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Realising your potential outside academiaKatie Russell
There are jobs out there
What you have to offer
Getting started with applications
Make your PhD work for you
Bad Timing?
Recession ended this January
Unemployment rises smaller than forecast
Some sectors soaring
Finance (Auditing, Accountancy, Corporate)
IT
Petroleum engineering and retail
Some sectors: business as usual
You'll stand out, whatever the weather
Do what’s right for you
My working assumption is that if you’re smart enough to get yourself into a Ph.D.
program, you’re smart enough to get yourself out of one. My positive philosophy about career change is partly a result of my glass-is-half-full attitude/personality, but it’s also borne out in the “anecdata” I’ve collected through my interviews. MAs and PhDs find work in non-academic sectors all the time.
http://www.leavingacademia.com
FTSE GBP 2010-03-10
Academia vs Commerce
Shorter timeframe (days not years)
High pressure
No students, no teaching
Different people
Making money not advancing knowledge
PhD Effectiveness: SIAMObtaining a highly desirable positionExtremely effective 58%
Somewhat effective 25%
Not effective 17%
Helping in your workExtremely effective 59%
Somewhat effective 32%
Not effective 9%
Superior career pathExtremely effective 27%Somewhat effective 51%
Not effective 22%
Importance of advanced mathematics: SIAM
Importance Ph.D. Master's ManagersPrimary 43% 28% 51%
Secondary 43% 40% 37%
Only for general utility 11% 32% 12%
Three main functional roles for mathematics were mentioned by managers:
Development of algorithms and numerical methods (27%)Modelling and simulation (23%)Statistical analysis (15%)
Possibilities
Academic distribution: SIAMGovernment 28%
Engineering research, computer services, software 19%Electronic, computers, aerospace, transportation equipment 17%
Services (financial, communications, transportation) 13%
Chemical, pharmaceutical, petroleum-related 6%
Don't get tied up on this … apply now, get interviews, filter later
Mathematical Modelling
Dealing with Unknowns
Researching and Compiling
Handling Detailed Work
Trouble Shooting
Pattern Spotting
Programming
Investigation Coordinating
Analysis
Reading
Teaching
Presenting
Conceptualization
Decision Making
Problem Solving
Communicating
Abstraction
Algorithm development
Learning
Time management
Assimilation
Technical writing
Public speaking
Your Skills
Interpreting
Translating
CV
Blurb
Technical Skills programming
mathematical modelling
data analysis
computer simulations
Monte Carlo technique
Teaching
Key Achievements
Get Advice!
Dr Katherine Russell
Address: Email: Home: Mobile: I have a rare combination of skills - a highly logical and intelligent mind, an ability to communicate with others and an affable personality. I’m adaptable, I relish new challenges, I’m a natural problem solver and pattern spotter - hence my success in mathematics. Education Sep 2004 - Jun 2009 PhD Mathematical Physics Heriot-Watt University Solitons are solutions to highly non linear differential equations. I investigated the evolution of different soliton fields which had been given some energy. I modelled the soliton – energy system and found a reduced version of the problem using representation theory. Then I used various packages including NAG routines in Fortran 77, Maple and Matlab to solve the systems of differential equations; which were second order, coupled, singular and highly non linear systems. The complexity of the problem meant that hand written algorithms (such as shooting methods) were required for much of the work. I made a scattering analysis of the solutions using hand written algorithms for Matlab and Maple.
Sep 2003 - Jul 2004 Part III Mathematics (Masters) University of Cambridge Sep 2000 - Aug 2003 Bachelor of Arts Mathematics (2:1 Honours) University of Cambridge
Sep 1998 - Aug 2000 A levels Physics, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, English Literature (AAAA)
Aylesbury High School Publications Field Theory and Solitons, PhD. Thesis March 2009 Katherine Russell Resonances of the non-BPS monopole forthcoming Katherine Russell and Bernd J. Schroers Excitations of the Ginzburg-Landau vortex forthcoming Katherine Russell and Bernd J. Schroers Employment History Oct 2004 - Dec 2008 Tutorial Assistant, Heriot-Watt University - helped undergraduate students understand examples and concepts from their lectures - marked work including exam scripts - attended training courses for teaching and marking skills Aug 2003 - May 2004 Waitress, Cambridge United Football Club - Provided hospitality for Sponsors and Directors of the Football Club
Get started with applications
Use contacts
Recruiters
High Quantity (filter your choices later)
Keep your options open
Be googleable (academic webpages help)
Don't (over) worry about initial salary
The phone calls roll in ...
Interviews
Confidence in your skills and your value to the company
Commercial attitude (as opposed to academic)
Ability to relate to other people, and work in a group
Ability to answer technical questions, and explain your research to non-specialists
Clarity on your reasons for leaving academia and choosing this particular career path
Interviews
• Initiative, interest, outside activities
• Don't be afraid to show your personality
xkcd.com
Avoid stumbling blocks
What was your PhD about?
Why are you leaving Maths?
What are your weaknesses?
Tests – prepare for them!
Evidence based questions
Teamwork
Leadership
Innovation
Resources
http://www.siam.org/about/mii/
http://www.poplarware.com/personal/lvphys.html
http://www.leavingacademia.com
http://www.remjobs.co.uk
http://www.reed.co.uk/
https://www.mi5.gov.uk > careers > competency based interviews
http://www.mckinsey.com > careers > how do I apply
> how to do well in the interview