Dale Holroyd completed an MSc in Biochemistry (cum laude) in April 2002. Today he is the founder and director (communication) of ZapCarbon – a groundbreaking environmental sciences company based in London.
What did you study, when did you finish?
I completed my MSc in Biochemistry (cum laude) in April 2002
Describe your work experience prior to your official job search process.
While I was a student, I worked at restaurants which helped me develop good communication skills. I also tutored 2nd and 3rd year students, which really sharpened my base knowledge. I also started up a promotional clothing company during my Honours year. It was called CrazyFish and sold t-shirts and promotional clothing to "koshuis" groups and sports teams. This did really well, because I had four years' worth of student networks and friends in different committees to get business from. I stopped after I finished my MSc and moved to London.
What is your current employment?
In 2008, I started the company ZapCarbon.com with a friend who studied chemical engineering. We started part-time and after two years went full-time. Today ZapCarbon.com is a ground-breaking environmental sciences company based in London. I am also director for communication at the company.
What is exciting about your work?
I am passionate about the positive impact we make on people, organisations and the environment. More importantly our whole business is driven by innovation and developing new products and programmes to solve specific problems, so no two days is ever the same!
Your advice to students entering the job market?
Networking and knowing the right people get you a job a lot faster than sending out a CV, even if you are in the top 3% of your academic class. I will highly recommend making a top 10 list of potential employees one to two years before you graduate and contacting those organisations for holiday internships. Focus on making contact with one important contact person in each of these organisations and try and either meet with them for coffee or request advice over the phone. This is the best investment you can ever make! Over 90% of the staff I have ever hired was through networks, not employment agencies.
What would you have done differently during your years at university?
We spend many years studying but often only spend a hand-full of days or weeks researching the outcomes of that three to seven year investment. So speak to as many people in your chosen industry as you can. Find out what their work day is like, what they like about their job, their career path and what your earning potential is. You also get a lot of job ideas you never would have thought of by speaking to people in your industry.
Read more about our BSc alumni in the work place:
  | Biochemistry postgrad now manager at biomedical firm Chantelle Pretorius |
  | Going place with a BSc degree in Computer Science Carl Crous
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  | James McCleary |
  | Dreamjobs: software developer at BlackGinger Morné Chamberlain |
