The graduate perspective
So what about life beyond graduation?
We keep in touch with our graduates to find out where their skills and interests are taking them. Our graduates work in the UK and all around the world in a variety of sectors – from medicine, healthcare and education to agrochemicals and brewing (below).
And careers support at Sheffield doesn't end after graduation day. Experts in our University Careers Service will support you for up to three years after you graduate.
Claire Monk, Head Brewster for Welbeck Abbey Brewery
Claire's career plans started to take shape towards the end of her degree. After a chat with the Head of Department, she got in touch with one of our industry collaborators, Kelham Island Brewery. She went on to work for the Sheffield firm and now runs her own microbrewery in Nottinghamshire.
Undergraduate degree
BSc in Molecular Biology
Why I love my job
"I currently run a microbrewery, where I am the Head Brewster. The Welbeck Abbey Brewery was created in May 2011 in collaboration with Welbeck Abbey and the Kelham Island Brewery, where I used to work. As it's a small brewery, the best part is developing the recipes and seeing them develop into a beer you can buy in a pub.
It's brilliant that I get to speak to the customers, and it's this holistic approach, through recipes to customer interaction that is the reason I love my job. Currently I am trying to pin down 3 beers, and it's really interesting gaining customer feedback – I'm constantly updating and improving the recipes.
A typical day
We brew on Monday and Thursday so on those days, the schedule is long. I normally get to the brewery about 7am and will stay there until around 5pm. On a Monday I also sell the beer, we individually sell to 55 pubs, so every Monday I ring round for orders and plan the delivery schedule.
At the moment I work alone but I'm due to get another permanent member of staff soon. There is often a lot of paperwork to do! I put a lot of effort into business development through the week, updating websites/blog, and increasing our customer base.
Challenges of the industry
Initially I think that the brewery only thought that I was being half serious about wanting to pursue it as a career. They gave me a bit of a test, a probation period I guess and from that I proved myself. I have to do this constantly and this can be exhausting at times – I am a young girl in a highly male dominated industry.
Being a Brewster is a combination of a scientist, with being a very good director. It's a dangerous job at times so you have to keep a cool head.
How Sheffield helped prepare me
Between the first and second year I wasn't sure what I wanted to do – I knew that I always wanted to run my own business, but then through my work as president of the course society, I got chatting to the head of the department. He knew the owner of the Kelham Island Brewery and things went from there.
The greatest part about studying at the University of Sheffield was that the lecturers have all worked within the industry and therefore students can gain a lot from their time with them.
My work as Activities Officer in the Sheffield Students' Union was vital – you really get to know the business side of things, top-level management, and how a business works.
Advice for new students
If I could give one piece of advice to students thinking of going to the University of Sheffield, I'd say to get involved with the very extensive Students' Union. It helps shape who you are – through working with various societies and also through the very engaging departments."