Job Opportunities in Industry

by Julie Shafer

Most math students, when telling others what they study, hear the familiar question "Oh, are you going to be a teacher?" After hearing it many times, you might start to wonder whether math people have any job opportunities in industry. This May, I will graduate with a master's degree in mathematics with a specialization in computational science. In my job search last fall, I discovered that companies have an enormous demand for math graduates at all degree levels because of a huge growth in the information science and technology industries.

I interviewed for a wide range of positions including jobs in the defense industry, imaging science, software development, and consulting. Most of the job descriptions required math along with skills in computer science and engineering. In my experience, a lack of some desired computer and engineering skills was usually not a significant barrier. Several interviewers mentioned how easy it is to teach a mathematician computer science or engineering skills. In fact I was offered two jobs which required a great deal of additional computer and engineering skills. Both companies offered development programs to teach the required skills, culminating in a master's degree in an engineering or computer specialization.

I accepted a job with Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics and Surveillance Systems in Syracuse, New York. I begin this June in their Engineering Leadership Development Program. This is a three-year program that involves rotational work assignments and business specific engineering training, leading to a master's degree in my choice of electrical, mechanical, or computer engineering. The program promotes the teamwork environment that is very common in industry today. In this environment a math person can contribute to the solution of challenging problems in unfamiliar fields by combining efforts with a group of people who have different skills and educational backgrounds.

In the first couple of years at Lockheed Martin I might be working on software design and development, systems integration and test, systems engineering, advanced development engineering, mechanical design and analysis, or digital and analog hardware design. Doing rotational assignments will give me broad based technical exposure and let me explore the different business segments of the company. I will learn both from experienced employees on the job and through classroom training with the development program. During my third year I will chose a permanent position, most likely with one of the groups where I did a rotational assignment. Programs like this one allow you to make an informed decision about the type of work you want to do and place you on the fast track to leadership roles.

I found employers eager to hire mathematicians for the problem solving skills they have developed from their studies. Depending on the job, companies were interested in applicants holding either bachelor's, master's, or Ph.D. degrees. There were many math intensive jobs that required a Ph.D. or master's degree, and other jobs that required only undergraduate math like calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations. There were definitely many job opportunities for people holding any of the three degrees.

Master's degrees in many fields are not marketable in industry without previous work experience; however right now there is a great demand for people holding a math master's, with or without work experience. Some companies believe the intuition and problem solving skills they desire from math majors are more highly developed with a master's degree than a bachelor's. At a minimum, some companies prefer applicants with master¹s degrees since they are more mature and often have a clearer sense of direction in their lives.

My job search revealed many different options for using a math degree. I only considered a few of the possible career paths. Areas I did not investigate include finance, actuarial science, and work with the federal government.

Julie shared her experiences with other graduate students on March 1 when she gave a talk entitled "Job Prospects in Industry" in the departmental graduate student seminar.