What can I do with a Degree in Mathematics?
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Introduction
Choosing a career involves more than just finding out what is open to you. Knowledge about yourself is central to the process. It is valuable to start by looking at your individual values, interests, and skills in order to relate career options to you. The suggestions here are only an aid to this decision-making process.
Most employers look for generic skills such as communication, interpersonal, customer-focus and the ability to work in and contribute to a team. Some of these are developed during your degree, whilst others have been developed through extra-curricular activity such as sports, community, or cultural groups.
As more and more employers are developing job titles that are particular to their own environment, it is more difficult to provide a definitive list of possible career options. The ones that follow should be considered to be illustrative rather than exhaustive.
What skills are developed?
Studying Maths develops skills obviously in numerical confidence and competence in application to problems and issues. Maths develops the ability to think in a logical and quantitative way; the ability to identify, measure, analyse and evaluate information, and the ability to handle intellectually difficult problems. Maths often requires the ability to communicate complex information in a way in which can be understood by those other than mathematicians.
In addition to gaining a great deal of knowledge and technical skills during your degree you will have developed your capacity to think creatively, logically, and quantitatively. You will have learnt the importance of being able to communicate your ideas, both verbally through giving presentations and in the form of written assignments. Involvement in project work will have helped you appreciate the importance of good planning and careful execution of your work. In addition, when working as part of a group, you will have had the opportunity to appreciate the value of co-operation, teamwork and leadership .
Career options
Career options for maths graduates are extensive. Some of the options include actuarial work, economic and statistical services, teaching, analyst roles, programming and other IT roles, risk analysts, consultancy, operations management, and research work. Maths graduates career options are often found as part of a multi disciplinary team.
It is important to appreciate that career opportunities in some areas, and in some roles are dependent not only on applicants having certain skills and/or knowledge, but also on personal qualities and attributes such as interpersonal and leadership potential. Such qualities and attributes can have a significant influence on the entry level into a company or organisation, or career progression within it.
Types of employers
Maths Graduates are employed by many types of employers including the following: Industry, commerce, government departments, the computer industry, insurance, market research, research and development, banking, health and education.
Where have graduates been employed?
2006 & 2007 graduate destination information for different subject areas and qualification levels is available via the Universities New Zealand - Te Pōkai Tara website.
NZUniGradStats (published in June 2008) contains information on destinations and other outcomes from the annual survey of all graduates from the New Zealand university system.
Further study
It is possible to study at post-graduate level in subjects both directly related and un-related to your degree. Related course of study include the Honours degree, and studies at Masters and PhD level. This additional study can impact on the entry level of employment in industry.
Many Graduates do additional training in for example Teaching, Library, Journalism or Management .
Carefully consider your motivation for study, how it fits in with your long-term career plans and whether it is likely to enhance your employment prospects.
How can I find out more?
This should have started your thinking about your future. To follow this up and find out more information on jobs of interest, visit Careers New Zealand.
Other useful links
- Graduate Careers Australia
- Job Outlook, Australia
- My Future, Australia
- Prospects, UK
- Florida State University Careers Center, USA
- O*NET OnLine, USA
If you are an intending or current student at the University of Canterbury, or a recent graduate, Careers, Internships & Employment offers a wide range of services, including individual career guidance, seminars and resource information.