• Question: I love maths and computing. Have you got any suggestions of careers I could look into?

    Asked by nessie to Anita, katiesparks, Melanie, Michael, Philip, Priyanka, Sam.S, Sandra, Steph, Tabby on 5 Jan 2018.
    • Photo: Michael

      Michael answered on 5 Jan 2018:

      Hi nessie, it depends what your aims are in the long term. Maths and physics often go very well together as A-level subjects. There are research areas like astrophysics, robotics or nanotechnology. Also more practical and creative areas like civil engineering, architecture or computer coding.

      Don’t be surprised if your current career goals or plans change over time. Most important of all – follow your gut. Don’t stick with a career if it feels wrong. Have the courage to be honest if something does not work out and move on.

      Good luck,

      M

    • Photo: Katie Sparks

      Katie Sparks answered on 8 Jan 2018:

      Hi nessie,

      You lucky person – you have all the options.
      Which is actually a blessing and a curse all in one – because what are “all the options”?!
      Nearly all jobs these days have computing somewhere involved, which also means maths will be involved.
      Research is a great option, but so is anything engineering, or perhaps film design, or finance.
      My advice to you would be to make sure you have solid skills in your maths and computing, but also literacy (reading and writing). This way, when you find out something you might want to have a go at, you’ll have the skills and ability to go for it.
      If you can, a language like French or German can be useful to when it comes to research and engineering.
      In the world of work, you would also do well to consider *how* you like to work too (alone, in groups, following instructions, that kind of things).

      I suggest having a look at the “people like me” campaign for ideas of what sort of jobs are out there. https://www.wisecampaign.org.uk/people-like-me/people-like-me-for-girls

      Good luck!
      Katie

Comments

  • Photo: Wendy

    Wendy commented on :

    You might look into data science, which combines mathematics and computing to analyze large datasets to find new insights using new techniques such as artificial intelligence and machine learning – the same techniques that enabled Google’s DeepMind subsidiary to beat the world’s greatest players in Go and chess. For a popular introduction to this area, you might look at Cathy O’Neil’s book Weapons of Math Destriction, which talks about how to ensure that these systems do not become vehicles for social injustice and how they are presently used in fields as diverse as education and criminal justice. If your bent is more specifically technical, you could also look at cryptography, which has many uses. Finally, it may pay you not to specialize too young. The field of cyber security, for example, which desperately needs good people to fill the many jobs available, is often thought of as a purely technical field but in fact the best people in cyber security have a more mixed background, and you can make more valuable contributions to the field if besides maths and computing you have some knowledge of any or all of human psychology, economics, criminology, business, and international relations.

    wg

  • Photo: Jonathan

    Jonathan commented on :

    See Katie’s comment about how you like to work. When you start in a career it feels as if the technical skills are everything. But working with others and general management skills become more important as you progress. I suggest reading “Portraits in Silicon” and “The Empty Raincoat”.