Career+Summary

{You are currently viewing the Career Summary page. Click Here to return to Home.} //**CAREER SUMMARY **//

Includes: 1. Plan of Action and Career Goal .... A. Career Description .... B. Educational Requirements .... C. Future Outlook .... D. Daily Walk-Through

2. Sample Items .... A. Sample Résumé .... B. Sample References .... C. Sample Interview Rating Sheet .... D. Sample Job Application .... E. Sample Thank-You Letter

3. Works Cited

**__Plan of Action and Career Goal:__**

My career goal is to be an applied mathematician; along with this, there is an emphasis involved, since no one gets paid to sit in a room and do long division all day. Typically, an emphasis in chemistry, biology, physics, or astronomy is needed for job placement. Hence, my college courses of study have included, in addition to Applied Mathematics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, and Physics.

Additionally, because there is much opportunity for someone who heavily emphasizes in more than one area of mathematics, I do have plans to double major, most likely in Applied Mathematics with emphases in physics and biology.

The education needed for to accomplish this endeavor is, for now, staggering. I will have to fill my schedule with classes to ensure that I am covering all my bases and taking every opportunity to hone my skills. However, because biology and physics are more similar than other majors, a lot of introductory classes I will have to take will end up counting towards both majors; this lessens the load on my schedule and gives me an opportunity to be social, join clubs, do sports, and participate in extracurricular activities, while still pursuing that seemingly ever-elusive double major.


 * // 1. Career Description //**

An applied mathematician is a person who uses math to solve practical problems. Typically, applied mathematicians build upon existing mathematical theories, apply those principles, use models, and give presentations to colleagues and sponsors on their findings. They also do in-depth research analysis on what data they do collect to find ways to present it in the most effective way possible. Some field work might be done, and I also might have to do some traveling to attend conferences, business meetings, and summits to discuss emerging technology and how it will be used in the very near future.


 * //2. Educational Requirements//**

In order to be an applied mathematician, a PhD in Mathematics is required. Additionally, emphasis in a certain area (physics, astronomy, etc.) is needed depending upon the desired occupation.

Beyond just a college education, an applied mathematician must be a keen competitor and have the ability to learn and to implement new discoveries and technologies quickly and efficiently.


 * //3. Future Outlook//**

Beginning Salary: $53,570 Average Salary: $107,051 Top Salary: $140,500

There are several kinds of companies that employ several different kinds of mathematicians. Insurance companies hire actuaries for risk assessment regarding insurance policies. Any field that uses scientific methodology requires an applied mathematician of some kind, but not because someone is needed to perform calculations.

The career is also constantly growing in demand. By 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it is expected that the number of jobs will increase from 2,900 to 3,600. This must be true; the people who came up with that calculation were applied mathematicians!


 * //4. Daily Walk-Through//**

As an applied mathematician, the work environment would vary depending upon the company for which I would work. More than likely, however, it is assumed that I would work a desk job most of the time. The working environment involves sitting most of the time, but some professions do involve field work (geophysics, geography, topography, etc.)

Each morning, I would either head to my job, or, with experience, I would work from home; this has shown an increase in popularity over the years because it saves gas, every day is Casual Friday, and they set their own hours, for the most part. Working from home is also beneficial to employers because if all of their employees were to work from home, a "headquarters" building might not be needed.

The part that I would most enjoy about being an applied mathematician is that the job is never static in its obstacles. Each new project or task would be different from the others, and involve a whole new set of challenges.

At the end of the day, I would go home (or leave my home office). The convenience of working from home would mean that I could allow more time to spend with family. It would also allow me more time to practice hobbies, since I would be able to set my own hours.

This career option fits both my academic interests and my work style, and for that reason, I have found it to be the best choice for me.

**__Cover Letter:__** [|Career Unit Cover Letter.docx]

**__Résumé:__**

**__References:__** [|Career Unit References.docx]

**__Inte__** **__rview Rating Sheet:__** [|Interview Rating Sheet.tif]

**__Job Application:__** [|Job Application Scan.tif]

**__Thank You Letter:__** [|Thank You Letter.docx]

**__Works Cited:__**

Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook:

1. For Mathematicians---http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos043.htm 2. For Astronomers/Physicists---http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos052.htm

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