Career profiles

Nurses care for adults who are sick, injured or have physical disabilities. They work in hospitals, clinics, hospices and patients' homes.

Children's nurses care for babies, children and young people recovering from illness, injury and other health issues.

Mental health nurses support people in their recovery from mental health issues. They work in hospitals, clinics and community services.

Midwives support pregnant people and their babies before, during and after, childbirth.

Paramedics respond to emergency call-outs and give people life-saving medical help.

Physiotherapists assess and treat mobility problems in patients caused by illness, injury, ageing or disability.

Occupational therapists help people who have difficulties caused by physical or mental illness, disability, accident or ageing.

Dental nurses support dentists and hygienists in all areas of patient care.

Hospital doctors diagnose and treat medical conditions, injuries, illness and disease in patients admitted to hospital.

General practitioners (GPs) are doctors who provide medical services to people in their local community.

Surgeons work as part of a team, carrying out routine and emergency operations and medical procedures on patients.

Anaesthetists are doctors who give anaesthetics and pain relief to patients undergoing surgery or medical procedures.

Psychiatrists are doctors who diagnose and treat patients with mental health problems.

Paediatricians diagnose and treat health conditions that affect babies, children and young people.

Pathologists work in hospitals and laboratories on different areas of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Dentists diagnose and treat teeth and gum problems and help prevent dental disease. They also promote good oral hygiene.

Dietitians diagnose and treat people with nutrition problems and help them to make healthy lifestyle and dietary choices.

Speech and language therapists help people with speaking and communication problems and those with eating and swallowing difficulties.

Clinical psychologists help people of all ages manage their mental health issues, like phobias, depression, eating disorders and addiction.

Audiologists and hearing aid dispensers work with children and adults who have hearing loss, tinnitus, or problems with balance.

Operating department practitioners (ODPs) give skilled care and support to patients before, during and after operations.

Optometrists test vision, identify eye health problems, manage treatments, prescribe glasses and fit contact lenses.

Prosthetists and orthotists use the latest technology to create devices that help patients move without pain.

Physician assistants support doctors with diagnosing and managing patients in hospitals and GP surgeries.

Podiatrists diagnose and treat foot and ankle problems to improve people's mobility and quality of life.

Biomedical scientists test patient samples and help doctors and healthcare professionals diagnose, treat and prevent disease.

Pharmacists give advice on the use and supply of medicines and medical appliances.

Radiographers take scans of patients to diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries.

Forensic scientists collect and analyse physical and digital evidence to support criminal and accident investigations.

Biochemists investigate the chemical processes that take place inside all living things, such as viruses, bacteria and people.

Clinical scientists research and develop techniques and equipment to help prevent, diagnose and treat illness.

Medical physicists design, develop and test the scanning and imaging equipment used in the diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Healthcare science assistants support medical staff, with duties ranging from lab testing blood samples to monitoring patients’ heart function.

Critical care technologists monitor life support and other equipment used with critically ill patients.

Biologists study living things, including people, animals and plants, along with the environments they live in.

Microbiologists study organisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi and algae to make advances in environmental science, medicine and agriculture.

Research scientists plan and lead experiments and investigations on a range of scientific topics.

Astronomers study the origin and structure of the universe, including its planets, stars, galaxies and black holes.

Meteorologists collect and study data from the atmosphere and oceans to make weather forecasts and carry out research.

Geoscientists study the Earth's structure and formation above and below ground to explore natural processes, minerals and energy resources.

Oceanographers study seas and currents, marine plants and animals, and the rocks and minerals that lie beneath the sea bed.

Ecologists study the relationship between plants, animals and the environment.

Chemists investigate the chemical make up of substances and work out how they behave under different conditions.

Physicists study the behaviour of matter and energy and form theories to explain how everything fits together.

Civil engineers design and manage construction projects, such as buildings, bridges, flood defences and transport links.

Mechanical engineers design, build and install machinery used in industries like power, engineering, transport and manufacturing.

Electrical engineers design, build and maintain electrical systems, machinery and equipment in lots of different industries.

Aerospace engineers design, test, build and maintain aeroplanes, spacecraft and satellites.

Chemical engineers develop ways to turn raw materials into everyday products.

Robotics engineers design and build machines to do automated jobs in industries like manufacturing, aerospace and medicine.

Agricultural engineers design, develop and service agricultural, horticultural and forestry machinery and equipment.

Automotive engineers design, test and build cars, vans, lorries, buses and motorbikes.

Nuclear engineers design and build technology used in areas like power generation, healthcare and defence.

Electronics engineers design and develop systems for industry, from mobile communications to manufacturing and aerospace.

Renewable energy engineers research and develop ways to generate sustainable power from wind, solar, hydrogen and biomass resources.

Software developers create and test programs that allow people to complete tasks, run services and use digital devices.

Web developers use computer code to create and maintain websites and applications.

Data scientists use software, artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyse and interpret large amounts of data.

Network engineers design, set up and maintain physical and virtual IT communication systems for organisations.

Cyber intelligence officers gather information about where threats to information technology (IT) systems come from and how they work.

IT security co-ordinators protect their clients' computer systems and data from illegal access, theft and misuse.

Computer game developers create video games for phones, tablets, PCs and consoles.

Database administrators organise and update computer systems that store data for commercial companies and public organisations.

Data analyst-statisticians collect data and statistics to identify trends, create forecasting models and help organisations to improve their service.

Architects design new buildings and the spaces around them, and restore and conserve existing buildings.

Electricians install power, lighting and renewable technologies in buildings. They also inspect and repair electrical control systems and machinery.

Plumbers install and repair water and heating systems in residential households and commercial properties.

Graphic designers create printed and digital materials for magazines, packaging, branding, websites and social media.

Fashion designers produce new clothing and fashion ranges using their creative and technical skills.

Interior designers plan the internal layout and decoration of public, commercial and residential buildings and spaces.

Photographers take and process pictures of people, places, products and events.

Museum and art gallery curators manage collections of objects of artistic, scientific, historical and general interest.

Newspaper or magazine journalists write articles and stories for local, regional, national and online publications.

Translators convert written words from a 'source language' into the 'target language', making sure that the meaning is the same.

Writers create written work like books, scripts and poems. They also write blogs, articles and reviews, as well as manuals and educational guides.

Secondary school teachers teach children from 11 to 16, or up to 19 in schools with sixth forms.

Primary school teachers are responsible for the educational, social and emotional development of children between the ages of 3 and 11.

Teaching assistants (TAs) support teachers in the classroom and help children with reading, writing and learning activities.

Librarians work in public and commercial libraries, managing access to books, digital resources, archives and computers.

Solicitors advise clients about the law and act on their behalf in legal matters.

Barristers represent clients and their solicitors in court, at tribunals and in legal disputes. They also give expert legal advice on particular points of law.

Police officers respond to incidents, investigate crimes and work closely with communities to keep them safe.

Social workers help to protect vulnerable children and adults from harm or abuse, and support people to live independently.

Firefighters respond to emergency call outs, search and rescue incidents and road traffic accidents. They also give advice on fire safety.

Archaeologists learn about the past by studying written records, collecting oral histories and excavating objects and remains at historical sites.

Archivists preserve and manage historical and cultural records. They also make collections available to researchers and the public.

Marketing managers plan how to promote products, services or brands and oversee all marketing activity.

Human resources (HR) officers hire, develop and look after employees in a company.

Economists advise government departments, businesses, banks and other organisations on economic matters.

Actuaries work with companies and government departments, to help them forecast long-term financial costs and investment risks.

Investment analysts help stock market traders, stockbrokers and fund managers make decisions about investments.

Business analysts investigate situations and problems to find improvements for businesses.

Management accountants oversee a company's finances and find ways to improve profits.

Financial advisers help people and organisations choose investments, savings, pensions, mortgages and insurance products.

Stockbrokers manage their clients' investments by trading stocks, shares and other financial products to get the best return.

Vets diagnose and treat sick and injured animals.

Veterinary nurses support vets in the treatment and care of sick and injured animals.

Chefs prepare, cook and present food in hotels, bars and restaurants.

Sports coaches teach sports skills to individuals and teams of all abilities.

Fitness instructors organise exercise programmes to improve people's health and fitness.