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Thread: Career choices

  1. #1
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    Career choices

    Hi,

    Recently had a mock interview in school and it got me thinking, I'm going to have to do this for real in a year or two, and then got me thinking, what the hell do I want to do?

    I like maths, and without being big headed, I am very good at it, was trying to think of jobs involving use of maths, only thought of an accountant. I'm also good at science, opening the route of a doctor or something but I don't think I'd like it, but the money would be good? Not 100% on that.

    Then there is computers - I like all things about them, i know extensive html/css and basic php/java, i've dabbled in a bit of software creation but didnt enjoy it, graphic design, i'm not the best artist, web design, i'm not fond of either. I love building them though, and troubleshooting is fun although annoying when you dont find a fix. I'm leaning towards this, as it's what I like, but I don't know of a job that would let me build computers, apart from a small business? I don't know...

    An architect is something i'd also like to do, although i've never thought too much about it, as it's hard to get into.

    Basically I'm looking for opinions, people who work in those fields and what they actually do, and if it's good and hows the pay?

    Peter.

    It's 4.98*

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    Senior Member Lanky123's Avatar
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    Re: Career choices

    I know the feeling. I've started a physics degree this year and I still have no idea what I'm going to do with it. Assuming you'll be going to university I wouldn't worry about it too much - with a good degree in any maths/science you certainly won't be hard up for job opportunities. If I were you I'd try to decide on uni subject for the moment rather than a specific job.

    I've been under the impression (from a few posts on here mainly) that IT doesn't pay that well these days, so it may be best to keep that as a hobby. Perhaps you could look at how you get jobs designing chips for intel/nvidia/amd etc...I would imagine that would pay ok and might be up your street though it's a complete guess. I don't know if you would get into that sort of thing through an IT degree or an engineering/physics degree or what though. Another thing you could do is look at job adverts to see how the salaries vary, it would get ideas going at any rate. New Scientist has a bucketload of sciency job ads at the back each issue, maybe others do as well I'm not sure.

    [/ramble]

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    Re: Career choices

    Join the army.

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    Re: Career choices

    Quote Originally Posted by burtie View Post
    Join the army.
    And do what?

    It's 4.98*

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    SiM
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    Re: Career choices

    Become an investment banker. You will be hated by all the n00bs, but you will have millions after a few years

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    Re: Career choices

    Have a play with databases (MySQL is free I believe). If that is something that becomes of interest you can do a lot worse for money and it can be interesting.

    Plays into website construction as well, all the back end stuff etc..

    Doctors do get paid a lot indeed, but that requires a lot of will to do it and dedication (obviously).

    There is a hell of a lot of places that a Maths degree could get you though, you just might not know about them until it's time to start job hunting

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    Re: Career choices

    How are you finding becoming a teacher mike?

    It's 4.98*

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    Re: Career choices

    In regards to medicine, yes the money is good and you generally are helping people instead of screwing them, eg bankers. But the training is long (5/6 years), the study is relatively intense, and the starting salary is a low but it rises relatively quickly as you gain experience.

    Quote Originally Posted by SiM View Post
    Become an investment banker. You will be hated by all the n00bs, but you will have millions after a few years
    Another reason to become an investment banker is that you really don't need much intelligence or skill, just the ability to pretend to know what you are doing

    Do what you enjoy but don't make your choice right now its a bit too early. I'm assuming you are doing your GCSE's? Well if thats so gcse maths/science are nothing in comparison to what those subjects are like in uni, therefore you might find that you dont like them.

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    Re: Career choices

    Quote Originally Posted by SiM View Post
    Become an investment banker. You will be hated by all the n00bs, but you will have millions after a few years
    QFT. Who needs friends when you have money.

    Edit: If accountancy is your thing then maybe something in financial auditing?
    Last edited by samcross; 11-02-2009 at 10:28 PM.

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    Re: Career choices

    Yeah, I'm 15 so in year 10, been doing my GCSEs since year 9. Already got 1 in ICT, Business studies and science although that's irrelivant.

    What could I do in regards to business studies, bah I don't know, I just want to have some options to look into and help me decide when the time comes

    It's 4.98*

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    Re: Career choices

    Well a nice practical application of maths would be Engineering.. so you could look into that. Quite a diverse field, you can specialise in all sorts.

    If you are a year ahead as it were, are you planning on finishing your A Levels at 17? If so it might be worth thinking about taking a year out to try a few things out... see what you like

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    Re: Career choices

    There's nothing wrong with accountancy.


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    Re: Career choices

    Quote Originally Posted by staffsMike View Post
    Well a nice practical application of maths would be Engineering.. so you could look into that. Quite a diverse field, you can specialise in all sorts.

    If you are a year ahead as it were, are you planning on finishing your A Levels at 17? If so it might be worth thinking about taking a year out to try a few things out... see what you like
    You see, I'm a year ahead as such, but I won't be starting A-Levels until sixth form as we have 3 years to do GCSES (for resits etc..)

    I don't know what A Levels to take. There is a careers convention tomorrow, will go and see what I can talk to people about.

    Thanks for the suggestions people

    It's 4.98*

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    Re: Career choices

    Quote Originally Posted by PeterStoba View Post
    You see, I'm a year ahead as such, but I won't be starting A-Levels until sixth form as we have 3 years to do GCSES (for resits etc..)
    You mean your entire school starts GCSE's a year early?

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    Re: Career choices

    Quote Originally Posted by samcross View Post
    You mean your entire school starts GCSE's a year early?
    Correct

    It's 4.98*

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    Re: Career choices

    So assuming you pass everything in year 10.. what do you do for a year?

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