Physics New Grad with B.A. in Physics - where to look for lab work?

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New graduates with a B.A. in physics from liberal arts colleges face challenges in finding employment in the physics field without pursuing graduate studies. The discussion highlights that job opportunities are limited for those with only a bachelor's degree, as employers often prefer hiring graduate students for lab work and research positions. Recommendations include leveraging university faculty connections for potential job leads. Alternative career paths may involve engineering or programming roles, but competition is fierce, especially with a surplus of engineering graduates. Personal experiences shared indicate a struggle to secure stable employment, with some resorting to low-wage jobs or day labor. The consensus suggests that pursuing graduate school may be necessary for a viable career in physics.
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I am a new grad with a very theoretically based B.A. in physics from a liberal arts college. I am devoted to physics entirely, but I couldn't bring myself to make the commitment to graduate school so soon.

I'd like to try to find work in a physics field, but I don't know where to look. My coursework looks like:

General Physics I & II
Classical Mechanics I & II
Quantum Mechanics I
Electrodynamics I & II
Thermal Physics
Topics of Astrophysical Interest
Thesis I & II
Calculus
Linear Algebra
Introduction to Analysis
Multivariable Calculus I & II

Any advice on where to find jobs? Aside from physics today...
 
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You should probably start with the faculty at your university. You know them pretty well after all.
 
You probably won't find any work in physics with just a bachelor's degree. Even lab work will be hard to come by. Why hire you when they can hire a grad student?

The closest you can get is most likely some engineering or programming, but even that will be hard to come by. I've been unemployed for 8 months now. It's slim pickin's for physics majors because there are so many engineering majors out there that there is no reason to look to us for work.
 
I worked in a restaurant after getting my B.S. in physics. The hours got too low and I couldn't land a job elsewhere, not even at a gas station. Now I am doing day labor by advertising on craigslist.

IMO, you need to go to grad school to get any kind of a career out of physics.
 
Hello, I graduated from undergrad a few years ago with a Major in Physics and minor in Electrical Engineering. I tried to get experience working on and testing circuits through my professor who studied Neutrinos, however covid caused the opportunity to go away and I graduated with no experience or internships. I have attempted to break into the engineering industry with no success. Right now I am considering going for a Masters in Electrical Engineering and I need advice on if this would be...
I don't know if anyone on here works for any of the well known defense companies of your country, whichever country you are from?? Also, if you choose to work in one, do you think the engineering education provide from your school would adequately prepare you for the job. What do I mean by that? Well if you work at say Lockheed Martin and you work in the latest iteration of a missile or if you work at Pratt & Whitney, they assign you to work in the team helping out with building the jet...

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