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phys0101
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Many threads give the impression that a large percentage of physics graduates regret studying physics. To those of you who have qualifications in physics, do you regret studying physics?
define "many" and support with data/examples.Many threads
Simon Bridge said:define "many" and support with data/examples.
pi-r8 said:If I had known that I would be graduating into the worst job market since the Great Depression, and that a physics major is unqualified for most technical/engineering jobs, I probably would not have majored in it.
phys0101 said:Anyone care to say why they're glad they studied physics?
Timo said:I'm surprised by the high number of people saying the do not regret having gone into physics as it does not reflect the feedback I get from my former colleagues (which is of course a very specialized reference group, both in education level and in research area).
It's a shame the results above cannot be split up by the voters' field of physics and the degree they hold.
Timo said:Also, the question is of course somewhat vague. For instance, I voted "do regret", which isn't to be understood as "it ruined my life" but rather at "in hindsight there had been much better choices I could have taken" - I could as well have voted "do not regret" with a different interpretation of the poll question.
lisab said:I wouldn't say a physics education leaves one "unqualified" for technical/engineering jobs. But it can be *very* difficult to convince a hiring manager (not to mention an HR gatekeeper) of that.
phys0101 said:Anyone care to say why they're glad they studied physics?
twofish-quant said:1) It's usually *impossible*. You are rarely a position to even talk to the manager or gatekeeper, and they'll just toss your resume on sight. Usually they won't even tell you that they got your resume or issue a rejection letter, and you have no idea who they are.
One of the most top secret things that any corporation has is the phone book, and if you even have the *e-mail* of someone that works in a company, you doing really good. Corporations do this intentionally so that you have no one to complain to, and you have nothing to complain about.
Government and university bureaucracies are subject to open records laws. Corporate bureaucracies are not. There's more public information on the hiring processes and staffing of the CIA than there are of most corporations.
2) And it often doesn't help if you convince them.
Suppose you have twenty EE resumes and one physics resume for one job. *Even if* you believe that the physics degree holder is perfectly qualified to do the job, you'd likely toss the physics resume, just because that reduces the number of people you have to interview, and who you are left with are also quite qualified. You got many more resumes than you have jobs. You don't have time even to interview all the qualified people. Tossing resumes for having the wrong degree cuts the queue quickly.
3) And sometimes you get killed if you convince them too well...
Suppose you have twenty EE resumes and one physics resume, and through an amazing sales effort you manage to convince someone that physics majors are 100x smarter and more productive than an EE major.
Congratulations, you've just talked yourself out of a job. At that point you are "overqualified" and your resume gets tossed. This turns out to be a huge problem for physics Ph.D.'s. A lot of HR people will look at a physics Ph.D. and to them you are Albert Einstein or Stephen Hawking. At that point, you are "too smart for the job" and they toss your resume. Also, it's *very common* for managers to feel threatened by people that are smarter or more qualified than they are. Managers are scared of getting fired too, and in a tough economy, it's understandable to be worried about hiring someone that could replace you.
I've been in situations in which the goal was to convince people that I wasn't that smart and that I wasn't as qualified as people thought. I have this "absent minded professor" schitck that I use in some situations.
4) But physics helps...
One of the reason I'm glad I studied physics is that I can apply research skills to the job market. Figuring out how "black holes" in HR work isn't that much different to me than figuring out how "black holes" in galaxies work.
Also, it helps a lot to have a sense of humor. Personally, I think it's funny in a Kafka-sque way.
I have always been fascinated by how the world works and physics seemed like the perfect subject to understand the fundamental laws of the universe. I also enjoyed math and problem-solving, which are important skills in physics.
No, I do not regret studying physics. While there are certainly other interesting sciences, physics has provided me with a strong foundation in understanding the natural world and has opened doors to a variety of career opportunities.
Like any subject, studying physics can be challenging at times. It requires a strong understanding of math and the ability to think critically and creatively. However, with dedication and hard work, it can be a very rewarding subject to study.
There are many career options for someone with a degree in physics. Some popular options include research and development in industries such as aerospace, energy, and technology, as well as careers in education, finance, and data analysis.
Yes, I believe studying physics is worth it. It not only provides a strong foundation in understanding the natural world, but it also teaches valuable skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving that are applicable in many different fields. Additionally, the demand for individuals with a background in physics is high, making it a valuable degree to have in the job market.