Case study 4

Case study 4 - Fiona Burrows

Sector: Science and engineering
Name of company: Glasgow Science Centre
Work area based: Pacific Quay, Glasgow
Individual name: Fiona Burrows
Age: 23
Job title: Science Communicator/Customer Service Assistant
Home area: Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire
School/college/university: Bearsden Academy, University of Strathclyde - B Eng (Hons) and about to start Primary Teaching at Edinburgh University

Career path
I completed two placements related to my university course: an eight week placement doing a marketing project for a company that assists start-ups in the wireless technologies sector and five months working on an operations and marketing project with an IT service SME company. I started working part time at Glasgow Science Centre in my last year at university and took up a full time position when I completed my degree

What are the key skills used in your job?
My job at Glasgow Science Centre is so varied. I have many transferable skills that I need to use and develop every day:
• Communication skills – I spend my whole working week explaining, describing to and instructing people
• Team working, motivational and organisation skills – it is essential that everyone here works as part of a team to deliver a quality visitor experience. You need to be self-motivated and although a degree in science or engineering is not essential the knowledge enhances your ability to share with some authority the science and technology subjects covered in the Centre.

What are the biggest challenges in your job?
Keeping up to date in the field of science and technology and, because of this, the inevitable changing events, programmes and shows etc within the centre – but this is also the part of the job that I enjoy the most as I love the variety the place offers.

It also helps to have a bit of patience and some experience of customer service when dealing with the demanding public.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
As I’ve mentioned I love the variety of tasks that I get to do, as well as the atmosphere of the company and the friendships I’ve made with my co-workers. GSC is such a friendly place to work, there’s a real team spirit that comes from most of us really loving the place and the experiences that it offers to kids and adults alike. I have gained so much from my time here and it is from this experience that I have decided to expand my role of educator and go for my teacher qualification this year.

What advice would you give to others interested in this type of work?
To work at the Glasgow Science Centre it’s important to have an active and current interest in science and technology, and to be aware of current issues in the field. GSC is a dynamic workplace so I think it’s also quite important to be a fast learner and to have confidence in your own ability (although my confidence has grown a lot whilst working here).

Distinct advantages would be:
• A degree in science or engineering
• Customer service qualification /experience
• Teaching experience particularly with children

Essential skills:
• Good communication
• Presentation skills: new employees are asked to present a science topic as part of the recruitment process so that these can be assessed. These skills are further developed by copious amounts of training on how to present shows/workshops and how to engage customers interacting with exhibits around the centre

A day in the life of a Science Communicator/Customer Service Assistant
There’s not really a typical day in the Science Centre to be honest.I am trained to work in numerous different capacities.
 
When I arrive in the morning we have a team meeting with the Duty Manager. During the meeting we are given information about what’s happening that day and each issued with a ‘Day sheet’ which shows exactly where each staff member should be in the Centre throughout that day. We can then refer to this to see what area we are working in and when our lunch breaks are etc.
Areas I could be in include the IMAX Cinema, Glasgow Tower, Planetarium, and Science Mall - each having its own challenge.

Teacher placement
Would you like to find out more about these companies or this industry? A teacher placement is a great way to do this. To find out more about the national Excellence in Education through Business Links placement programme visit Careers Scotland.