MSc in physics and unemployed.

<p>I've been lurking these boards for quite a while and have decided to post now. I was awarded an MSc in physics in 2009, and have been unemployed ever since. I've tried applying for applied physics jobs in industry, but employers are mostly interested in engineers to fill those positions. I've applied for finance jobs, but employers have told me that they are only interested in those that graduated from a top 10. The only position I've been able to find is a research job that pays 25K with no benefits. I only refused it because I thought there were much better options and I'm now reconsidering it. Is 25K the best a physicist with an Msc can ever hope to do these days? A physicist that wasn't fortunate enough to attend a top 10?</p>

<p>Most of the physics graduates (at whichever level of degree) I know work in computer software. Granted, the sample may be biased when looking at it from inside the computer industry. Of course, it helps to have course work and/or self-education in computer science to get these types of jobs.</p>

<p>I’ve applied for many programming jobs, and haven’t received much of a response. The few that have responded have told me that I am not qualified for the job even though my area of specialization is in computational physics. Maybe those physics graduates were also doing a double major in computer science?</p>

<p>I would grab the internship. Easier to get a job when you have a job.</p>

<p>Do you have any prior research or internship experience on your resume? </p>

<p>Apply and reapply everyday. Some companies take months to respond. With the new year maybe some companies will be allowed to hire now so make sure your resume and application are current.</p>

<p>Do you know how to mold your reume and cover letter in order to get a particular job? Many applications are looked at by computers first so have as many key words from the exact job description in your resume.</p>

<p>If not, go back to your school and get help crafting your resume.</p>

<p>and network like crazy…good luck. Do not give up. Make it your job to get a job. I know you must be disappointed and frustrated. You are very employable.</p>

<p>What can you do that someone might be willing to pay for? If your only answer is physics, then yes, $25K might be the best you can do for the time being. </p>

<p>Surely you must have realized a long time ago there there isn’t much demand for physicists outside of education and academia. Which means that you need other marketable skills (or a marketable brand name) to get a job. I have physics major friends doing all sorts of things now: consulting, actuarial work, web design, non-profit work, a tour guide at a science museum. None of their jobs came out of nowhere. Rather, they built up experience over time that made them attractive to employers, whether by passing actuarial exams, designing websites as a hobby or working as a cheap intern during summer breaks. </p>

<p>I encourage you to think about what you <em>want</em> to do, and then figure out how to get there.</p>

<p>The quote button on this forum seems to be broken, had to figure it out on my own.</p>

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<p>It isn’t an internship, it is a full time job with no benefits and unpaid overtime. </p>

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Yes, three summers of research projects under a professor as an undergraduate.</p>

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That is exactly what I’ve been doing, I’ve sent more than at least a 1000 resumes by now and the few responses I’ve had were to just notify me that I wasn’t considered for the job because I just didn’t have the required education for the position. </p>

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Kind of hard to network when all of the people I graduated with are either in the same position as me or are currently in a Phd program. Kind of hard to believe that I’m employable when the only calls I receive back are basically telling me implicitly that I have the same chance as a person who wasn’t educated at all in getting the job.</p>

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I can essentially work competently as an entry level electrical or mechanical engineer, as I took most of the core upper year classes in both fields as electives and stayed back a year to finish them. I can work as a full time programmer or software developer. I can also teach physics and computer science courses at the college level and probably some math courses as well. However, according to my experience with employers, they couldn’t careless if you could solve any engineering problem that has been stumping their top engineers. My perception of employers in industry based on my experience is that if you don’t have an engineering or a computer science degree, you are just not qualified to do the job. </p>

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Yes, that is why I took many engineering and computer science courses. At this point, I could go back to school for one year to get an a degree in either mechanical or electrical engineering or two years for a computer science degree, but I really don’t feel like going to back to school. I already have enough student debt to pay off. I also never had the chance to work as an intern, because I was not from a top 10 and most companies just were never interested in physics majors from my school. Research was pretty much the only option.</p>

<p>I do not believe employers think you are not qualified for these jobs. I believe thay have many resumes from people who are more qualified than you are for these jobs. </p>

<p>What have you been doing these last three years ? What have you put on your resume in regards to the last three years?</p>

<p>Take the job.</p>

<p>Well here’s another question, where do you live? Location plays a huge factor in job market as well. Also, have you been coldcalling companies as well? Even if they don’t list anything, there may be a chance that they are looking to hire. If you’re applying online, stop. Doing that is like throwing paper against the wall in an attempt to damage it. Won’t work and completely inefficient. Also, are you willing to relocate?</p>

<p>If you’re qualified, why not go back to school in something more marketable? Like engineering or CS? Get another Master’s or a PhD. People do it all the time. You don’t have to go to a top school; since you already have a Master’s, you’d stand a good chance of getting some funding in a PhD program… assuming you’re competitive academically.</p>

<p>Already having a master’s degree won’t make any difference at all in getting funding in a PhD program.</p>

<p>My recommendation is to network network network. Contact everyone you’ve ever known and ask if they know of any openings. Your best job leads will come from who you know and who knows you.</p>

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That’s verifiably false, at least at some institutions… which explicitly state that PhD students who already have Master’s degrees will be given preference when it comes to giving TAs and e.g. departmental fellowships. Perhaps it’s not as widespread as I imagine, but it certainly exists, and it’s something to look for.</p>

<p>To be honest, in this economy, where the classes of 2008-2011 have now graduated with a dearth of professional opportunities, I would take the 25K physics job in a heartbeat, take it with a positive upbeat attitude and excel at it. </p>

<p>Right now, you have no competitive advantage and nothing to show for your hard work. Many employers won’t hire the long term unemployed because whether it’s true or not, employers expect you to have a bitter attitude. Nobody wants to work with Eyore or Debbie Downer. It’s depressing enough to read about people in your situation, nobody wants gloominess around every day. Everybody will wonder what’s wrong with you that they are not seeing. Nobody will take the chance, unless it doesn’t cost them much. </p>

<p>If you do get a professional job, YOU MUST BECOME A GREAT INVESTMENT FOR YOUR EMPLOYER. ITS ABOUT THEM NOT YOU. Nobody cares about your loans or whether you can afford to live indoors. You must act friendly, grateful and upbeat at all times. Work long hours, deliver work that’s worth far more than you’re being paid and develop professional skills like people skills and business skills. Understand the business that you’re in. Learn, learn, learn. Develop a reputation as being a closer, someone who finishes jobs. Never complain. Become indispensable and I guarantee, people will start to appreciate you, and you’ll be able to move up the food chain, and your income will increase. You need to break in. </p>

<p>Otherwise, you’re barely employable at all and will join the lost generation.</p>

<p>Take the job you were already offered if you can. $25k is a hell of a lot better than nothing. There’s no rule that says you can’t take a job you hate to hold you over until you find a better one.</p>