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PhysicsCareers:theMyths,theData,andTipsforSuccess
Midhat Farooq([email protected])CareersProgramManager- APS
CrystalBailey([email protected])HeadofCareers- APS
www.aps.org/careers
Alittlebitaboutme…
• UCLA– undergraduatedegree
• UniversityofMichigan– PhDinPhysics• Studentorginvolvement• Studentgovernmentinvolvement• APSVolunteer
• GotmycurrentjobatAPSthroughnetworking!
www.aps.org/careers
Alittlebitaboutyou?
• Howmanyare• Undergraduates?
• GraduateStudents?
• Postdocs?
• Faculty?
• Other?
www.aps.org/careers
OutlineofTalk• SomeStatistics
• Numberofphysicsdegreeholders• Careerpathsofdegreeholders• Academiccareersoutlook• Industrycareersoutlook
• Whatyoucandotoprepare(Students/EarlyCareer)• Howcanyouhelp(Faculty/Mentors)
• Questions
www.aps.org/careers
HowmanyPhDsarethere?
Num
berofUSPhysicsPhDs
Classof
ThenumberofPhysicsPhDsgrantedintheU.S.hasalmostdoubledoverthelasttwodecades!
Slide from Crystal Bailey ([email protected])
www.aps.org/careers
~1600 PhysicsPhDsgointothejobmarketeveryyear
HowmanyPhDsarethere?2015-2016 graduates: 1 year after PhD
www.aps.org/careers
HowmanyPhysicsMastersarethere?
Additionally,of~700newPhysicsMaster’sholders,>300alsolookforjobs(orcontinueemployment)everyyear
Slide from Crystal Bailey ([email protected])
www.aps.org/careers
HowmanyphysicsBachelor’sDegreesareearnedeachyear?
>8500PhysicsBachelor’sdegreesareawardedannually
Abouthalf gostraightintotheworkforce
www.aps.org/careers
Supply
~1600PhysicsPhDs~300PhysicsMasters~4250PhysicsBachelors
è Allenteringworkforce
Whatisthedemand?Whereisthedemand?
www.aps.org/careers
Whataretheydoing(PhDs)?2015-2016 graduates: 1 year after PhD
Abouthalf ofPhysicsPhDsareinitiallyemployedinacademicsector.
However,~73% ofthepotentiallypermanentjobswereintheprivatesector.
www.aps.org/careers
Whataretheydoing(PhDs)?
Source:NSFSurveyofDoctoralRecipients,2001- 2013
www.aps.org/careers
Whataretheydoing(Master’s)?
ThemajorityofMaster’sstudentsalsogointheprivatesector.Only~19%findjobsinacademia.
AphysicsMaster’sopensdoorstoavarietyofdifferentcareerpaths.
Slide from Crystal Bailey ([email protected])
Employer Distribution of Exiting Masters One Year After Degree, Classes of 2012, 2013, & 2014 Combined
www.aps.org/careers
Whatarethey(PhDandMS)doing?
68%
93%
47%
52%
30%
35%
29%
69%
90%
90%
98%
83%
79%
71%
90%
80%
Government Lab
Academia
Industry - Physics
Industry - Other STEM
Industry - Engineering
Industry - Comp Sci
Government Contractor
Finance
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Performs research
Has equal say inresearchperformed
Source: AIP Statistical Research Center Report Common Careers of Physics PhDs in the Private Sector, June 2015
RESEARCH!Slide from Crystal Bailey ([email protected])
www.aps.org/careers
52%
29%
19%
PercentPrivate Sector 32College & University 4High School Teaching 3Active Military 3Government 3Other 2Unemployed, Seeking 5
PercentEngineering 9Other Science & Math 5Education 2Other 3
PercentPhysics 25Astronomy 4
Workforce
Graduate Study Astronomy or
Physics
Graduate Study Other Fields
Physics Bachelors One Year Later8,800 Recent Degree Recipients(2017 & 2018)
Whatarethey(BS&BA)doing?
Abouthalf gostraightintotheworkforce
www.aps.org/careers
Whatarethey(BS&BA)doing?
Majority working in STEM or related fields
www.aps.org/careers
AcademicsectordemandAbout~300newhires(2016data)
Recall:~1600PhDslookingforjobseveryyear
Typically,~19%offacultypositionsweretemporaryornon-tenure-track.
Slide from Crystal Bailey ([email protected])
www.aps.org/careers
Industrydemand
Source:NSFSurveyofDoctoralRecipients,2001- 2013
Industry has been the largest employment base for Physics
PhDs for decades.
PercentageofPhysicsPhDs*EmployedinthePrivateSector
Slide from Crystal Bailey ([email protected])
www.aps.org/careers
IndustryDemandEmployers in STEM fields value physics graduates in their companies as members of interdisciplinary teams
Over 80% of surveyed employers1 agreed that physics majors:
• Could easily grasp new knowledge and concepts
• Were able to identify, formulate, and solve problems
• Were able to successfully analyze and interpret data
• Could engage in continued learning and problem solving
1ABET Survey of applied and engineering physics graduates, Kettering University
Slide from Crystal Bailey ([email protected])
www.aps.org/careers
IndustryDemandWhat else do STEM employers say?
That physics graduates are also missing important training and experience:
• Designing a system, component or process to meet a specific need5
• Working on multi-disciplinary teams2,3
• Recognizing value of diverse relationships (customers, supervisors, etc.)5
• Leadership Skills5
• Communication skills (oral and written) – especially how to tailor message to audience5
• Real-world experience in companies before graduation6
2ABET survey of applied and engineering physics graduates, Kettering University3APS Workshop on Nat’l. Issues in Industrial Physics
Slide from Crystal Bailey ([email protected])
www.aps.org/careers
BottomLineMajorityofphysicsdegreeholdersatalllevels(Bachelors,Masters,andPhD’s)findjobsinindustry.
Goodnews:Theprivatesectorhasahighdemandforphysicsdegreeholders.
Lessgood(butstillgood)news:However,therearesomethingsyoucandotobetterprepareforyourcareer.
www.aps.org/careers
Howcanyoustartpreparing?LookInwards/Reflect
Performadetailedself-assessment• Includeswhatyouaregoodatdoingand
whatyouenjoydoing.Valuesareimportant!• WheredoIwanttobein1year?5years?
KeepaCareerJournal• Trackinsights,contacts,skills.• Whatisimportanttoyou?
• Work-lifebalance?Money?Location?• Flexibleschedule?Controloverresearch?
DocumentSkills• Recordyourskills– technicalandnon-
technical.Thesewillbethebuildingblocksofeveryresume you’llwrite.
• Identifymissingskillsandmakeaplanforacquiringthem.
Slide from Crystal Bailey ([email protected])
www.aps.org/careers
APSOnlineProfessionalGuidebook• Detailedadviceonkeyaspectsofcareerdevelopment.• Features5-minute“webinette”clipsfromthetopAPScareerswebinars• Topicsincludeself-assessment,networking,interviewingandnegotiationstrategies,andmore.
APSCareersWebsite• APSJobBoard• PhysicistProfilesandCommonCareerPaths• NewProfessionalDevelopmentWebinarSeries(comingthissummer!)
go.aps.org/physicspdguide
Howcanyoustartpreparing?UseResources
www.aps.org/careers
Slide from Crystal Bailey ([email protected])
www.aps.org/careers
Howcanyoustartpreparing?Expandyourcareercontacts
BuildYourNetwork• JoinLinkedIn
• Yournetworkwillgrowautomatically!• Attendevents
• Alumnimixers,careerfairs,conferences• VolunteerorJobShadow
FindCareerMentors• JointheAPSIMPACTprogram• SomementorsareADVOCATES
• Knowyoupersonally• Soundingboardandmentor• Likelyfamily/friend
• SomementorsareCONNECTORS• Hasvariousprofessionalcontacts• Willingtoconnectyou• Likelyalumnioradvisors
• SomementorsareEXPERTS• Haveexperienceinspecificindustry• Cangiveadvicerelevanttotheirarea
www.aps.org/careers
Howcanyoustartpreparing?ExpandyourcareercontactsAttendInformationalInterviews• Reachouttocontactsandaskfora20-minutephonechat
• Here,you gettoaskthequestions!• Askabouttheircareerpath• Askabouttheirtypicalworkday• Askaspectsofjobtheylikeordislike• Askhowyoucangetinvolved
• Don’taskforajob!DevelopaPitch• Shortintroductiontoyou
• 30secto1minute• Makeitaconversation,don’tlistfacts
• Usepresent,past,futureformat• Iam_______.Ihaveworkedon_______.I’m
lookingforopportunitiesto__________.• Bepreparedtoanswerquestions,suchas:
• Whyareyoupassionateabout….?• Whydoyouwanttolearnmoreabout….?• Whydoyoufeelyouaregoodat…?
www.aps.org/careers [email protected]
Broaden Your Students’ Career Focus• Invite speakers from private sector, national labs (high school physics teachers, medical physicists, data scientists…)
• Normalize industrial careers – the vast majority of your students will have them!
Encourage More Industry Contact/Mentorship
Evolve physics teaching to incorporate more workforce-relevant experiences/knowledge!
= “Physics Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education (PIE)”
• Explicitly connect physics concepts with their real world applications.
• Utilize physics principles to create innovative solutions to real world problems.
• Include content relevant for careers in the private sector, such as communicating to audience, intellectual property, private and public funding sources, business models, budgeting, etc.
Experiences, courses, and research opportunities which:
• APS IMPact Program – industry mentoring for physicists: impact.aps.org
• LinkedIn®
Connect with your students now, and you’ll be connected with industrial physicists in the future!
Slide from Crystal Bailey ([email protected])
www.aps.org/careers [email protected]
APS PIPELINE Program*• APS PIPELINE Program (Loyola University Maryland, Rochester Institute of
Technology, Wright State University, UC Denver, and George Washington University).
• Advised by experts from established physics entrepreneurship programs (e.g. Carthage College, Case Western, Kettering University)
• Goals are to develop curricula, best practices, and research instruments for teaching physics innovation and entrepreneurship (PIE).
http://www.aps.org/programs/education/innovation/
• Experiential learning/“maker” spaces (e.g. the Innovation Hyperlab)
• Enhanced co-op or internship programs
• New technical entrepreneurship courses, modified existing physics courses
• Pop-up courses• New courses on communication, IP, business structures, etc.
*Support for this work provided by the National Science Foundation's Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) program under Award No. 1624882Approaches under development
include:
Slide from Crystal Bailey ([email protected])
www.aps.org/careers
Summary• Manyphysicsdegreeholdersenterthejobmarketeveryyear
• Majorityfindcareersinprivatesector
• YoucanstartpreparingnowbyexpandingyournetworkandusingAPSResources
Thankyou!Questions?Comments?
www.aps.org/careers
BACKUP
www.aps.org/careers
WhoemploysphysicsPhD’s?
www.aps.org/careers
Whataretheydoing(Master’s)?ThemajorityofMaster’sstudentsalsogointheprivatesector.Only~19%findjobsinacademia.
AphysicsMaster’sopensdoorstoavarietyofdifferentcareerpaths.
Slide from Crystal Bailey ([email protected])
On average between 1995 and 2012, about 40% of physics bachelors went directly into the workforce after graduation.
Bottom line: at all degree paths, the largest initial employment sector for physics graduates is the private sector.
aip.org/statistics
0 20 40 60 80 100
Job Security
Level of Responsibilty
Opportunity for Advancement
Salary and Benefits
Intellectual Challenge
Overall
Percent Sat isf ied
Job Satisfaction of Physics Bachelors In Private Sector STEM Positions (2013 & 2014)
…and they tend to be happy
www.aps.org/careers
HowmuchdophysicsPhDsearn?
www.aps.org/careers
HowmuchdophysicsBachelor’searn?StartingSalaryforClassof2018
www.aps.org/careers
Academicsectordemand
Numberoffacultypositionshasremainedmoreorlessconstantoverlast7years.
Between2006-2008,theaverageretirementrateforphysicsfacultywas2.5%.
Potentially~380openpositions(06-08data).
