Job Suggestions for Physics Majors: Beyond Teaching

[rania yassin]

well,, i still have one and a half year to go,, so you might think that this is a little bit early but this is really a concern for me,, i really don't know what should i do after i graduate,,, I'm majoring in physics and I'm going to be honest I SUCK AT TEACHING ! I'm considering having masters and PhD right after i graduate but i really want to start my career early, so i think I'm going to study and work at the same time... So what I'm asking for is your suggestions for jobs -in the field of physics- other than teaching..
Thank you very much in advance :D

 

[Orodruin]

Within academia there are some pure research institutes in different parts of the world where there is no teaching required (as well as some non-teaching positions at universities). However, singling out these is to thin the field of possible employers in an already harsh job market. I am sure there are also non-academic positions in industry where you would be doing things related to physics, but this depends to a very large degree on what kind of jobs you would be interested in.

 

[Locrian]

Well, most other physics professors suck at teaching too, so I'm not sure that's a reason to give up on the idea. . . (There might be other very good reasons for it though)

 

[rania yassin]

Well, most other physics professors suck at teaching too, so I'm not sure that's a reason to give up on the idea. . . (There might be other very good reasons for it though)

hahahahhahaha,, you do have a great point :P

 

[rania yassin]

Within academia there are some pure research institutes in different parts of the world where there is no teaching required (as well as some non-teaching positions at universities). However, singling out these is to thin the field of possible employers in an already harsh job market. I am sure there are also non-academic positions in industry where you would be doing things related to physics, but this depends to a very large degree on what kind of jobs you would be interested in.

well, in my country teaching is the most popular job for physicists, and i don't think there's a lot of research institutions :S

 

[symbolipoint]

well,, i still have one and a half year to go,, so you might think that this is a little bit early but this is really a concern for me,, i really don't know what should i do after i graduate,,, I'm majoring in physics and I'm going to be honest I SUCK AT TEACHING ! I'm considering having masters and PhD right after i graduate but i really want to start my career early, so i think I'm going to study and work at the same time... So what I'm asking for is your suggestions for jobs -in the field of physics- other than teaching..
Thank you very much in advance :D

How do you know you would be poor at teaching? Anyone who can honestly earn an undergraduate degree in Physics has more than enough sense how to design a lesson plan, and should be able to present the lesson based on that plan. Otherwise, the only trouble you might find would possibly be with who is doing the learning (or who is trying very hard to avoid doing the learning).

Additionally, in case you did not get as much knowledge about Physics as you expected, you still may be able to teach something else; I don't know your particular case.

 

[rania yassin]

How do you know you would be poor at teaching? Anyone who can honestly earn an undergraduate degree in Physics has more than enough sense how to design a lesson plan, and should be able to present the lesson based on that plan. Otherwise, the only trouble you might find would possibly be with who is doing the learning (or who is trying very hard to avoid doing the learning).

Additionally, in case you did not get as much knowledge about Physics as you expected, you still may be able to teach something else; I don't know your particular case.

well i do try tutoring some people and it seems that the way i understand things isn't the common way nor it's the easier way so i find it hard to make the point clear for someone who doesn't think like me

 

[ZapperZ]

well, in my country teaching is the most popular job for physicists, and i don't think there's a lot of research institutions :S

This is one of the most important piece of information that you left out.

The type, quantity, and quality of jobs in physics is VERY LOCATION DEPENDENT! A physics graduate in, say, central Africa will have a very different job prospect than a physics graduate in Chicago, Illinois.

So to you, and anyone else thinking of asking this type of question, please INDICATE WHERE IN THIS WORLD YOU INTEND TO LOOK for a job in physics. Otherwise, people will be giving you advice that will probably be completely irrelevant to you!

Zz.

 

[StatGuy2000]

well, in my country teaching is the most popular job for physicists, and i don't think there's a lot of research institutions :S

According to your profile, you are from Amman, Jordan. Do you intend on staying in Jordan for further graduate studies and employment, or do you plan on pursuing graduate studies elsewhere, say in Europe, US, Canada, or Australia?

 

[Nabeshin]

I'm considering having masters and PhD right after i graduate but i really want to start my career early, so i think I'm going to study and work at the same time.

Note that generally a physics PhD is AT LEAST a full time job, so it is usually not possible or wise to take on a second job while pursuing it.

 

[rania yassin]

This is one of the most important piece of information that you left out.

The type, quantity, and quality of jobs in physics is VERY LOCATION DEPENDENT! A physics graduate in, say, central Africa will have a very different job prospect than a physics graduate in Chicago, Illinois.

So to you, and anyone else thinking of asking this type of question, please INDICATE WHERE IN THIS WORLD YOU INTEND TO LOOK for a job in physics. Otherwise, people will be giving you advice that will probably be completely irrelevant to you!

Zz.

Well to answer your question I'm from Jordan,, that's in the middle east

 

[rania yassin]

According to your profile, you are from Amman, Jordan. Do you intend on staying in Jordan for further graduate studies and employment, or do you plan on pursuing graduate studies elsewhere, say in Europe, US, Canada, or Australia?

Well I'm thinking about continuing my higher education in England since I have some family there

 

[rania yassin]

Note that generally a physics PhD is AT LEAST a full time job, so it is usually not possible or wise to take on a second job while pursuing it.

Yeah but the expenses of studying in my country is really high,,, and I would prefer to help my father with them.

 

[Vagn]

Well I'm thinking about continuing my higher education in England since I have some family there

There are funded PhDs available in the UK that are open to international students also, this means that your fees would be covered by either the institution or the research council, and usually you'd be paid an untaxed stipend. Many institutions will also offer paid teaching roles to eligible PhD students.