Career Profile
Samantha Reed
Lab Technician
Before I joined the company in 2000, I was studying A-Levels at college. I’ve always had a keen interest in Science, so when a local careers organisation suggested the trainee Lab Technician opportunity at Dow Corning, I looked into it. The more I read about the company over the internet - successful business, global reach, excellent prospects and development opportunities, etc. - the more I became convinced that this was where I wanted to work. I’m glad to say my instincts were proved right.
I started out in S&T (Science & Technology), moved into QC (Quality Control) then returned to S&T, where I’m currently based as a technical team member of the Fluorine Technology Program, I enjoy working in research and development as there’s always something new to learn. My day-to-day duties vary, but essentially involve synthesising new products, application testing, analysing and tabulating results, patent searching and liaising with internal and external customers. The Fluorine Technology Program is currently working towards commercialising several new products which I have helped develop and scale-up, which has been a really exciting and rewarding experience. Although a Lab Technician by definition, I’m not constantly stuck in there: my project work has taken me to places such as on customer visits in Germany and other DC sites in Europe, and I’ve attended local conferences - all on expenses I hasten to add!
As an employer, Dow Corning is incredibly supportive. If you have a problem getting your head round a particular aspect of your work, there’s always someone there to help you, not to mention dozens of training courses to skill-up on. And if, like me, you’re interested in obtaining work-related qualifications, they’ll be behind you every step of the way. In the time I’ve been here, I’ve completed an ONC is Science, a HNC in Science and just started a BSc (Hons) in Molecular Science, all paid for by the company. Another thing you’ll discover at Dow Corning is that career progression is a certainty rather than just a remote possibility: you tell them where you want to be, say in five years time, and they’ll do their best to provide you with the opportunities to get there. What’s more, you can move between different roles should you feel in need of a fresh challenge.
From personal experience, and from what I’ve gleaned from colleagues who have been in the business a lot longer than I have, Dow Corning certainly ticks all the right boxes.
