Career options with Maths?

**Trebla** · 23 Jun 2012, 1:58 AM

Originally Posted by Shadowdude

Hey, nice.

How is it anyway? A couple of friends (and I'll admit myself) were thinking of trying out for it.

It's very tough to say the least. Their exam round consists of 3 different tests which are all multiple choice.

The first one is pure arithmetic with no calculator and they've designed the scoring system such that you get penalised with negative marks for a wrong answer or skipping a question (i.e. you have to do the questions in order). Basically make sure you're quick and accurate at doing your operations especially on fractions and decimals and know mental shortcuts in simplifying and recognising equivalent forms of the same number. Speed and accuracy is key. No one I know has ever finished the test though.

A typical example would be like: 0.3 x 0.12
A) 360/1000
B) 0.36
C) 9/2500
D) 3.6
E) 27/750

The second test is much easier and is more problem solving again using mental arithmetic. Most people finish this one within the time limit.

The third test is a killer which is basically recognising the next term in a sequence and this is testing your ability to recognise patterns. Here, time is not an issue but moreso trying to figure out the patterns which are often difficult to find.

A typical example would be to find the next term in {2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23,...}
A) 25
B) 27
C) 29
D) 31
E) 32

**Shadowdude** · 23 Jun 2012, 2:09 AM

And you passed that... hmm.

So what happens if you pass it? They offer you something - like an interview? Next stage of applications?

**Trebla** · 25 Jun 2012, 10:43 PM

Yep, next stage is first round interview which also tests your ability to think on the spot. Good luck!

**Shadowdude** · 25 Jun 2012, 10:53 PM

Good luck? Thanks, Trebla. I won't try out for... a few years though.

I was playing a game of '400' with some friends - basically you 'call' how many 'tricks' you can win at the start of each round. And of the 4 players, the 'calls' must sum to at least 11 or it's a reshuffle.

The calls were: 3, 2, 3, 2.

And then they called reshuffle. And I stopped them and was like "wait, why are we reshuffling?" and they said "the calls didn't sum to 11".

And then I said: "Yes, it does... 3, 2, 3, 2... it's 12, isn't it?"

and then they blank stared me and then i was like "OHHHHHHHHHH oops sorry"

**1to1 Tutor** · 7 Sep 2012, 5:33 AM

Mathematics is not everyone’s cup of tea, we reckon. If you think that you are good at mathematics and enjoy the subject. Here are top 5 careers that you can pursue if you are good at mathematics.
1. Be a Statistician
2. Be a Computer Programmer
3. Be an Actuary
4. Be a Business Analyst
5. Be a Mathematics Professor
All this talk about numbers, analysis, theorems, data, information and more has got our brains saturated by now. If yours haven't, you definitely need to check out these top career options. Good luck!
Thank you!

**Shadowdude** · 7 Sep 2012, 9:41 PM

check out those "maths ad(d)s" magazines that AMSI produces

they're pretty good. they are cut outs of job ads that employ maths grads

**seanieg89** · 7 Sep 2012, 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by Shadowdude

Well, I'd put that because there's no job out there that's "Mathematician".

There are jobs out there which require mathematical skill and don't have the title "Mathematician". There's tons of data now, so for Statistics at least - you can be damn sure of a job there.

Err...yes there is. What do you think academia is?

**Shadowdude** · 7 Sep 2012, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by seanieg89

Err...yes there is. What do you think academia is?

"Lecturer", "Professor", "Research Associate", "Post-Doctoral Fellow", etc.

**seanieg89** · 7 Sep 2012, 11:12 PM

All of which fall into the class of being a mathematician. For that matter you could say that there are no economists, physicists, chemists in the world.

**Shadowdude** · 7 Sep 2012, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by seanieg89

All of which fall into the class of being a mathematician. For that matter you could say that there are no economists, physicists, chemists in the world.

My point is that most jobs that use mathematics aren't labelled "Mathematician". They're labelled other things like risk analyst or whatever.

You say 'economist' and people understand. Same thing for physicists and chemists. You say mathematician, and that doesn't exactly make as much sense as the others. You'd usually have to clarify.

**seanieg89** · 7 Sep 2012, 11:38 PM

Originally Posted by Shadowdude

My point is that most jobs that use mathematics aren't labelled "Mathematician". They're labelled other things like risk analyst or whatever.

You say 'economist' and people understand. Same thing for physicists and chemists. You say mathematician, and that doesn't exactly make as much sense as the others. You'd usually have to clarify.

Risk analyst is a completely different profession that happens to use mathematics and statistics. Using the word mathematician to describe a risk analyst is like using the word physicist to describe a mechanical engineer.

Mathematician = researcher in mathematics (without further information).

**Shadowdude** · 7 Sep 2012, 11:56 PM

Fine, risk analyst was a bad example.

My point is - again - there is no job called 'mathematician'.

Yes, you're probably going to find a counter example where someone lists for a 'mathematician' - but my point is that there is no general job that is called 'mathematician', unlike 'economist' or 'physicist'. Unlike 'physicist' having connotations of research, I don't feel 'mathematician' has connotations of research.

What you consider "mathematician" is as you said, is a researcher. But for the 99% of the population who don't have maths degrees, and for me as well, if you say you're a 'mathematician' - I'm going to ask to clarify, because to me, I don't recognise that as a 'job title'; and to others, they'll have no idea what you mean.

**seanieg89** · 8 Sep 2012, 12:05 AM

Whatever, it is not an important issue. I am done here.

**ismeta** · 28 Sep 2012, 4:04 PM

Hi, I'm very likely doing a double degree in Applied Mathematics/Computer Science in university next year. I was wondering where that could take me, in terms of a career?

**Bored_of_HSC** · 28 Sep 2012, 4:43 PM

Originally Posted by mitchy_boy

But a lot of Actuaries, not so much anymore, have plain of maffs degrees, and just did the IAA exams, and became associates and fellows.

How true is this?

(i'm don't mean to be antagonistic, just curious)

**Shadowdude** · 28 Sep 2012, 10:26 PM

Originally Posted by ismeta

Hi, I'm very likely doing a double degree in Applied Mathematics/Computer Science in university next year. I was wondering where that could take me, in terms of a career?

Mathematical modelling. Applied and comp sciences - assuming the latter is like programming, that pretty much sets you up perfectly for mathematical modelling.

Really, maths is a skill. You can do tons of things with it.