fixture each year for the industry calendar, as a means of discussing and providing support in supply chain, regulation, technical advice and other matters, and as the show is also increasing by 25% next year, it is sure to get bigger and better.  As such, we were very keen to get it booked for next year, and we can now announce that we have already secured a stand for the show in 2024, and are excited to build on the success of this year’s event.

As is our tradition at such events, we also ran our prize draw, with the lucky winner taking home a bottle of premium champagne and box of chocolates. With plenty of interest from visitors to the stand, Steve Pickworth of Caldic UK was declared the winner.

Steve Pickworth at Caldic UK was the winner of the Whitehall Champagne and Chocolate draw!

Heather and I attended the Oil and Colour Chemists Association (OCCA) Industry Networking Lunch on the 14^th June, which was an excellent chance to catch up with our industry colleagues, building on from our time at Chem UK. As an OCCA sponsor we were given the opportunity to display a table-top stand and to present a short introduction on the work we do in the industry. As well as welcoming new sponsors to the OCCA family, we were also presented with preparations for next year’s Surfexexhibition, the biennial OCCA showcase for the coatings industry, and the plans that are being made to make the 2024 edition the best yet. It is scheduled for the 4^th and 5^th June 2024 and we are proud to be exhibiting once again.

Heather and Tom on our table top stand at the OCCA networking lunch

As part of our focus on bringing through young talent through to the coatings industry, Whitehall will be attending University Insight Days in the Autumn, at the University of Warwick. These events are being hosted by OCCA as a way of encouraging more undergraduates to consider the coatings industry as a potential career pathway, and in doing so we will be supporting undergraduates in thinking about the first steps of their career, including help with CV writing, interview preparation and guidance on career options, putting the coatings industry and its many advantages front and centre.

The outreach does not stop there however, as OCCA are also hosting SURCON 2023, on the 21st and 22nd November 2023, also at the University of Warwick, to bring together industry and academia in presenting their technical findings and to share ideas. It is imperative to conduct dialogue between commercial and academic interests, and there has never been a more important time in order to drive forward a more sustainable future as well as harness the power of Britain’s most prestigious Universities in supporting the UK paint manufacturing and jobs. Needless to say this will further highlight a coatings career as a vibrant choice to pursue for young chemists and offer a chance to bring on board the brightest minds to the industry. 

As the leading recruiter for the paints and coatings industry, we have some fantastic open opportunities, including a development chemist role with a major UK industrial coatings manufacturer, a quality manager for a renowned powder coatings manufacturer, and key account manager positions in both can coatings and industrial coatings markets. You can find out more by following the links below:

Development Chemist - Nottinghamshire - https://lnkd.in/erzrdiqN

Key Account Manager - Can Coatings - UK - https://lnkd.in/eN3bkPPJ

Quality Manager - Staffordshire - https://lnkd.in/e2QWXJi9

Area Sales Manager - North - https://lnkd.in/eej69eWm

We are also pleased to continue demonstrating our international pedigree by showcasing two very exciting roles, with a major adhesives company looking to gain a foothold in the German market, who are looking for a Technical Support Engineer and an Inside Sales Representative. The two successful applicants will be assisting the company to start up its operations Germany, so is a hugely exciting opportunity for individuals looking to make a lasting impact.

Moving away from paints and adhesives, in November we will be in attendance at SCS Formulate, the annual exhibition for the personal care and cosmetic industries. This always promises to be a fun and colourful show, which we are thrilled to be attending again and to meet new faces.

Whether you are looking to hire in either the coatings or any of our other specialist industries, or are looking for the next step or your career, do not hesitate to get in touch.

DATES FOR THE DIARY

University Insight Day University of Warwick TBC

SCS Formulate Tuesday 14^th November to Wednesday 15^th November 

SURCON 2023 - Tuesday 21st November 2023 to Wednesday 22nd November 2023

CHEM UK 2024 Wednesday 15^th May to Thursday 16^th May 2024

SURFEX 2024 Tuesday 4^th June to Wednesday 5^th June 2024

After a busy start to 2023 we are pleased to announce that we are continuing our successful partnership with our long standing client based in New Zealand. A leading player in the New Zealand architectural paints market, they manufacture a wide range of products for both the professional and the DIY market, and also export across the Tasman Sea to Australia. Last year we helped a talented chemist from Liverpool to join their laboratory in Wellington, and we are again working with them to help find a Senior Chemist to take a leading role in the development of their products and to train and inspire other members of the technical team. 

For any experienced paint chemist who has considered relocating Down Under, this is an adventure not to be missed. There is certainly much more to New Zealand than rugby and sheep – it is one of the most beautiful countries on earth, boasting a rich biodiversity, stunning scenery and untouched beaches. Fans of Lord of the Rings can enjoy a visit to Hobbiton, and New Zealand is also considered by many to be the bungy jumping capital of the world, if you are really up for a leap into the unknown.

 
As a business with an international presence, we also have further opportunities for a Technical Sales Manager in Denmark, and a European Business Development Manager for a global chemical distributor, reporting to their European office in Belgium. Our European Recruitment Consultant Robert Helmig who is based in the Netherlands and has extensive experience himself of the chemical industry, works regularly on European based roles so working on these positions. 
For those at the very beginning of their careers, we have a new opportunity for a Laboratory Technician with a water based paints company in the historic city of Wrexham, ideal for a someone who is technically minded, has good numerical skills and is looking for lab based role. If you do not have a university degree, this could be the ideal gateway to a scientific career. 

We are also again working with another of our regular clients on three different roles; a Product Transfer Manager, Polymer Project Leader and a European Business Development Manager. This is a highly innovative and exciting company who are breaking the mould in packaging solutions to create a more sustainable future by developing and manufacturing a water-soluble and biodegradable polymer. 
On the 10th and 11th of May, we are looking forward to exhibiting at Chem UK for the first time. Having grown rapidly in just a few short years, it is now a major fixture for the chemical supply chain industry, attended by over 400 exhibitors and 150 expert speakers. Come by and visit our stand D90 to discuss any roles that you or your business would be interested in pursuing. 
 

Whitehall is proud to continue its Corporate Sponsorship of OCCA, a partnership which begin over 30 years ago!
OCCA is the technical professional's organisation for members from coatings, ink, adhesives and allied Industries.

Pictured below: our two Recruitment Consultants Ruth Osborne and Tom Donnithorne, and Managing Consultant Heather McArragher.

The New Year is upon on us and now that the leftover chocolates and mince pies are finally starting to disappear, perhaps your attention is turning towards a fresh start for 2023. Could this be the year for the next step of your career?

The jobs market in the UK is still very much holding up despite gloomy economic forecasts, and reports suggest that around a third of workers are looking for a change in job in 2023.

While there is often a slowdown during December in new roles coming through, Whitehall still have a number of vacancies, including  Sales and Technical roles, with more sure to appear in the coming weeks.

If you are a Chemist looking to progress up the ladder, we have two Senior Chemist roles in the West Midlands in the adhesives and polymer fields as well as two positions for an Inks manufacturer in South Wales. For someone interested in a real adventure we also working with one of our long-term clients to find an experienced Technical Manager with a Paints background to relocate to New Zealand, a fantastic opportunity to move to one of the world’s most beautiful countries.

We also have several Sales roles including a Sales Director position with a major chemical distributor, and a European Business Development Manager role, also with a highly regarded global distributor, both of which offer very attractive packages. Our Sales roles are not just limited to the UK however, as we also have a vacancy for a Chemical Distributor Business Manager based in Denmark.

Perhaps you are a recent graduate looking for your first forays into the job market? If so there are also entry level chemist positions in Hertfordshire and Somerset, both with innovative and exciting companies to start your career at, and Sales Support roles too if you think the lab might not be for you.

Even if these roles are not what you’re looking for, we still of course recommend registering your CV on our website so you can be the first to know about new vacancies via our regular email updates, and make sure to check our Vacancies page for new positions. We also encourage candidates and clients alike to follow the Whitehall Recruitment and Chemical Jobs  pages on LinkedIn to stay up to up to date with all our latest job adverts.

Looking further ahead in 2023, we are excited to be exhibiting at two industry trade shows – Chem UK at the Birmingham NEC in May, which will be our first venture to this show, followed by SCS Formulate at the Coventry Building Society Arena in November. Both are certain to be excellent opportunities to catch up with our clients and candidates, as well as meet some new faces, across a wide range of industry sectors, from Coatings to Cosmetics.

Furthermore, Ruth and I are planning on supporting the Oil and Colour Chemists Association (OCCA) and the British Coatings Federation in taking part at various University locations across the country in their Insight Days they are running across the country to speak to and assist current students about career opportunities in the chemical industry. We both know from recent experience that thinking about career options can be a daunting task, so we are keen to make a positive impact in this regard.

As travel restrictions are now lifted, we are thrilled to be able to visit our clients again. Getting out on the road is something we are keen to resume this year, so if you are a new or existing clients and would like the chance to have a face-to-face meeting do not hesitate to contact us to arrange a visit.

All in all, we are confident that 2023 will bring exciting opportunities for both ourselves and our candidates.