Job seeking

On this page: Where and how to look for jobs

Advertised roles

Top tips for searching for advertised roles:

1. Keep your search terms broad. Some jobs may use titles you would not expect. Use broad terms such as your chemistry knowledge or skills. Job titles of people on LinkedIn with your skills could give you more ideas on search terms.
2. Broaden the sectors you look for roles. Roles in marketing and sales, for example, are not restricted by sector.
3. It's a good idea to record who you’ve applied to and for what job. Keep a record of all of your letters and CVs. This will keep you organised and save you time in the long run.
4. Make sure you tailor your cover letters and CVs for each new role.

Chemistry-specific job websites

• Chemistry World Jobs  is a job site dedicated to chemistry and the chemical sciences. Browse more than 50 sectors within the chemical sciences across academia and industry.
• Searching for an internship or placement? Explore Chemistry World Jobs internship board.
• Have you considered a smaller business? SMEs are frequently overlooked but they offer valuable learning opportunities.
• Use this map as a tool to search for chemical sciences companies across the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Graduate-specific job sites

• Gradcracker
• Milkround
• Nuclear Graduates
• STEM graduates recruitment agency

Global Job Boards

Many job-boards include global job opportunities. We have included some general, international boards below as well as some country and region-specific websites here:

Identifying inclusive employers

• Consider the language used in the job advert, what the company says and does on its social media channels and who their employees are on LinkedIn. Research the company and their culture. Further advice and tips.
• Speak with current and previous employees or applicants about their experience of specific organisations. Join relevant RSC networks to grow your network and identify people to speak with. Also utilise your personal network and STEM and LGBT+ spaces to answer your questions. LinkedIn can be a useful tool to track down ex-colleagues, friends, peers and people you studied with who may be able to share their insights. You can also use public resources such as Glassdoor where people post employee reviews.
• Inclusive best practice lists and directories: Stonewall UK workplace equality index, Social Mobility Index and Inclusive Top 50.
• Specific recruitment agencies: Rare Recruitment  and SEO London.
• Explore our LGBT+ Toolkits which includes support and resources for LGBT+ scientists, employers, allies and much more: https://www.rsc.org/new-perspectives/talent/inclusion-and-diversity/resources/lgbt-toolkit/

Making speculative applications

There are differing views on how useful speculative applications are. Some estimates claim that as high as 80% of jobs are not publicly listed. This is often called the 'hidden job market.' LinkedIn advises a similar percentage. However, the evidence behind such claims is contested and online job boards and recruitment platforms have made it far easier for employers to widely advertise vacancies. 

But this does not mean speculative applications have no value. Their effectiveness will depend on the organisation, seniority, sector, and circumstances. For example, they may be particularly useful when:

• Exploring opportunities that have not yet been advertised. 
• Approaching academic researchers. For example, a research group may have funding for a research assistant or other position, or anticipate future opportunities, without having advertised a vacancy yet. 
• You wish to demonstrate your motivation, fit, and interest to an employer. 
• Exploring opportunities beyond existing job descriptions. 
• Applying for senior roles where recruitment may not be advertised. 
• Looking for international jobs. Speculative applications remain a standard part of job seeking in many European countries. 

How to make a speculative application

• Email is the main way to make speculative applications.
• Keep the email snappy and to the point, setting out what you are looking for, and explaining what you can offer the team/organisation.
• Attach a tailored CV and Cover Letter.
• Address it to a named contact within the organisation ('Dear Dr Khan’ rather than ‘To whom it may concern’). As part of this, identify who the best person to speak with is likely to be. This is likely to be the head of department of the team you wish to join.
• If you need advice on how to find individuals, check out our Networking resource.
• LinkedIn can be useful to connect with your contacts and so they can see your profile and sending out a LinkedIn connect request alongside your email can be an effective approach.

Top tips for writing a speculative application

• Research the organisation carefully. Identify their values, projects, priorities and strategy.
• This is a useful video on how to structure a speculative application email.
• Be clear about what you’re offering. Don’t just say ‘Do you have any jobs?’ but explain what you can offer them and how you can add value. Highlight your skills and experience and how they align with the company’s mission.
• Make sure your CV and Cover Letter are tailored and targeted for the role you have in mind.
• Be strategic with your timing, sending messages over the Christmas break or in the summer holidays is likely to get lost when people return to the office. In a similar way, emailing at 17:00 on a Friday may mean your email gets lost over the weekend. Typically sending emails during working hours from Tuesday to Thursday is best.
• Keep track of where you’ve sent applications already. A spreadsheet where you log your contacts and applications can remind you when to follow up, without the embarrassment of sending the same request to the same company twice.

Using AI to help with job-seeking

AI tools can be helpful when searching for jobs, however they work best as a source of support and feedback. They are not a substitute for your own judgement, experience, and preparation. 

Here are some ways you could use AI during your job search: 

• Share your skills and experience with a large language model, and ask the AI to suggest roles, sectors, and employers where your chemistry knowledge and transferable skills could be valuable. 
• Use AI to help you compile a list of organisations in a particular sector or location. (But do beware some listings can be out of date, so make sure you verify information)
• Ask AI to suggest related job titles, keywords and phrases to use when searching job boards. 
• Upload the job description to AI, and ask it to explain unfamiliar terminology, identify the key requirements of the vacancy, and give you bullet points of the skills the employer is looking for. 

But do be aware. AI-generated content can sound convincing even when it is inaccurate, generic or based on incorrect assumptions. Remember, it is only one point of view. It is not authoritative. 

• AI is more useful when you give it more context. Sharing the job description, relevant details about your experience and a clear explanation of what you want help with, can help ensure it gives you tailored and targeted information. 
• Make sure you double-check the information it gives you. Verify vacancies, application deadlines, employer information and any claims about qualifications or required experience using reliable sources. 
• AI can help you to communicate your experience, but it should not invent achievements, qualifications, technical skills or examples. Make sure any applications or speculative emails are written in your own voice and reflect who you are and what you want to say. 
• Some employers may have guidance on how AI should be used in job applications. Make sure you follow any rules around this carefully. 
• Avoid sharing confidential employer information with AI tools. You may also want to familiarise yourself with the tools' data policies before sharing sensitive personal data. 

The perils of automatic applications

Online recruitment platforms have made applying for jobs easier than ever. Features such as LinkedIn Easy Apply and one-click applications allow you to submit your details to multiple employers quickly, without completing a lengthy application form each time. However, convenience does not necessarily translate into effectiveness. 

The danger is that applying becomes a numbers game, rather than a targeted job-search strategy. When applications take only minutes, it can be tempting to apply for a large number of vacancies without first considering whether they are a good fit, tailoring your CV, or demonstrating your suitability for the role. This can result in a high volume of applications but relatively few meaningful opportunities. 

There are several pitfalls to consider:

• Quick apply functions may use a standard CV or pull information from your profile automatically. Without tailoring the information, you may miss opportunities to demonstrate how you match the specific requirements of the role.
• Some platforms collect only basic information, meaning you may not have the opportunity to provide a supporting statement, answer screening questions, or explain relevant experience.
• The ease of submitting an application can make it tempting and easy to apply for roles that do not align with your skills, interest, or career goals. A more selective approach can help you concentrate your time and effort on opportunities that genuinely interest you.
• Recruiters are telling us that automated applications all look the same, with little to distinguish the candidates. Instead, a tailored, targeted approach can help personalise the recruitment process. 

Instead, take time. Slow down and focus on quality over quantity. Read our CV and Cover Letter resources for advice on tailoring your applications.

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Updated October 2026.