I work as a Junior Laboratory Technician, doing preparing samples, running routine tests, maintaining equipment and recording results.

I work in Science. That matters more than I expected.

This is year 2 for me.

I'd put preparing samples, running routine tests, maintaining equipment and recording results at the top of the list.

My role fills the gap between what needs to happen and getting it done correctly. That matters more than I expected.

Other people build on what I do, so mistakes can travel pretty far. Good work saves everyone time later. That changed a little once I had more experience.

It changes. Yesterday was mostly preparing samples, running routine tests, maintaining equipment and recording results; today could be meetings and fixing something unexpected.

Definitely. A good chunk of the job is recurring work, which is useful because you get faster at it. I notice it more during busy weeks.

It comes in bursts. I can have two quiet weeks and then three things become urgent on the same afternoon. That changed a little once I had more experience.

This role is mostly in person because of the kind of work I do. It's not something I thought about before I started.

Most days I have lab instruments, LIMS and standard lab equipment open or nearby.

More independent than group work, although I check in with people throughout the day. I learned that pretty quickly.

Education-wise, science/technical degree or laboratory training.

Certifications can help. Experience still matters more once you've been working for a while. It's not something I thought about before I started.

Problem solving. A lot of the day is figuring out what to do when the obvious answer doesn't work. It depends on the project, though.

Roughly 40 hours a week. It can be different at other places.

The schedule is set more by the work than by me. I didn't really understand that until I started working.

It's better now than earlier in my career because I've learned when to stop checking messages. I learned that pretty quickly.

Most weeks it's the same core group, with different customers or stakeholders mixed in. I learned that pretty quickly.

Yes. More complex work usually comes first, then senior or lead responsibilities. That's the part I notice most.

Mine wasn't a straight ladder, and I don't think most people's careers are. It depends a lot on who you're working with.

There are related roles on both the technical and business sides. That's how it works on my team.

There seems to be steady demand where I am. I notice it more during busy weeks.

Priorities change. You can do good work and still have to redo it because the situation changed. That's been pretty consistent for me.

The field should still be around. Some entry-level tasks may look very different. It took me a while to get used to that.

Automation will take pieces of the job. The people who know the field well enough to check the automated work will still be needed. That changed a little once I had more experience.

I'd use current government salary data plus local postings for this one. It can be different at other places.

The usual benefits are available at larger employers. Smaller places can be different. At my workplace, at least.

Practice writing and presenting your work. People underestimate how useful that is. It depends on the project, though.

A finished project is better than five half-finished projects on a résumé. I learned that pretty quickly.

I liked the subject in school and the first internship confirmed I liked the work too. That matters more than I expected.

Seeing a project go from messy to finished is my favorite part. I didn't really understand that until I started working.

Documentation. It depends on the project, though.

People underestimate how much preparation happens before the part they actually see. That's been my experience anyway.

A person who can take feedback without getting defensive has an advantage. That's been my experience anyway.

If you really dislike working with other people, this could be frustrating. That's how it works on my team.

I didn't expect to spend this much time writing. It can be different at other places.

I would've worked a summer job related to the field. That's the part I notice most.

I should've asked about workplace culture during interviews, not just salary. It can be different at other places.

I worked on a project that had been stuck for months and helped get it finished. My last job handled it differently.

The biggest change is that people now come to me for answers I used to ask somebody else for. That's the part I notice most.

Weekends happen during busy periods, but not every week. That's been my experience anyway.