- #1
Jon.G
- 45
- 0
Pretty long post - can just answer the title question if you don't want to read about all of my thoughts and worries :P
Having completed my first year studying Physics at University (I'm on a 4 year MPhys course), I
have turned my thoughts to what career path I want to take. I know a lot of people who would consider this a little bit late, but I struggled to think of anything during my school years, and decided to study Physics for three reasons:
1) I found it the most interesting of my subjects,
2) Career prospects seemed quite good after University, I always considered myself prepared to do whatever it takes (within reason :P ) to get to where I want, so a bit of extra studying, some hard work and even some ***-kissing never worried me ;)
3) I was always good at Physics and Maths, so it seemed like the best option for me.
Now that I am looking at jobs etc. that I wold like to go in to, I am really struggling to find anything that I think I would enjoy enough. When I previously thought about this, I was hoping that I could at least find something I could tolerate, (hopefully with a high enough pay to take a decent holiday each year:D ) but looking at hours and days off, I feel I would need a job that I properly enjoy.
My 3 'favourite' choices for career would be:
Medical Physics - It seems like a job that would keep me interested longer than most others. While I know that is not a very healthy attitude when looking for a job, this is probably the best/most realistic option I have right now. In the UK, it seems I would have to go into the NHS STP program to have the best chance of becoming a Medical Physicist. However, I fear that after only a few years I would become a bit bored in this job :(
Management - I know this might sound odd, but I think I could survive in a management-type job, ideally in a sort of scientific company. While I highly doubt I would enjoy a research job for any more than a couple of years at best, I would still like to be involved in it in some way, shape or form XD I know this is quite unlikely, as I seem fairly apathetic towards this, but if I could find a way into this field I reckon I could survive there.
I'd likely have to
Broadcasting/Presenting - This is my favourite idea right now, but it is also my most unlikely. I also do worry that I am only interested for the more glamorous side of it right now, caused my my stress and fear of what is to come after Uni :S (I'm quite a big worrier) It would be presenting in the scientific (mostly Physics :P ) field, performing interviews, discussions, answering listeners questions, and one day presenting TV shows would be awesome XD I have applied to a few radio stations nearby (even for just tiny features at some) , but all of my applications have been unsuccessful so far. I got to an interview for one, but was told that I probably wouldn't be very popular as a regular feature due to my accent :( . (I lived close to Newcastle for 8 years, and in Spain for 10 years, and even I notice that this has left me with a very strange accent) I am working on improving it, but there are also so many people who would be much better suited to something like this than I am, so it would be very difficult for me to get into this. As I said before, I am willing to work to get there, I'm just having a difficult time breaking into this and it is quite disheartening and I do feel myself losing some of my motivation :( This also leads me to feel that my efforts would be better spent trying to pursue something else - something more realistic - while still trying to get into this when & where I can.
I also know it would be extremely unlikely for me to get to my ultimate goal in this.
Anyway, that's enough on my thoughts for now.
I suppose my question would be: How and when did you decide what career was right for you?
If you are in one of my 3 preferred areas - how do you find it? Could you tell me anything that might help me make my mind up?
Thanks :)
Having completed my first year studying Physics at University (I'm on a 4 year MPhys course), I
have turned my thoughts to what career path I want to take. I know a lot of people who would consider this a little bit late, but I struggled to think of anything during my school years, and decided to study Physics for three reasons:
1) I found it the most interesting of my subjects,
2) Career prospects seemed quite good after University, I always considered myself prepared to do whatever it takes (within reason :P ) to get to where I want, so a bit of extra studying, some hard work and even some ***-kissing never worried me ;)
3) I was always good at Physics and Maths, so it seemed like the best option for me.
Now that I am looking at jobs etc. that I wold like to go in to, I am really struggling to find anything that I think I would enjoy enough. When I previously thought about this, I was hoping that I could at least find something I could tolerate, (hopefully with a high enough pay to take a decent holiday each year:D ) but looking at hours and days off, I feel I would need a job that I properly enjoy.
My 3 'favourite' choices for career would be:
Medical Physics - It seems like a job that would keep me interested longer than most others. While I know that is not a very healthy attitude when looking for a job, this is probably the best/most realistic option I have right now. In the UK, it seems I would have to go into the NHS STP program to have the best chance of becoming a Medical Physicist. However, I fear that after only a few years I would become a bit bored in this job :(
Management - I know this might sound odd, but I think I could survive in a management-type job, ideally in a sort of scientific company. While I highly doubt I would enjoy a research job for any more than a couple of years at best, I would still like to be involved in it in some way, shape or form XD I know this is quite unlikely, as I seem fairly apathetic towards this, but if I could find a way into this field I reckon I could survive there.
I'd likely have to
Broadcasting/Presenting - This is my favourite idea right now, but it is also my most unlikely. I also do worry that I am only interested for the more glamorous side of it right now, caused my my stress and fear of what is to come after Uni :S (I'm quite a big worrier) It would be presenting in the scientific (mostly Physics :P ) field, performing interviews, discussions, answering listeners questions, and one day presenting TV shows would be awesome XD I have applied to a few radio stations nearby (even for just tiny features at some) , but all of my applications have been unsuccessful so far. I got to an interview for one, but was told that I probably wouldn't be very popular as a regular feature due to my accent :( . (I lived close to Newcastle for 8 years, and in Spain for 10 years, and even I notice that this has left me with a very strange accent) I am working on improving it, but there are also so many people who would be much better suited to something like this than I am, so it would be very difficult for me to get into this. As I said before, I am willing to work to get there, I'm just having a difficult time breaking into this and it is quite disheartening and I do feel myself losing some of my motivation :( This also leads me to feel that my efforts would be better spent trying to pursue something else - something more realistic - while still trying to get into this when & where I can.
I also know it would be extremely unlikely for me to get to my ultimate goal in this.
Anyway, that's enough on my thoughts for now.
I suppose my question would be: How and when did you decide what career was right for you?
If you are in one of my 3 preferred areas - how do you find it? Could you tell me anything that might help me make my mind up?
Thanks :)