Laura Aldridge (careers adviser) summarises the top ten tips which were shared by leading employers at the recent Careers in the Cosmetics Industry Event.

Imran Saleem (programme leader of the MSC in Cosmetic Science) ran in collaboration with Laura Aldridge (from LJMU Careers Team), a Careers in the Cosmetics Industry Event on Wednesday 31^st January.

The event was attended by a range of leading companies such as Brenntag, Croda, TRI Princeton, Walgreens Boots Alliance and Unilever.  The fragrance industry was represented by the British Society of Perfumers.  Kate Martin (an LJMU Graduate) also spoke at the event about her experience of setting up a cosmetics business with the support of LJMU’s Centre for Entrepreneurship.

This event was attended by around 50 students who heard presentations from the above companies.  Students then had the chance to ask the employers questions after the presentations, and to network with them informally.

Here are ten careers insights which were shared at this event:

1. There are a range of employers who offer opportunities. Some job roles are with the raw material suppliers and distributers of the components, which some of the cosmetic companies use to make their products.  Examples of these suppliers and distributers are Brenntag and Croda.  Other job opportunities are with the ‘finished goods companies’ who manufacture these goods, such as Walgreens Boots Alliance and Unilever.
2. A range of scientific and technical job roles exist. There are many technical job roles which are open to science graduates such as in research and development and in product formulation.
3. Science can be used in a commercial setting. Several of the speakers explained that other opportunities exist for science graduates within commercial job roles, for example within sales, marketing and business development.
4. There are different entry points into these job roles for graduates in the cosmetics industry. For example, companies such as Walgreens Boots Alliance, Croda and Unilever have graduate schemes both in technical and commercial roles.  Unilever have a Future Leaders Programme  that allows graduates to progress into a management role, following successful completion of the programme.  Check out the videos by Walgreens Boots Alliance and Croda at the end of the article for more about their graduate programmes.
5. It is also possible to work your way up.  Some graduates may start in a technician level role and then work their way up into a higher position.  For example one of the speakers (Emma Catchpole) started off as a formulation technician at Walgreens Boots Alliance, and is now a formulation manager with the company.
6. There are internship and placements opportunities. Some companies such as Croda and Unilever also have either summer or year long placement opportunities which students can undertake between level 5 and level 6.   Such placements provide a valuable opportunity to gain hands-on industry experience in a company.  These companies offer advertise their placements early in level 5, so make sure that you check their websites for application deadlines.
7. The opportunities with your degree subject could be broader than you think. Many of the aforementioned companies will also accept students from a brought range of science degree courses, for the majority of their job roles.  It is important though to always double check if there are any specific degree requirements, particularly for technical roles, before applying.
8. Opportunities also exist in research. Paul Cornwell from TRI Princeton talked about the work which his company does in research and in the testing of hair products.  For some of the research-based roles with TRI Princeton, a PhD is usually required.
9. Qualifying as a perfumer is a long but rewarding process. David Whitaker from the British Society of Perfumers told students that it can take about seven years to qualify as a perfumer.  However, once qualified it is possible to move into the role of senior or chief perfumer where exciting opportunities exist to develop new fragrances.
10. Starting your own business can be a viable option too. Kate Martin, an LJMU graduate of the BA in Fashion Communication told students how (with the support of the Centre for Entrepreneurship) she had set up her own beauty business called ‘Mollie Cosmetics’.

If you would like to receive copies of the PowerPoint presentations which are available from this event, then please email l.aldridge@ljmu.ac.uk.

For your information, LJMU runs an MSc in Cosmetic Science and further information can be found about this here.

Videos of visiting employers

Emma Catchpole, Formulation Manager, Walgreen Boots Alliance:

Mike Hinkley, Applications Team Leader, Croda: