Why get a career in Math?

Jobs that require Mathematics increasingly appear at the top of lists in career rankings. For instance, in the ranking performed by CareerCast.com, 7 out of the top 10 jobs involved Math. Other job rankings consistently place "Mathematician", "Actuary", "data scientist", "Statistician", "operations research analyst", and "software engineer" at the top of the list. Business, industry, and government are relying increasingly on quantitative methods and predictive data analysis, so the job market for Mathematicians is expected to grow.

Why consider a non-academic career in Math?

Although the job "University Professor" has a very high job satisfaction, it does not appear at the top of career rankings for one simple reason: the job market is saturated. Industry offers higher pay, more diverse opportunities, and a growing job market.

Why do industries like Math majors?

In addition to having a good knowledge foundation for quickly acquiring technical skills, students of Mathematics excel in problem solving, attention to detail, and critical thinking. Math majors are also known for taking care in communicating results precisely and for an ability to shift between specific examples and abstract principles. Such skills are in high demand and are increasingly important in an age of rapidly changing industries.

What do you need to do in order to enter one of these top careers?

Just having a Math degree (with a good GPA) carries substantial weight on your resume, but it is not enough. You also need computer skills (especially some kind of computer programming), good communication skills, and experience tackling large-scale projects (such as completing a senior thesis, Summer internship, REU, or taking my Industrial Math class). For more information and a list of internship opportunities, see the career page on my website. Also, check out the website weusemath.org.