Job Skills Which job can I do with a bachelor only?

[user987987987]

I have a bachelor in physics from the EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) but can't to continue for a master for certain reasons.

How would you suggest to find a job with this bachelor only?

I am interested in getting a job anywhere in a French, English or German speaking country.

 

[marcusl]

Not enough information. Is this you? What year are you now? What is your background, and research if any? What are your interests?

 

[CrysPhys]

In what country did you get your BS? In what country are you looking for a job?

 

[user987987987]

Not enough information. Is this you? What year are you now? What is your background, and research if any? What are your interests?

I have edited my post. I would love knowing your opinion.

 

[Choppy]

The transition from a university education in a scientific discipline like physics into the non-academic workforce can be a tricky one. You have a great education. The problem is that your education (in most cases) has not given you specific qualifications the way a more professionally oriented degree may have.

Some tips that can help...

1. Try to learn where previous graduates from your program have ended up. There's no point in blazing a trail if you don't have to. You might find some employers are very happy with these graduates and are willing to consider new applicants with similar skill sets. On top of that, this may give you some insight into what industries are generally hiring. Your university might have a Career and Placement Services office to help with this. Sometimes the physics department will track its graduates as well. You can even talk to your professors as they may have kept in touch with some students.
2. If you can, try to speak with the prior graduates themselves. They are a part of your "network" even if only at arms length. Try to find out what they have done that's been successful.
3. This report from the AIP is USA-specific, but it might give you some general ideas.
4. You have to take a hard look at the skills that you've developed, or the ones that you can or want to develop moving forward. These are what you can market to potential employers. For physics graduates, these can include: programming, data analysis, statistics, network administration, electronics skills, project management, teaching, machining skills, mathematical modeling, etc. A lot can depend on the specific courses that you've taken, projects that you've been involved with, internships, part-time jobs, etc. The more information we have on details like this, the more specific people might be able to be in response to your questions.
5. You may not find something that relates directly to your degree - at least not right away. While this can be disappointing on the surface, don't let it discourage you. Your education will help you in many ways over the course of your career. Just because you don't start your career as a "physics lab assistant" doesn't mean that you won't ever see aspects of your education again.
6. Don't be afraid of profession-specific training. Building on the prior point, it's easy to get lost in an artificial "sunken cost" dilemma. And of course, you need to eat, so it's understandable that more education is not always an (immediate) option. But try to look at the big, long term picture and build on your education if you're not getting the kinds of positions you would like right now.