What options are available for a physics graduate struggling to find a job?

[DJeffs]

Personally I do not believe that good employers expect new graduates to really KNOW anything relevant to their business - it is their general foundation of knowledge and ability to learn and understand complex, technical and mathematical concepts that makes them valuable.

This is the impression I was under throughout my undergraduate education, but I don't know how true it actually is. Even for engineers, I've heard it's not uncommon to not end up using many specific skills from one's undergraduate degree, which would seem to somewhat support this notion.

 

[rhombusjr]

Because the job requires a broader knowledge base than being a grad student does. Engineering degrees have requirements that span scientific theory as well as industrial application. They have programming requirements and they even have requirements of business/economics classes. A physics BS is nearly all scientific theory. It's more specialized and narrow. Since engineering is tailored for a 'real world' job, its has to span the many areas that a real world job requires. Being insulated in academia one doesn't need such a broad base.

Having done both degrees, I can say you're wrong here.

Physics majors have programming requirements too. Engineering majors also don't often take business classes except as electives. Just because being an engineer might require knowledge of business, etc. in industry, it doesn't mean that engineers acquire that knowledge in the classroom. Some engineers I've met are complete technical specialists and have no knowledge of business practices, or anything else outside of their niche technology. I've done part of an engineering curriculum and industrial internships. There isn't a direct transfer of skills from engineering courses to industrial work.

By "broader knowledge base" I was referring to scientific knowledge. Engineers specialize in one type of engineering. Physicists obtain a general knowledge of a wide range of science.

 

[jesse73]

well said rhombusjr

 

[clope023]

Because the job requires a broader knowledge base than being a grad student does. Engineering degrees have requirements that span scientific theory as well as industrial application. They have programming requirements and they even have requirements of business/economics classes. A physics BS is nearly all scientific theory. It's more specialized and narrow. Since engineering is tailored for a 'real world' job, its has to span the many areas that a real world job requires. Being insulated in academia one doesn't need such a broad base.

Oh please, again I'm doing both degrees and you hyper specialize as an engineer into one application area (EE, ME, NE, etc) and then even within that you specialize. Just within EE you can specialize in controls, power, communication, electronics, fabrication, each with their own specific skill sets and many are not related to the others. Lots of schools both within physics and engineering make you program and economics is a requirement to get any degree in most schools. Lots of physics schools do that and more, there are physics degrees that only prepare you to go to grad school, many do not however. And a lot of the grad students and physicists I've worked with could get engineering jobs easily with their skills sets if not for the red tape of certification. Assuming physics => insulation into academia is falacious at best.

 

[X89codered89X]

Just something I'm repeatedly seeing on this board:

doing a specific degree in anything technical doesn't necessarily restrict you to that chosen subset of technical work for all time. I never understood the lack of imagination when some of my classmates say 'I want to do [X], so I'll major in [X]', and then follow the recommended curriculum with blind faith, as if that's everything you'll ever need.

You can major in something technical... Then take a bunch of other upper-level electives in other technical subjects to get flavors of other technical fields... branch out a bit. In my opinion this shows you take an active interest in many areas, and that you're a flexible worker.

 

[Devils]

doing a specific degree in anything technical doesn't necessarily restrict you to that chosen subset of technical work for all time. I never understood the lack of imagination when some of my classmates say 'I want to do [X], so I'll major in [X]', and then follow the recommended curriculum with blind faith, as if that's everything you'll ever need.

Following that, go for jobs that interest you ever if they are out of your specialisation. A masters degree or specialist certification can get you places.

Sometimes employers have trouble filling some jobs for unrelated reasons (eg there is a big demand for electronic engineers because of a specific project but you are a physicist in a related area ) or the employer needs somebody to start next Monday. Sometimes they have multiple positions to fill.

Also remember that even in technical jobs sell yourself as a problem solver, not just somebody with technical knowledge. I have worked on computer contracts and more often then not I was not exactly what the employer wanted but I showed them I would exceed their expectations. When I got an interview I was successful in getting the job in 50% of cases.