getting a job...

[kiggles]

so after 5 years of university, get a 2:1 in physics (supposed to be good right?)

so why cant i seem to get a job / masters funding / or PHD.

i have no money as i spent it all on living. (bike, petrol, insurance, food)

didnt even pay rent (luckily) as i commuted. i feel like i have wasted my time, and my graduation feels like another thing to waste my money, to make me feel like i have made an achievement, by working hard for 5 years and getting 20k or more of debt, which could be better put towards a house rather then a degree.

rant over. on the plus side i had a good ride out in the rain :D

[Bibio]

times are hard and no one is hiring and if they are they are wanting experienced staff that are not going to cost them money by fecking up. masters/phd requires tutors to have funding/projects and as we are in a rescission there is less of it going about.

to say you graduated to early is an understatement. keep filling in the applications m8 you'll get there.

[Fallout]

2:1 in Physics is a good solid indication of your brain power and work ethic mate. What you have right now is solid proof you're intelligent and can apply yourself, even if the degree itself might be one of those that doesn't port well to many jobs.

What do you want to do with your life? I ask because, I know plenty of people who have reached their full potential without the aid of a degree. I don't believe higher education is necessary to succeed, so in my opinion, it's not worth pushing for a PHD or masters unless (a) you really enjoy it, or (b) you really want to reach the top of a Physicist's career. If you end up going into any non-physics career, it will not be worth it.

What can a physicist do anyway, apart from discover the Higgs? :D What sort of work would you like and think you're qualified for?

[Messie]

Ever thought about teaching? The profession is crying out for physics teachers. There may even be bururies still, as it's a shortage subject.

[johnnyrod]

Teaching is a good call, I don't think the pay is bad for a first job (at least). As said, don't go on to masters/PhD etc. unless you really want to be a specialist. Although I'm also a scientist (chemistry) I wouldn't know where to start with physics jobs, but maybe talk to your professional body. Ours (RSC) is doing a lot with people to get them into things they wouldn't have thought of, many jobs need some aspect of science without being a science-based job (e.g. optician?), if you see what I mean. And remember, anyone who can count without talking their shoes off can be a bean counter, and God knows if I'd realised how much they aren I should have done that instead of making sure people can breath from a cylinder... if I'd wanted to be soulless and rich*

*Cue handbag battering! It's a gag, alright...

[Bri w]

http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/details/Default.aspx?Id=243

[femaleacid]

If you're into IT check out Northgate managed services. It where i work and i didn't even have a degree.

[ClunkintheUK]

Thats really tough mate. I was in the same boat in 2007 (same degree even). One bit of advice from my time looking is get any job initially, even if its working behind the fish counter at Tesco for a few days a week. Partly for your own sanity of having something to do and a bit of structure in your week.

But also, it took me about 10 months to get my first interview (And I got the job too) and one of the first questions they asked is "what have you been doing in the last 10 months?". I was lucky that I had been working in a bike shop in the summer holidays, so i picked up some part time shifts. It shows to the employer that you want to work, it might give you a little useful experiance ("can you tell me about a time when you have had to deal with a customer/boss/colleague who you felt was wrong?") and a little petrol money is no bad thing.

Also while physics allows you to go into almost any career, you would need to learn new specialist knowledge in that field. If you have an idea of what you want to do, start reading up on in on the internet, perhaps do a course, or contact companies directly and offer to do an unpaid internship. This is more doable if you have a little cash from a part time job. Again any learning/knowledge/experiance you can add to a CV or interview helps to set you apart.

[Sir Trev]

*Cue handbag battering! It's a gag, alright...

I had better be! And we're not all rich you know.


Another plus one to getting some experience wherever it comes from. My degree included a year in industry - four years instead of three was a drag but I had something solid on my CV at the end and it serverd me well.

[joe_f59]

I am a Physics teacher with a 2.1 in physics from Leicester university. I originally wanted to join the RAF as a fast jet pilot but my eyesight let me down! I turned to teaching after a few jobs including financial work and i havent looked back. The job is hilarious if you are good at it, and incredibly rewarding as well. Its also the hardest work ive done by far.

As a fellow physicist you can almost do what you want, provided it doesnt require previous experience. You have proven you can handle the hardest undergraduate course the education system can throw at you. You'l be fine my friend :)