Jobs for physics graduates

[alexepascual]

In 1998 I got my bachelor's degree in physics. I was intending to teach high school, but after a year teaching (or baby-sitting) I discovered that was not for me. I found a job as an engineer at a thin films company where I got a chance to work on interesting projects, apply some of what I had learned in school, and learn some more. After about two years and a half I went to work for a company doing work on fiber-optical components. I lasted there about six months as the telecommunications industry was doing badly. This was some time after 911 and the corporate scandals. Then the war in Iraq started. I was thinking that sooner or later, the job situation was going to improve. Now that seems unlikely, at least in engineering fields.
I see some positions that open, but they tipically require 5-8 years experience in very specific areas. I have though that the main reason for this weakness in engineering and computer programming fields is outsourcing to India and China. As I like physics, I have been planning to go back to school and get my master's in physics. But I am somewhat undecided, as I don't know if this will improve at all my chances of getting a decent job. I could instead get a master's in Electrical Engineering, which would entail some extra-effort as I don't have some of the undergraduate courses needed. But, again, what would I do with that degree, no experience and being over 40 y/o?.
I have some experience programming, but with increasing programming jobs going to India, those positions open typically require many years experience.
Some times I thought I could go for a Phd in physics, and then work in research or teach at a university. But I have read articles about a pyramid structure where there are many people seeking very few positions.
Like two months ago, I applied for a position that appeared suited to my experience and it looked like interesting work. The problem: there were about 80 applicants. I think I made it to the last 5 or so, but finally didn't get the job.
Four years ago, my future appeared much brighter. Now the world has changed, and my getting older is not going to help either. Very depressing situation.
I wanted to share these thoughts with you guys, and see if any of you has experiences, opinions or hints about the prospects for work for those of us who have decided to study physics.

[FUNKER]

dude go for your phD in physics and then if you dont get a job atleast you will get the ladies with a name like Dr. joe Bloggs.
live it up because its only as good as you make it

[rattis]

Im planning on takign a PhD, only it means 7 years of higher education, and im only in further education. what the heck, only a further 8 years to go :)

These days we (students) are told that a physics degree will make you amung the most employable people in the world, in any job. So you could go for something a little less science based and still have a good job.

I suggest doing a job search on somewhere like
http://www.newscientistjobs.com/splash.action

[alexepascual]

Rattis:
If I am not mistaken, the link you suggested lists mainly jobs in Biology and chemistry.
As I can't expect to compete favorably with electrical engineers, I have thought in the past that optics was a good field to get into. There maybe some people training in optical engineering but not that many. That's in fact what I did. At the two places I worked, my job was related to optics.
The problem is, with the slowdown in the telecom industry, (fiberoptical networks) most of those jobs dissapeared. Many companies have gone bankrupt, others have drastically reduced personnel, and many of the surviving companies have opened factories in China.
Now, I would take with a grain of salt what they tell you at school about employability after graduation. Schools need students for their programs to survive. The people you talk to, need those programs in order to stay employed. When a program can't attract enough students, it may be eliminated and professors may loose their jobs or be relegated to teaching undergrads.
This is not the only field in which there may be false rumors of a high demand for qualified people. While I was studying, I heard that there was a tremendous need for science teachers. When I started looking for work I found that was not true. For every job I applied to, there were many applicants and it took me some time to get a job, which ended up being in a bad district.
I think there has also been a campain to convince people (in the US) that there was a defficit of computer programmers. That campain may have had as an objective to push the government to issue more visas to foreign programmers which would work harder for a lower salary. Now the situation has changed, as they don't even need to bring the programmers to the US.
I have heard Europe is experiencing similar problems.
So you see, it appears that some times there is kind of a conspiracy to convince people that if they study this or that, they'll be in high demand. That conspiracy does not happen because different institutions agree on this but because they all benefit from it.
An interesting link on this is:
http://www.thepublicinterest.com/archives/2003fall/article2.html
I am not trying to disuade you from pursuing a phd in physics. But I think you should try to get information about your prospects from other sources, so that you have a more realistic view.
Now, you know that often economic conditions change, and many of these changes are cyclical. So, you might say: things are not OK now, but by the time I graduate, the economy will have recovered and I'll have an easier time finding work. But the problem today is that the future of the world economy is uncertain, specially in the developed countries. Part of what we are seing may not be a cycle but permanent change. It is hard to tell.
If you are young, that's in your favor. Even if you do have trouble finding the kind of work you were expecting, your PhD may qualify you for other positions. The thing is, after studying so many years physics, it would be better if you could work doing what you like (physics) or at least to get an engineering/scientist job where you have a chance to apply your math/physics knowledge.
I think it may be true that with a PhD in physics, you may be more employable than with a bachellor's degree. But physics in general is not a profession where it is easy to find work. I have registered at several places on the Web where they send you notification of job postings when they appear. I use as keyword Physics and Bachellor's degree as educational level. I am not getting that many job opennings for which I qualify.
If I can get a job close to the school where I am planning to get my master's degree, I guess I'll be OK. Otherwise, I may have to abandon my plans to continue studying.
Oh, by the way, I am in California,USA. Where are you?
--Alex--

[NSX]

That's discouraging ...

Well, I'm not really sure what to say, but I suppose it is inevtiable. The world's population is increasing so quickly & there are roughly the same amount of emplyment positions open...

I'm in Mechanical Engineering, and I was actually planning to switch to Physics in the fall. The employment rate for my school (Ryerson University) after graduation is ~ 100%, whereas Physics (I would take it at the University of Toronto) is ... iffy ... to say the least.

btw, I'm in Toronto, Ontario Canada

Would write more, but i've got to eat now

[alexepascual]

NSX:
If I were you I would stay in mechanical engineering (if you like it). Are you graduate or undergrad?.
I don't think the employment rate for mechanical engineers in the US would be close to 100%. Maybe in Canada the situation for engineers is better.
I think the present situation has less to do with population growth than with globalization and the liberalization of the economies of China and India.
If you are young, you can finish engineering and then study physics at night while you are earning decent money.
The articles I read about the low probability of getting accademic positions in physics I think apply mostly to the US. You might want to inquire more about this in Canada. But remember that school officials may not give you an impartial picture, as they have an interest in attracting you to their programs. You might want to talk to students who got their PhD, post-docs, etc.
Keep in touch and let us know what you find out, and what decisions you make.
I am presently inclined to continue with my plan of going for a master's in Physics, but that may change. I have been accepted and I am supposed to start next fall.
Ah! take a look at the post "best way to..." by Rattis
Good luck
--Alex--

[alexepascual]

Funker:
It is only when you get a teaching position that you get the ladies. (unless you drive an expensive car, you are really good looking or look like a thug).
Once you are teaching, the young girls wearing skimpy clothes will get really close to you and ask you with a sexy voice: Dr. Funker, I don't understand this, could you explain it to me?. But they got more pretty women in Biology than in Physics. I remember a girl in my Genetics class doing something like what I described above to the professor. She was wearing a very tight top and had good cleaveage. I think the professor's chromosomes were starting to unwind.
--Alex--

[NSX]

A link i forgot to put in my post before:

http://www.cap.ca/careers/home/becomeaphysicist.html

is this BS alexepascual?

[alexepascual]

NSX:
Thanks for the link, although it just gives general information.
You ask: Is this BS? I was pondering about the meaning of BS, would it be Bachellors in Science? Well, now that I think about it, did you mean bull ****?
If that was your question, my answer would be NO. It is not BS, but they give you a rosy picture and don't tell you about all the negative aspects, such as having to take longer to finish your studies, having to stay in a post-doc position for a long time before you can get a teaching/research position, or having difficulty getting a job in industry after you graduate.
Also think about the fact that everything you read today is based on experiences from the past. It is hard to know what the world situation and your country's situation will be by the time you finish your studies.
I am not very optimistic today, after seing all that is going on.

[rattis]

Rattis:
If I am not mistaken, the link you suggested lists mainly jobs in Biology and chemistry.

You have to select the physics tab, default is biology as it is alphabetically first

[alexepascual]

I don't see a physics tab, Rattis. There is the biology tab and the chemistry tab, but no physics that I can see.

[ZapperZ]

NSX:
Thanks for the link, although it just gives general information.
You ask: Is this BS? I was pondering about the meaning of BS, would it be Bachellors in Science? Well, now that I think about it, did you mean bull ****?
If that was your question, my answer would be NO. It is not BS, but they give you a rosy picture and don't tell you about all the negative aspects, such as having to take longer to finish your studies, having to stay in a post-doc position for a long time before you can get a teaching/research position, or having difficulty getting a job in industry after you graduate.
Also think about the fact that everything you read today is based on experiences from the past. It is hard to know what the world situation and your country's situation will be by the time you finish your studies.
I am not very optimistic today, after seing all that is going on.

I haven't responded to this string till now, since I was curious on how people react or respond to this, especially from "career physicst", if there was any. Since I fall into that category, I think it is only fair that I give a bit of my perpective on it.

The issue of becoming a physicist is something that I have a bit of an interest in. I started writing a series of article titled "So You Want To Be A Physicist" for a website that I run, mainly as a record on all the things that I WISH someone would have told me while I was pursuing my degree. No doubt that there were a lot of things that would have made my academic pursuit a bit easier, or less mysterious, had I known a bunch of things along the way.

Part of the problem here is that a lot of incoming undergraduate physics majors have rather "lofty" ideas of what physics is, and what a physicist does. I lost count on how many undergradute physics majors I encouter lately who are enamoured by "String Theory" and "Quantum Gravity", etc., and want to "major" in them. Now, there's nothing wrong with those (crossing fingers), but to think that those are the only exciting areas of physics is taking a very jaundice view of what physics is (they're always surprised when I tell them that the majority of practicing physicists are in the field of condensed matter/material science).

Now at some point, the "employability" of these physics graduates would come into play - like 6 months before graduation. I can relay an anecdote that I personally encounter. Back in the early 90's, during one of the economic slowdowns in the US, there were stories of theoretical physics Ph.D's having to abandon their field and go into other areas for employment, even a story of one ph.d having to drive a bus to make a living. At the same time, I personally know of at least 2 ph.d candidates in the field of Medical Physics and 3 from condensed matter who, even before they finished defending their ph.d theses, were already getting ~$70,000 job offers from various companies. ($70,000 back in the early 90's was a LOT of money, especially for fresh graduates). What was the difference between them and those ph.d's who couldn't find jobs? Their EXPERTISE!

Those people were either in a high demand area (Medical Physics), or they were experimentalists who possessed SKILLS (thin film fabrication and characterizations) that not only are marketable for an academic track career, but also in so many other industrial sectors. Yet, when we asked the new incoming physics majors at that time what area they want to specialize in, they STILL pick theoretical particle physics, String, etc...

Your employability as a physics degree holder depends VERY much on what area you specialized in, and what skills you possess. I will right off hand say that these two factors are very limited if you stop at a B.Sc level. At the doctoral level, if you majored in String theory, or other similar theoretical areas, then you can expect that your employability is highly limited in scope, and this would predominantly come from educational institutions. Considering the rate that they are hiring, and the number of graduates that is being produced, a person with this major should not be surprised if offers are very scant. On the other hand, if you're an experimentalist, and you know (i) ultra-high vacuum systems (ii) pulse laser ablation thin film deposition (iii) x-ray diffraction and electron beam diagnostics systems (all these may appear to be different areas, but when you do an experimental work, you don't just do one thing), then by golly, you have the skills that companies as varied as Intel, Applied Materials, .. all the way to National Labs and of course, academic institutions, are looking for! Furthermore, experimentalists are more desireable to academic institutions because of one important thing: they tend to be able to bring more research grant money than theorists.

If there's ever a "moral" to this story to potential physics majors, it is that while you're pursuing your physics degree, never lose sight that eventually, you will leave the secure comfort of an academic life. When that happens, think of what you know and possess that someone else might find of value. Hopefully, this will influence on what kinds of choices you make along the way.

Zz.

[Chi Meson]

I would like to plug the idea of reconsidering HS teaching. The BS in this job is "babysitting" which you already have experienced. BUt, if you are actually holding a degree in physics, you are a hot high school commodity. YOu get to choose. Send out lots ofapplications and choose the job that allows you to teach only honors students. Every state is desparately seeking physics teachers.

You could consider private schools where obediance is better, or choose the high paying states (NJ and CT are the highest at about $70,000 after 13 or so years).

Then, when things look bleak, repeat "13 weeks of vacation per year...13 weeks of vacation per year..."

I tell you, I love it; and I started at 35 y/o.

[alexepascual]

ZapperZ and Chi Meson,
Thank you for your perspectives on this subject. I hope we get a few more posts on this thresd. It is interesting to see different opinions and experiences.
I see that both of your posts are very upbeat. I would not say that I am normally a pessimistic person. On the contrary, I think that I have normally been optimistic, but after pursuing different potions I have found that what it is said and the reality are quite different.

Chi Meson:
I had been taking classes for some time and had completed about two years of my college education when I decided to attend school full time and get my bachellor's in physics. What gave me part of the motivation to do this (besides the learning experience) was my intent to work as a high school teacher. And, yes, the long summer vacation was part of the attraction in this career. On the other hand there were news everywhere about a shortage of teachers in California (that's where I live). So I was pretty optimistic about my prospects after graduation. If I didn't like it I could always do something else later, but at least I was confident it would be easy finding work with the teacher shortage.
My first surprise came when I started looking for work. I applied with a lot of school districts, and in all af them there was a lot of competition for the jobs. Most of the positions open were to teach physical science, not physics, and there were people applying who had all sorts of degrees, not always in a physical science. School administrators were more concerned with having teachers who would keep the kids entertained than to have people who know the subject they are teaching. You may say there is a logic to this, and I am not going to argue. They must have their reasons. I was just not expectig that.
After applying at a lot of places, and at the last minute, I got a job to teach physical science with a district that had a bad reputation, but which paid pretty good compared to the others.
There was a teacher next door who was teaching the physics classes. He had a degree in Teology. Well, at least he got a chance to study Espinoza.
Before getting to teach Physics, he had to teach physical science and his contract had not been renewed in two occations after teaching one or two years at other districts. So I learned that you get to teach physics after you get tenure.
Also, I found the there wasn't enogh money for books and materials for experiments. The administration was expecting us to buy supplies from our own pocket. We were also expected not to fail any more than 10% of the students. Even I didn't like many of these things I tried to make the best out of this situation and comply with the administrator's expectations, which were not always clear.
But after a year passed, my contract was not renewed. I was given an option to resign, so that it wouldn't stain my record.
If I had gotten a job at a good district, perhaps my experience would have been different, but some of what I saw at this school I figured would be endemic in California, regardless the school distric I went to. On the other hand, now I knew that getting job in a good district was not easy and it paid less. So I decided to forget about teaching high school and went into industry, which I enjoyed much more for the time it lasted.

ZapperZ:
I understand that if you choose the right branch of physics, and if you are good and stick to it, eventually you'll get a good job. Now, in other fields, such as engineering, it used to be that it was not necessary for you to have a PhD to get job in your profession. Physics is different. To be considered a physicist, you must have a PhD. To be a "career physicist" as you say, implies to go for your PhD. Nothing wrong about that, but I am just pointing out the difference, and the fact that to "make it" in physics involves a higher commintment and effort than other professions. Well, medicine might be a similar case, except that I am sure once you got your MD, you can go and work at any hospital or clinic.
Now, I wonder if it is sufficient to choose the right branch of physics to be employable after graduation. Assuming you can choose the right field, and that that field is still in demand by the time you graduate, I wonder if it would be easy to get a job or there would be additional experience reguired, which you typically get at the postdoc level.
You mention Applied Materials and Intel. From the news I have been getting, these companies have reduced personnel and have opened manufacturing plants in other countries. Now, it may be that they still need some very specialized people with many years experience in a very narrow field to work in the US, but I would seriously doubt they may be hiring fresh physics PhD's in this country.
You see that my perspective with respect to physics employment is more pessimistic than yours. But looking at the labor market, I also see a crisis for new engineers, as those jobs are being outsourced to China and India. I think that is going to put a downward pressure on salaries for those positions that do open in the US. I understand there always is a need for seasoned engineers to kind of supervise or control from here, operations overseas.
Example: the company Fluor, which used to hire lots of engineers and drafters, now has most of it's design work done in China. But they always need people here in management, and they have retained some of their old engineers and drafters to check the plans and calculations that come from China.
Well, regardless of all this, I am always planning to continue my studies to get at least a master's in physics and take it from there. But I am not counting with an improvement in employability as a motivation. It is just the love for knowledge. On the other hand, having the MS won't hurt, and it might even help a little.
On the other hand, I may be forced to change course if I can't get a job. I may be able to teach some labs in school but the money is not enough.

[ZapperZ]

ZapperZ:
I understand that if you choose the right branch of physics, and if you are good and stick to it, eventually you'll get a good job. Now, in other fields, such as engineering, it used to be that it was not necessary for you to have a PhD to get job in your profession. Physics is different. To be considered a physicist, you must have a PhD. To be a "career physicist" as you say, implies to go for your PhD. Nothing wrong about that, but I am just pointing out the difference, and the fact that to "make it" in physics involves a higher commintment and effort than other professions. Well, medicine might be a similar case, except that I am sure once you got your MD, you can go and work at any hospital or clinic.
Now, I wonder if it is sufficient to choose the right branch of physics to be employable after graduation. Assuming you can choose the right field, and that that field is still in demand by the time you graduate, I wonder if it would be easy to get a job or there would be additional experience reguired, which you typically get at the postdoc level.
You mention Applied Materials and Intel. From the news I have been getting, these companies have reduced personnel and have opened manufacturing plants in other countries. Now, it may be that they still need some very specialized people with many years experience in a very narrow field to work in the US, but I would seriously doubt they may be hiring fresh physics PhD's in this country.
You see that my perspective with respect to physics employment is more pessimistic than yours. But looking at the labor market, I also see a crisis for new engineers, as those jobs are being outsourced to China and India. I think that is going to put a downward pressure on salaries for those positions that do open in the US. I understand there always is a need for seasoned engineers to kind of supervise or control from here, operations overseas.
Example: the company Fluor, which used to hire lots of engineers and drafters, now has most of it's design work done in China. But they always need people here in management, and they have retained some of their old engineers and drafters to check the plans and calculations that come from China.
Well, regardless of all this, I am always planning to continue my studies to get at least a master's in physics and take it from there. But I am not counting with an improvement in employability as a motivation. It is just the love for knowledge. On the other hand, having the MS won't hurt, and it might even help a little.
On the other hand, I may be forced to change course if I can't get a job. I may be able to teach some labs in school but the money is not enough.

Unless I am wrong, most of us went into physics early on in our educational life not because it is a field in which we can become rich. If making money is a major goal, most of us won't be doing this. It is too long, too difficult, and too demanding, with uncertain rewards at the end. I mean, just look at all those starry-eyed undergraduates (even graduate) students who have aspirations of doing particle physics, string theory, astrophysics, etc. I bet they didn't think about what kind of job prospects that are facing them after they graduate.

Having said that, I think that it is imperative that these students are made to face reality sooner than later. This doesn't mean that they have to abandon their aspirations of becoming a physicist, but at the very least, they won't look with disdain at doing extra experimental courses, electronics, computational physics courses and projects. Again, these are the type of skills that may be marketable upon graduation, in addition to the paper degree. Pad your resume by applying to all those NSF and DOE internships at the various US Nat'l Labs. It doesn't matter what area of physics you came from, or want to concentrate in. Idealism ("Oh, I am a theorist and I don't need to know anything about UHV systems") can only go so far before you realize you have to earn an income pretty soon to pay off all those student loans.

My examples of Intel and Applied Materials were not meant to imply one can walk up there and get a job. It was meant to convey the BREADTH of the employment sector available for a physicist with the appropriate skills. Given an appropriate training and background, a physicist need not be restricted to only the traditional research/academia track of work. In fact, if you read journals such as The Industrial Physicist,[1] you'll see a huge range of areas that are applicable for someone with a physics degree. The sad thing here is that a lot of these positions, although filled by physicists, are typically given the official name of "engineers" such as process engineers, industrial engineers, materials engineers, etc. So most people do not even realize that some of these "engineers" are actually physicists. [Interestingly, the same can be said about the field of Quantum Chemistry - it is populated by a lot of physicists]

My view on employment for physicists probably is more optimistic than yours. So there's a good chance that the "reality" on average is somewhere in between. I certainly know that I'm lucky enough to do what I like, and to be in the situation where I usually look forward to coming to work each morning. I credit that to the various mentors that I had along the way who not only made sure I fulfill all the academic requirements, but also equipped me with all the stuff they don't require, but are immensely as important, if not more, for my career as a physicist in whatever branch I end up in. I have never lost sight of that and I always try to convey the same sentiments to all these bright-eyed, bushy tails students while they are still in the position to do something about making themselves more "desirable" for employment.

For the statistics on Physics employment, refer to the AIP website.[2]

Zz.

[1] http://www.tipmagazine.com/
[2] http://www.aip.org/statistics/trends/emptrends.html

[alexepascual]

Zapper,
Thank you for your insights and information. It was all very instructive and I guess it balances my point of view, which was probably too far to the pessimistic side.
Thanks again,

Alex

[H-bar None]

I have to agree this has been an eye opener for me.

I am a starry eyed undergrad on a long treacherous journey to PHD. I'm very aware what idealism can do. You rarely see this in engineering. Most my classmates weren't looking to work at NASA upon graduating.

I love Physics to death. If I can't find work then teaching it is what I'll do. I've had the opportunity to teach environmental science and seeing those little lightbulbs come on was the best. I will say getting trapped in the bad district can kill any aspirations only if you let it. Get your masters and you can teach anywhere you want and the salary gets a big boost.

Doing the "Discover magazine" physics is cool but it seems very limiting. I don't want to overspecialize its not for me. I have some electronics enginering courses and I will take some more advanced math. The degree I'm working on is Physics and Astronomy. I'm leaning toward the experimental/applied side. The lab is love. :biggrin:

Outsourcing is something to fear only if your'e rigid.

[Chi Meson]

Alex:

OW!

Sorry to hear about your fate in California. I think it might be the case that the tech centers there are flooded with scientists so it's a buyer's market even for physics. So unless you want to move to another state ...

[alexepascual]

Chi Meson,
I am pretty much established in California. I guess my situation would have to get pretty bad for me to decide to move.
Today I went to a job interview. It is for an optical engineering job. Let's see what happens, they'll let me know in two weeks. The thing is that those jobs don't appear that often and when they do there are many applicants.
If by fall I don't have a job, I'll be able to teach one lab at school. That won't be enough, but is something. They told me I might be able to get to teach two labs in my second semester, wich is still not enough but would cover a great part of my expenses.
As far as teaching high school, that is something I would rather not reconsider. Just thinking about it makes me kind of depressed. But I can understand how you may have had a good experience with it and now love it. In my case it may be a combination of things that determined the way I feel. On one hand ending up in a bad school district in California may not have been very helpful, but on the other hand, probably interacting with high school kids was not such a strong motivator for me as to give me strength to overcome all the difficulties and persevere in that field.
Talking about teaching, I think I might feel different teaching at a community college. I haven't inquired into that, but I think they hire people with masters degrees.
Well, Chi meson, I am glad for you that you found an occupation that is secure and which you feel good about. If you are married, your wife must be happy about it too.

[asdfjkl]

I haven't been able to read everything that has been posted so this may have been stated already. But... Jobs for defence contractors and other federally funded research labs cannot be outsourced because they typically involve a security clearance. So companies like L-3 communications (where I used to work with a BS in physics), Boeing, Lockheed, Honeywell, Northrup Grummond (sp?), Raytheon, Litton, and many many more, plus Los Alamos (LANL), LLNL, PNNL, Fermilab, BNL, ORNL, etc. typically hire physics BS holders.

The AIP had a page that listed the top industrial companies for hiring physics phd's, most do contract work for the Gov't and I'm sure most would hire a BS holder for a less specialized position (software engineer for example).

Another thing to consider, if you aren't insisting to remain in physics and if you plan to go back to school, is to go for a professional degree. Standardized tests like the GMAT (MBA type programs) and LSAT (law school) are cake walks for physicists and physicists typically do very well in such programs. I seriously considered law school, but have remained in my phd program.

[alexepascual]

Thanks for your info asdfjkl. I guess for those who would like to transition to another career, the ones you list are good options.
I think in the past I have approached defense contractors without much luck. Recently I applied for a job with one of them and they showed some interest, as they called me back, but they required pre-existent clearance.
I also understand that perhaps the most common function for a physics major working in industry is as an engineer of some sort. But most companies prefer to hire people with engineering degrees for those functions. Photonics and optical engineering may be the exception, but those fields have suffered from the semiconductor and telecom busts.
For software engineering, I guess if you know C, C++, embedded programming, and have experience programming, you may be able to get a job, but there may be a lot of competition.

Thanks again for your input asdf

[Alem2000]

I know this is probably a stupid question but cant you double in theoretical and experimental in grad school? On the other hand the basic drift im getting from this page is that theoretical phlysicists dont get jobs most of the time and others just get low pay? That really sucks, im kinda pissed...i mean paying for school and getting and education and then..WAM!...no job.

[loseyourname]

Hey guys. I just changed my major from Biology to Physics (I also double in Philosophy, but that's strictly for fun). I'm really only doing this because I love science and I love math. At the same time, I don't have very good time in lab, and I doubt I'll become a scientist after I graduate. In fact, there's a good chance I'll go to business school or law school. Ultimately, I'd like to be a club owner anyway. I just want to point out to everybody here that there is always work to do as long as you keep an open mind. Perhaps you won't end up in the field you envisioned, but so what? Presumably there exists more than one line of work you can be happy in. It isn't easy getting started, but if you have the expertise, you can always make a lot of money doing consultant work. Or as ZZ pointed out, there is plenty of work for physicists in defense contracting. Heck, you can even join the Air Force. It isn't like you'll be doing any fighting. Just stay optimistic. If you have a degree in physics, you're a very smart person, and ultimately, that's the most important skill you can have. Don't psych yourself out.

[Alem2000]

Woooo, slow down buddy..im lost. Defense contracting? Join the Air force? Can you please elaborate on these, especially defense contracting...doesnt sound too shabby. What do you do, design weapons and stuff?

[alexepascual]

I started getting interested in physics at an early age, but I didn't pursue a career in it due to my perception that the only opportunities for work in that field were related to nuclear weapons. So it was much later in life that I returned to physics, and this time it was with the intention to teach.
Today, I guess there is a multitude of wonderful weapons (not only nuclear) that can kill in so many ways and there is so much work in that field.
We consider these activities as "defense" and I wonder if that label was chosen just for us to feel better about it. I happen to think that the line between deffensive and offensive operations is usually blurry and it depends on your frame of reference.
I think "defense" applications of physics is a hot field today in the US. And it may get hotter as the enemies keep multiplying (why is it that people hate us if we are the good guys?) Well, let's not get into politics. I personally don't enjoy creating killing machines. I would rather get into applications to save lifes, such as medical applications. But my main motivation has always been pure knowledge of the most fundamental processes in nature, which by the way I think may eventually provide some answers to philosofical questions outside of physics (regardless what Feynman may have thought about this)
Of course, it is not always possible to make a living by doing research in fundamental science, specially if you are not already at the top.
So that's the quandry.

[Alem2000]

Do you konw where I could get more information about defense contracting? And by the way what did you mean by "regardless what Feynman may have thought about this"..what would he have thought about the philisophical questions?

[JohnDubYa]

I will further ZapperZ's statement that too many students want to study esoteric subjects at the expense of employability. They think at the time that money means nothing to them, and research is life's own reward.

Then they get married. :)

I would be especially cautious of theoretical physics. I loved doing it, but if it hadn't been for my extensive computational background (that went well beyond mere programming) life would be much tougher today.

[alexepascual]

Alem,
If you look at the Sunday newspaper, you'll see plenty of ads, some times full-page ads, from the main defense contractors and some smaller ads from sub-contractors. I have to warn you that there is a large percentage of these positions that require pre-existing clearence.
I also saw an ad last sunday for work at the nuclear plant in Don Onofre (near San Diego, CA). These positions just require good knowledge of physics, math etc. but I don't think they require a degree. Maybe they require a two-year degree. They train.
I also remember seing ads for positions with the Navy working in nuclear submarines. Decently good pay, and they train. (You can't be claustrophobic though)
What did Feynman think about philosophy? He had an aversion for philosofers, and he thought that there are questions that are better left alone. Nevertheless much of his thinking was pretty philosofical.
He argued against extrapolating from the area of physics to other areas of thought were the same concepts may not be relevant or valid. I would agree with this to some extent. But on the other hand, I think that we might see in the future ideas from the field of physics having a profound impact in our answering some of the outstanding filosofical questions.
I suspect it might be the case that many of the topics on which some physicists have advised us not to think about, they have actually spent a lot of time thinking about without success.

[Alem2000]

Oh okay..I see what you mean. Thanks for the information :smile: !

[JohnDubYa]

Be careful of the teaching field unless you plan on getting a credential. Schools are now much tougher on handing out emergency credentials, and without a teaching credential you have little chance of obtaining a permanent teaching job. (Emergency credentials are also relegated to the lowest end of the pay scale.)

[NSX]

Well, I've just received my Admission into Physics, though I'm hesitant to accept this offer now that I realize Engineers are much more employable than Physicists.

What do you guys think of Engineering Science?
[link here: http://www.engsci.utoronto.ca/]

Right now, I am [going into] a second year Mechanical Engineering student @ Ryerson University (http://www.ryerson.ca/). The amount of students being hired after graduation is fairly high [see here (http://www.ryerson.ca/admissions/gradtable.html)].

I really love Physics , and so I was considering going into Physics for the fall term, while applying for a transfer into Engineering Science for the winter term. Then, I would specialize in Physics (http://www.engsci.utoronto.ca/academic9.html) during my 3rd & 4th years.

What do you guys think?

Actually, my [b]main question is: Are Engineering Science graduates as employable as graduates of Mechanical Engineering?

And what do you guys think of my plan?

[JohnDubYa]

Not sure, as I am not familiar with engineering science.

Your concern about employability leads me to believe you would be best off with the engineering degree.

Why not get a degree in mechanical engineering and a Masters in physics? Or you could just minor in physics (although the two departments are usually located in two different schools, which means you would have to take a few redundant courses).

[NSX]

Why not get a degree in mechanical engineering and a Masters in physics?

Can I do that?
My school does not offer graduate programs for Physics for one thing.

Another thing about that is starting in the fall 2004 term, I will no longer be taking any pure physics courses. I wil take a bunch of statics, mechanics, thermodynamics, and fluid mechanics, but no pure physics like: Electricity and Magnetism, Geometrical Optics, Quantum Physics, Classical Mechanics, Special Relativity, Astrophysics, etc...

How do Graduate programs operate?
Do I have to fulfill a certain type of requirement for courses before I am deemed acceptable for entrance?

[alexepascual]

NSX,

With respect to "engineering science", I never heard of that. I is possible that most employers have not heard of it either. You would have to convince the employer that your studies prepared you for the job. There may be positions that require an engineering degree but not specifically mechanical, electrical or chemical. You might do well with that degree when applying for those positions.
If you look at the Sunday newspaper, you'll find some job openings in the engineering section for "electrical engineer", "mechanical engineer", etc. But you won't see any for "engineering scientist".
I think in today's industries there is a tendency to look for people highly specialized. "engineering science" sounds like too general.

With respect to the possibility of getting your masters in physics after a bachelor's in mechanical engineering, you should contact a school that offers the master's in physics and ask them what you would need if you had a bachelor's in mechanical engineering. This information may be a little hard to get though. They may tell you that you need to give them your transcript for them to analyze it, and you would have to explain that you don't have the degree yet. You would have to find someone willing to work with you on this issue. I am sure you would have to take some extra subjects.
I am registered for next fall in the master's degree program in physics, and we'll be using the same books I used for my bachellor's program. Some of the classes are given concurrently for graduate and undergraduate students. That is, the material is the same, but when the test comes you have to do more problems if you are in your master's program. Now, this may not be the same at other universities.
Now, at most universities in the US you get to take some electives. If that is the same in Canada, you might be able to take some of the physics courses while studying for your mechanical engineering degree. You should ask your counselor.

[H-bar None]

I was reading this thread and started to worry my self to death so I did a little research.

The Occupational Handbook does predict high competion for the acedemic positions in physics because of the low turnover rate.

The private sector is still growing but the rate has slowed because of a recession. The fields that are hot is biophysics, non linear optics and condensed matter(solid state?). I feel sorry for astonomy/astrophysics and space science there was a severe budget cut announced last week sometime.

The O.H. and some other sources suggested that many "career" physicists move from one field to another. Some migrate to engineering or business.

Some states allow bachelor degree holders to take Engineering exams. I can tell you from experience that a lot of the undergrad coursework for E.E. and Physics majors are closely related.

We have every reason to be optimistc despite budget cuts, outsourcing, and underemployment. :smile:

[JohnDubYa]

RE: "The Occupational Handbook does predict high competion for the acedemic positions in physics because of the low turnover rate."

That's putting it mildly. For most graduates, I would not recommend an academic position for any number of reasons. The money simply isn't worth the aggravation. (And the students are not the problem, if you get my drift.)

Be aware that no school is going to touch a graduate unless he has completed an extra two years of postdoctoral research. Who wants to spend nearly ten years of post-graduate preparation to prepare for a $40,000/year job fending off the political attacks of Lexus-driving muckity mucks? I used to, but not anymore.

[NSX]

Thanks for the posts guys.

I'm going to stick with Mech. Eng. and complete the remainder of my Bachelor's.

Then [hopefully], as you guys say; I'll go for the Masters in Physics.

I'm thinking of visiting the UofToronto and UoWaterloo to ask if such a switch is possible in the summer sometime.

But for now ... i have to look for a summer job.

:P

[JohnDubYa]

As soon as you enter grad school begin taking as many of the solid undergraduate physics courses as your academic committee will allow. You will probably want to take E&M, QM, and Mechanics as soon as possible.

Be careful about taking graduate courses in physics as an undergraduate. Some schools will require you to take qualifier exams in those subjects right away if you have completed the graduate level courses. This can bite really, really bad.

[KingNothing]

I have a very important, and possibly very stupid question:

What exactly does a physicist do?

Besides more school than almost anyone else, say John is to get a doctorate in physics.

What would he do after that?...what jobs? what Kind of money would he make?

[bozo the clown]

Join the circus you could put your physics to good use swinging from a trapeze and calculating somersaults, work out where freddy's gonna land when I fire him from our new cannon good pay too !

Failing that and you are strugling to find work, you could always pump gas like many graduates do or go back to being a professional student.

[ZapperZ]

I have a very important, and possibly very stupid question:

What exactly does a physicist do?

Besides more school than almost anyone else, say John is to get a doctorate in physics.

What would he do after that?...what jobs? what Kind of money would he make?

Y'know, I suppose it is way to much to expect everyone to read every single postings within a string. But after having posted two lengthy (and time-consuming) essays on here regarding this, and also a couple of links regarding the job statistics of physics graduates, it is very frustrating to still get a question such as this.

Zz.

[edtman]

Thanks for the posts guys.

I'm going to stick with Mech. Eng. and complete the remainder of my Bachelor's.

Then [hopefully], as you guys say; I'll go for the Masters in Physics.

I'm thinking of visiting the UofToronto and UoWaterloo to ask if such a switch is possible in the summer sometime.

But for now ... i have to look for a summer job.

:P
Wait! Before you make any life changing decisions look at engineering science again. I'm an Engineering Physics major at CU-Boulder and if Eng Science is anything like CU's Eng physics program you'd be better off taking that for your undergrad. and picking your electives to tailor towards a Mechanical/electrical engineering or even physics masters. Talk to an advisor and see if this is possible. A masters in a field of engineering will probably be more valuable than a physics masters if $$$ is your concern.

[cronxeh]

Hey everyone :)

This subject is very important to me as well.

Currently I'm in a Dual degree program (BS in Physics / BS Biological & Chemical Engineering). The BS in Physics curriculum is highly interdisciplinary and some courses are from EE and some are from chemistry (quantum chem, statistical mech).

If you are trully passionate about Physics, like me, then you should go for a dual degree (you get two diplomas) or a double major (one diploma (less credits) - you get a BS in Physics and some engineering for example). Now with a dual degree you can apply to a grad school in either field. As I'm uncertain which field to apply - either physics or chem engineering, and the job outlook for a bs in physics isnt optimistic to say the least.. im definately contemplating the options.

The dual degree may be the best option for some of you. And perhaps an Electrical Engineering / Physics mix or any other engineering you may find interesting.

As for what do Physicists do.. back in 80's there was a hype over cold fusion. after billions of dollars were pumped into the research, we are still nowhere close to that. I guess somewhere down the link people got disappointed with Physicists. And nowadays the only imagine that comes to mind is A. Einstein, NASA, the nuclear bombs and Hiroshima / Nagasaki obviously.

But the Physicists are to thank for modern electronics (all of them), the transistor, the satellites, all the nifty GPS gadgets, the man on the moon.. the atom force microscope.. the many other great achievements.

Id like to encourage you to study Physics, it deserves it for it's own beauty. With better understand in this subject, you gain better understand of the everyday life processes. A new Physics revolution is coming soon.. wont you like to be in grad school by the time it hits us? I sure would.

[edtman]

Also, I wouldn't be so quick to say that a degree in mechanical engineering will guarantee you a job. If you look at the DoL's occupational handbook the amount of new jobs is growing at a slower rate than that of new grads. It makes sense-look at what types of jobs have been moving overseas....manufacturing. Tech research isn't going anywhere and a degree in physics should help you secure a job in that industry.
Alex, I really feel for your situation and I'm sure you're aware of businesses leaving California in droves. I can think of two major corporations that have left Cali to relocate to Colorado recently, Sun Micro and Intel, and that's just 2 of the many that have moved to more business friendly states from California. I don't think California's current job situation accurately reflects that of the country.

[NSX]

Well, in Canada they treat any Engineering program as a professional program, so there's no chance for double majors [in conjunction with an Eng. Program]

[cronxeh]

why not?

its plain dumb if you cant major in double degrees. probably created by liberal arts majors..

[alexepascual]

Thanks guys for all your input.
NSX:
I was recently looking at the catalog of California-State Fulleron, where I plan to get my masters in Physics. I found they offer a degree in "Engineering Science", but I haven't inquired yet as to what that degree is.
( I had mentioned in another post that I had never heard about engineering science).
Edtman:
I was not aware that the situation in California was that much worse than the rest of the country. But I guess I am stuck here, unless I leave my wife by herself and go somewhere else.
With respect to research jobs not leaving the country, that may be true for federally funded research. But for research by industry, I think some of it is moving to China. I also heard that India has a very good school of engineering that compares to MIT.
As far as physics guaranteing a job better than engineering, I have serious doubts about that. but my situation is that I like physics better than engineering. I figure that having gotten a bachellor's degree in physics, it'll be easier to continue in physics. On the other hand, I guess getting a masters can only improve my chances of employment, although in two or three years I'll be older, which won't help at my age.

[MJH]

This thread has been extremely valuable to me. I have decided at a later stage than most to return to school and pursue a physics degree. The info presented here reinforced my confidence in my decision. Thanks, posters!

[alexepascual]

MJH,
Are you going to get your master's degree or your bachellors? In what country do you live?
I am glad this thread helped you.

[MJH]

If everything goes according to plan I will pursue a PhD. I am in the US.

[ZapperZ]

Here's more useful advise, especially if one intends to pursue an academic career:

http://www.physicstoday.org/vol-57/iss-7/p56.html

Zz.

[alexepascual]

Zapper,
Thanks for the link. I read the article and I think it is great.

[JohnDubYa]

Ask your wife if she wants you to pursue money or your dreams. If the former, be prepared to listen to her whine about your career choice for the rest of your life.

[tyroman]

As a late-comer to this thread, my input may go un-noticed...

But for what it's worth, here goes;

This is not only for alex but also for those others who have replied in this thread and are in the midst of making degree/career decisions

i have inserted unattributed quotes from other posters which were particularly resonant with me.

By way of background, when i went back to college after millitary service (GI Bill) i had previous college course work in both science and business (no degree)

i evaluated my transcript in relation to various degree programs and determined that with about the same number of semester hours, i could either;

a.)complete a BS in Physics + an MBA or
b.)complete a BS in Engineering (Mech, Civil, Chem, Elec, etc.)

without consideration of employability, i selected the BS/MBA option

"Actually, my main question is: Are Engineering Science graduates as employable as graduates of Mechanical Engineering?"

i have always LOVED Physics and part of my decision reflected my generalist nature and the realization that a specific engineering degree or an MS (or higher) in Physics would require focusing in on narrower fields of knowledge

"But my main motivation has always been pure knowledge of the most fundamental processes in nature"

i also didn't want to "waste" two semesters of A's and B's in business...

So i entered the job market with a strange combination; BS-Physics and MBA-Economics (You may have heard of the Physicist who earned the Nobel in Economics for his application of Thermodynamics theory to the world economy - not me LOL)

The up-shot is that i wound up as a consulting "engineer" in the energy industry who (when times got tough) was among the first to get laid-off because i wasn't a "degreed engineer" and many potential clients held out for this credential in tight markets.

"Be careful of the teaching field unless you plan on getting a credential. Schools are now much tougher on handing out emergency credentials, and without a teaching credential you have little chance of obtaining a permanent teaching job. (Emergency credentials are also relegated to the lowest end of the pay scale.)"

Now, i'm not replying here to get sympathy... just to share my experience for whatever benefit it may be to others...

My mistake (once in the consulting business) was that i failed to enhance my marketability, which i could have done by becoming a Registered Professional Engineer (PE) by documenting my practice under supervision of a PE (EIT) and taking the state exam for registration.

"Some states allow bachelor degree holders to take Engineering exams. I can tell you from experience that a lot of the undergrad coursework for E.E. and Physics majors are closely related."

Sooooo... be forewarned that the practice of Engineering without the degree can become problematic.


Finally, a comment about the following reply:

"As for what do Physicists do.. back in 80's there was a hype over cold fusion. after billions of dollars were pumped into the research, we are still nowhere close to that."

Actually, the billions were not spent on "cold fusion" research, but on the more realistic plasma fusion programs (Tokamaks, laser containment, etc) and until the 90's when our then-President took the US out of the program through budget cuts, our research was cutting-edge.

[cronxeh]

actually i was refering to the hype that was caused by Stanley Pons and Martin Fleischmann in March 1989. sure fusion/plasma still has high hopes today (princeton's PPPL lab, some military/weapons-based research at lanl(?)) - but the billions were poured to the 'hot' fusion. sorry for the mix up


Edit: regarding the major. my own physics advisor told me that i probably wont find a job after i graduate, unless i go for a ph.d or masters to work in government sector.. but even with a bs degree in engineering, id be able to get a decent job (~50K +). its really a sad picture.. but then again you dont get into physics for profit these days :rolleyes:

[JohnDubYa]

RE: "...and until the 90's when our then-President took the US out of the program through budget cuts, our research was cutting-edge."

Congress appropriates the money, not the President.

RE: "Edit: regarding the major. my own physics advisor told me that i probably wont find a job after i graduate,"

Not based solely on physics. But if you have learned some computer work, writing skills, marketing skills, and so on, on the side, you should be able to find a good job. Those are the skills that get you the qualifications. The physics gets you chosen ahead of the rest of the final cut.

[GTdan]

Well I am posting my question here so I don't end up creating a duplicate thread. I was thinking about getting a BS in physics and taking a bunch of classes specializing in a wide range that apply to electronics, optics, etc. I hope to make at least close to $50,000 a year entry level. Will I be able to find a job easy (or at all) after graduating with this in my resume? Is this an ok salary to expect? I am not money hungry but I don't want to use 4 years of college to get paid some small amount of money.

[JohnDubYa]

I think your expectations are reasonable. Keep an eye on the computer field as well, especially networking. If you can get A+ certification, that will really help.

[GTdan]

So I shouldn't have a problem finding a job?

[JohnDubYa]

I wouldn't think so as long as you have skills besides physics, such as electronics, networking, writing, and so on.

[Zandorian]

Well, I want to start my own company one day. I don't like the idea of "working" for other people all my life. Although the things I have read in this thread make me want to get a degree in some type of engineering as well as a ph.d in physics just for backup.

[GTdan]

sounds great. :biggrin: How exactly does getting skills work? Will I just be taking some special classes and then get a certificate or something?

[JohnDubYa]

A Ph.D. in physics as a backup? That is a mighty rough backup.

A lot of companies provide certification. There is BrainBench (although it is not a very rigorous certification), A+, CIW, and so on. You typically take a course or two and pass the certification exams. A lot of them you can do online.


CIW is nice in that they provide multimedia certication as well, which includes Web development, e-commerce, and so on. http://www.ciwcertified.com.

Also check out the online journal http://www.certmag.com/. It is the pre-eminent certification journal available.

[alexepascual]

GTdan,
I think JohnDubYa is too optimistic. His opinion maybe based on his own experience when he graduated. The thing is, you can't extrapolate from a few years ago to the present. We are presently going through a rough times when it comes to jobs in science and technology. The situation may improve in a few years, but besides the cyclic changes, there are also long term changes (globalization and a migration of jobs from the US to India and China)
The suggestion that taking electronics and networking courses at the same time you get your degree in physics makes some sense. This will give you more practical skills. But I believe that while this strategy would have worked wonders a few years ago, I doubt today would guarantee you a job. But if you like physics enough that you whant to take this major regardless, I guess taking some computing/engineering courses will improve your prospects.
The thing is, when it comes to these skills JohnDubYa mentions, companies often look for a networking specialist, a software engineer, an electrical engineer, etc. But you see less frequently requests for someone who can do all of the above. Medium-size to large companies look for people who can do one thing and can show experience doing that one thing. By doing one thing I mean having one degree, and experience in a specialty that relates to that degree. Example: someone with a degree in electronics engineering, and 3 years experience in RF. or in embedded circuits design and programming.
Let's say then you decide to study computer science. Typically it would have been easier for someone with a degree in computer science to get a job after graduation than for someone with a degree in physics. But I know this young guy who got his degree in computer science and he can't get a job.
The probability of your getting a job quickly after graduation may depend on where you live or if you are willing to relocate.
In today's job market, it is not sufficient to say that you have taken courses in this or that, most companies are asking for experience. This tends to be like a vicious cycle. Where can you get the experience if you can't get a job in the first place?
Other posts mention that physics puts you ahead of the pack. I like physics and I'll be pursuing a master's degree in physics. But I think that when it comes to jobs, physics does not give you an advantage, unless you double major in engineering. But in that case it is your engineering degree that is going to get you the job.
$50,000 entry level is also too optimistic, unless you have connections. I think in today's market $35,000 - $40,000 is more realistic. But I think there is pressure for entry-level salaries in science-enginering to get even lower in the future.
If you want to understand better what is going on in the job market, I suggest you look at jobs in the classsified section of the sunday newspaper.
This can also give you a feel for how hot or cold the job market is. Look at "engineers" (no physicist entries exist though).
Another idea: start doing a search on the web for jobs that require a physics degree, as if you had already graduated and were looking for a job.
You can also do a serach in google and put: physics + BS + employment
There are some sites that cater to science, but most of the jobs posted in these sites require masters or phds.
Don't get your expectations too high. If you do you may get dissapointed later. If your love for physics is not really strong, then I would suggest you change majors to one of the engineering disciplines.

[GTdan]

Well, I have been checking many sites and every estimate I get is around $50,000 salary. Heck, my dad supports a family of 5 with a house and 4 cars and he gets under $40,000 so maybe that wouldn't bother me too much. I checked my local newspaper and there a number of engineering jobs there (and my city is really small compared to most). I also checked here just now: http://www.aip.org/statistics/trends/states/state.htm

I am definitely willing to relocate. Probably not to far off places but still willing to move around alot. I am used to it because I am a "military brat." I expect I may have to skimp around for enough experience to get a better job at first but I might be able to get around that with internships and the like. I really love physics and I am more hyped about it than engineering.

[alexepascual]

GTDan,
I was just affraid you might be making decisions based on too high expectations. But now that you made clear that it wouldn't be a problem for you to start at a lower salary and you are willing to relocate, I think you might do well. I wish you good luck.
About the information on the AIP site. Information from AIP is usually out of date and I would also doubt about the validity of their statistics. You might also want to take into consideration that they have a vested interest in making the employment outlook appear rosy for physics mayors.
Good luck again and study hard,

[fizixx]

Zapper.....

Interesting posts indeed. Unfortunately I don't have time to write, but my curiosity was great enough to ask you about the website that you run? I would be interedted in the articles you mentioned that are there; 'so you wanna be a physicist'. I am a physicist....industrial, in optics, but am always interested in what is going on and what other oportunities may lay ahead.

Thanks, and I would also like to come back and contribute to the original author of this post, as I think it is very topical and possibly a more ubiquitous issue than what some/many folks think.

Happy holidays everyone...
Kindly,
fiz~

[ZapperZ]

Zapper.....

Interesting posts indeed. Unfortunately I don't have time to write, but my curiosity was great enough to ask you about the website that you run? I would be interedted in the articles you mentioned that are there; 'so you wanna be a physicist'. I am a physicist....industrial, in optics, but am always interested in what is going on and what other oportunities may lay ahead.

Thanks, and I would also like to come back and contribute to the original author of this post, as I think it is very topical and possibly a more ubiquitous issue than what some/many folks think.

Happy holidays everyone...
Kindly,
fiz~

Obviously, this is the one thread that didn't get move the the new section Academic Help section of PF.

I have reposted that series of essays into my journal section on here. So you are welcome to check it out. I also welcome any feedback that you have regarding the essay so far, especially on areas which you think I have missed or did not emphasize enough. I'm hoping to rewrite the entire essay into something more cohesive when I have completed the final part. So any suggestions are certainly appreciated.

Zz.

[ramesh512]

Hi, friends and off-course Alexe!!

I like these write-ups about "Jobs for Physics Graduates".
Many wrote this, many that and so on...

Everyone of us must found one thing that the Physics is the base of every-science in the universe, but obviously not the specific as that of Chemistry/Pharmacy/Electronics/Mech Or even Commerce.

It's also true that it is Physics degree next to Engg.

Many of my classmates gone to CS, CA, BA, masterings as everyone of us can not become a 'Scientist'. It is very clear that you continue revising with Physics for becoming a Professor if not scientist.

So, don't bother, apply your analytical-skills and perception and go on..

[jtbell]

I suggest that you (and anybody else who is tempted to post) look at the dates on the preceding posts in this thread. :smile:

[Kal-El]

Even though this tread is very old, I must say, it has opened my eyes about attaining a physics undergrad degree... The only way around these sad factors for physics majors is to have a dual degree with something close to physics (ie; engineering) and have experience form different fields like Zapper pointed out...

[nomad19095]

I haven't responded to this string till now, since I was curious on how people react or respond to this, especially from "career physicst", if there was any. Since I fall into that category, I think it is only fair that I give a bit of my perpective on it.

The issue of becoming a physicist is something that I have a bit of an interest in. I started writing a series of article titled "So You Want To Be A Physicist" for a website that I run, mainly as a record on all the things that I WISH someone would have told me while I was pursuing my degree. No doubt that there were a lot of things that would have made my academic pursuit a bit easier, or less mysterious, had I known a bunch of things along the way.

Part of the problem here is that a lot of incoming undergraduate physics majors have rather "lofty" ideas of what physics is, and what a physicist does. I lost count on how many undergradute physics majors I encouter lately who are enamoured by "String Theory" and "Quantum Gravity", etc., and want to "major" in them. Now, there's nothing wrong with those (crossing fingers), but to think that those are the only exciting areas of physics is taking a very jaundice view of what physics is (they're always surprised when I tell them that the majority of practicing physicists are in the field of condensed matter/material science).

Now at some point, the "employability" of these physics graduates would come into play - like 6 months before graduation. I can relay an anecdote that I personally encounter. Back in the early 90's, during one of the economic slowdowns in the US, there were stories of theoretical physics Ph.D's having to abandon their field and go into other areas for employment, even a story of one ph.d having to drive a bus to make a living. At the same time, I personally know of at least 2 ph.d candidates in the field of Medical Physics and 3 from condensed matter who, even before they finished defending their ph.d theses, were already getting ~$70,000 job offers from various companies. ($70,000 back in the early 90's was a LOT of money, especially for fresh graduates). What was the difference between them and those ph.d's who couldn't find jobs? Their EXPERTISE!

Those people were either in a high demand area (Medical Physics), or they were experimentalists who possessed SKILLS (thin film fabrication and characterizations) that not only are marketable for an academic track career, but also in so many other industrial sectors. Yet, when we asked the new incoming physics majors at that time what area they want to specialize in, they STILL pick theoretical particle physics, String, etc...

Your employability as a physics degree holder depends VERY much on what area you specialized in, and what skills you possess. I will right off hand say that these two factors are very limited if you stop at a B.Sc level. At the doctoral level, if you majored in String theory, or other similar theoretical areas, then you can expect that your employability is highly limited in scope, and this would predominantly come from educational institutions. Considering the rate that they are hiring, and the number of graduates that is being produced, a person with this major should not be surprised if offers are very scant. On the other hand, if you're an experimentalist, and you know (i) ultra-high vacuum systems (ii) pulse laser ablation thin film deposition (iii) x-ray diffraction and electron beam diagnostics systems (all these may appear to be different areas, but when you do an experimental work, you don't just do one thing), then by golly, you have the skills that companies as varied as Intel, Applied Materials, .. all the way to National Labs and of course, academic institutions, are looking for! Furthermore, experimentalists are more desireable to academic institutions because of one important thing: they tend to be able to bring more research grant money than theorists.

If there's ever a "moral" to this story to potential physics majors, it is that while you're pursuing your physics degree, never lose sight that eventually, you will leave the secure comfort of an academic life. When that happens, think of what you know and possess that someone else might find of value. Hopefully, this will influence on what kinds of choices you make along the way.

Zz.

Is it possible to live a life NEVER leaving the secure comfort of academics?