If you’ve invested the time, effort, and discipline required to attain your maths or physics degree, you’ll naturally want to know what opportunities lie ahead of you. The same question might crop up if you’re thinking of taking these subjects at degree level.
So what kind of careers can these degrees be used for? Here are some ideas:
Engineering
The very core elements of engineering rely heavily on both maths and physics to some degree. You can choose very many different spheres of engineering too if you want to have a specific focus. You can be a civil engineer, for example, and use your physics understanding to contribute to the construction of key public infrastructure. You can be a chemical engineer and use the principles you have learned in developing new and useful substances. You can be a software engineer, and use your analytical nature to build exciting and practical new software programs.
Analyst
If you have achieved your physics or maths degree you obviously have a head for details and the aforementioned analytical nature. You could turn those skills into being a systems analyst, whereby you analyse business practices and structures in detail and provide feedback on where efficiencies could be improved, gaps could be plugged, and potential security issues could arise. Similarly, you could be a data analyst, whereby you analyse data in order to spot trends or other useful conclusions for a range of clients to improve their products or services, or for us to better understand how people are affected by certain things.
Tutoring
Of course, there could be a career in education waiting for you as well. You could either choose to focus on the basic education of youngsters, or you could involve yourself in the world of further education and become a maths tutor for example. This will allow you to not only use the practical skills and understanding you have developed, but it will also give you peace of mind – you will be using them to actively contribute to the next generation of scientists, engineers, and coders. Your involvement in their educational journey could make all the difference.
How do you make the choice?
These are just three spheres of the workplace your skills may be useful. But it’s up to you to think about both what you actually want to achieve and your passions, as well as what you understand to be your particular skill set. By looking at both of these things you will able to develop a clearer understanding of where your future career path could lead you. Physics degrees don’t automatically mean lining up to be physics tutors, but similarly, if you think you have something to offer as a tutor then you should do everything you can to make it a reality for yourself.
You have the skills, experience, and understanding to use your maths or physics degree to find the career you truly enjoy. Look within yourself, find that inspiration, and you will land your dream job.