Science Career Week, a week organized by Career Services in which students in the final years of Degree and Master's Degree from Schools of Science and Pharmacy and Nutrition approach the job market, was well attended by alumni to share their experience with students and provide them with useful tips for their first work.

Thus, students were able to attend to several round tables with some alumni who have focused their professional careers in different sectors. "If you want to work in the industry, keep a close contact with the University because companies offer through this channel many possibilities of employment, PIE scholarships, external internship programs...", advised Palmira Antoñanzas, who currently works in Food Quality and Safety at General Mills.

For his part, Nicolás de Silva represented the example of someone who, from the very beginning, has been clear about where he wants to take his future. In fact, he is currently part of the team of nutritionists at Baskonia Alavés. "Working in sports nutrition makes every day different. I knew where I wanted to end up and that's why all the steps I've been taking have been heading in that direction. The University and, above all, the professors have helped me enormously on this path, with their support, their committee when it comes to making decisions...", he relates. "Take advantage of the closeness of the professors: they and their contacts with other people and companies can be a good starting point in the job market."

Mónica López Arrillaga is the owner of a pharmacy office and expressed the importance of being responsive to patients: "Our work has to be to recommend, advise, listen more to the people who enter the pharmacy. And for that it is important to protocolize and even invest for the benefit of our patients. If we refuse to simply give a medicine by cutting a seal, if we work actively, our profession has no limits".

The same idea was remarked by Paula Aldave, from the Hospital Pharmacy Service of the Navarra Hospital Complex: "In a hospital, the pharmacist is part of a team and is one more barrier to ensure that each patient receives the treatment they really need and that it is administered correctly," she explained. "In addition, now, thanks to the multidisciplinary teams, pharmacists go up to the ward a lot and continue to validate, but next to the physician. This favors faster validation and better care for the patients."

Consulting, training and the first employment

The employment Day was the culmination of a week full of sessions oriented to receive training, search for internships and the first employment. Up to 15 companies from various sectors - biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, environment and food - were able to advise more than 300 students from the University of Navarra.

What scientific companies value most when hiring a recent graduate graduate are "a good level of English" and "experiences close to the professional (voluntary internships, work experience outside the academic field or volunteer activities)", as Muskilda Pascualena, director of development people at Idifarma development Pharmaceuticals, points out. Tomás Alarcón, director Human Resources at 3P Biopharmaceuticals, adds "a high level of critical thinking and continuous improvement; a desire to learn and develop professionally".

In addition, the ability to learn, adapt to change, work in global environments, results orientation, and criteria of effectiveness and efficiency are aspects highlighted by Pascualena and Alarcón to draw a good professional profile in the scientific field.

The scientific training of future generations, according to these experts in Human Resources, should be aimed at a greater practicality of theoretical knowledge and an enhancement of social skills. "Preparing students not only in knowledge but, above all, in social skills (work in teamwork, leadership, adaptation to change...). All this is and will be essential for the subsequent professional development ", concludes Alarcón. 

 

Companies from Navarra, the Basque Country, Aragón and Madrid participated in the Day of employment : Viscofan, 3P Biopharmaceuticals, Laboratorios Cinfa, Idifarma development Farmacéutico, Astrazeneca, Azti Tecnalia, Kiro Grifols, CEIN, Cichorium S.L, Congelados de Navarra, Factor CO2, OC Vigilance and the official associations of biologists, pharmacists and nutritionists of Navarra.