work experience?

[battletoad]

I have a BSc Hons degree in Mathematics, possibly cum laude (have to pay debt before seeing results). I have 2 years experience as an IT technician and, hopefully by the end of this year, one year's experience as an administrative officer/lecturer.

Would this experience help me in any way if I were to go into the -banking or -IT sectors with my degree? As in relevant experience for an employer? Although I think graduate programmes are awesome all round I would rather opt for getting to grips with an occupation for 3-6 months, then the employee can gauge my performance after that for a permanent position (my options seem to be either grad programme or working as say, a teller in a bank then moving up based on qualifications and performance).

I know its best to just go out and apply for vacancies, I'm just wondering if I should make my experience a big part of my sell during interviews.

 

[Jamal]

Why don't you continue in the academia?

 

[battletoad]

Why don't you continue in the academia?

Dont get me wrong, being an academic is great. There are very few holistically better career paths.

Thing is, in a few years, I would either have to remain an academic for the rest of my life, or go into industry. Its a scary prospect in the least... having your options whittled down in the blink of an eye.

I would just like to see all my options before I make my final decision (which, most probably, will be in academia after all!).

 

[UnUnOctium]

Why don't you continue in the academia?

Cons: Crappy-ish pay, especially the more theoretical fields as there are not many consulting opportunities to supplement your pay. Also, lecturing and having to deal with undergrads in general *UUUUUUGH*.
Pros: You can actually attain the working title of professor when you're 45 years old. Also, lots of sheltering in terms of job security and no such thing as a "customer" to deal with.

battletoad, if you're in CT (or are looking to relocate) I may be able to help out if you are able to program. PM if you are.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Find a career path that you're interested in and start from scratch. Don't make the same mistake that many of us did, where you try and use your previous experience to secure a better paying job only to realise that you're unhappy, and then end up starting from scratch anyway.

Mathematical degrees should get you into the banking and finance fields, especially if your marks are good.

 

[battletoad]

battletoad, if you're in CT (or are looking to relocate) I may be able to help out if you are able to program. PM if you are.

Thanks, I sent you a PM.

Mathematical degrees should get you into the banking and finance fields, especially if your marks are good.

Yeah, finances is where it is now for mathematicians (not that we're called this in SA) these days. Wouldn't really be the first choice where I'd apply this maths I think I have, but hey if it has problem solving, modeling and optimisation needed I'll be happy. I guess the paycheck will take me from happy to estatic!

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

I'm also seeing that fewer employers care what your BSc major was but more that you did a BSc. Also don't throw your cum laude into a HRs face or prospective employer unless the position demands a BSc with your major because the reality is nobody gives a rats arse about it.

This is the reason why I'm doing my BSc in IS as this is what I enjoy and not because the IT industry demands it.

 

[battletoad]

I'm also seeing that fewer employers care what your BSc major was but more that you did a BSc. Also don't throw your cum laude into a HRs face or prospective employer unless the position demands a BSc with your major because the reality is nobody gives a rats arse about it.

I get that, book smarts doesn't necessarily imply organisational/street smarts. Also, knowing how some students actually get to their degree I am not surprised how companies would rather go for an experienced candidate rather than one with plenty of qualifications. Education to some these days is about scheming the system by regurgitating facts instead of doing a course because you have a natural affinity for it.

+ nice post count

 

[Other Pineapple Smurf]

Dont underestimate education. The difference comes in when you got 5yrs on the job experience and your earning R10-R20K pm more than the other guy without the degree as employers now start value both your work experience and education. Reason why I'm doing my BSc.

 

[hyperian]

Why not do masters in financial mathematics and sell yourself to one of the big fund managers?

 

[krycor]

There are a few financial/banking IT/developer positions available in cpt at the moment for graduates incl. one which is more aligned to stats etc i saw a a week or so ago. Question is can you code(excl. matlab) in c++/java? with regards to your question, it's better to have multiple cv/resumes and then custom make it according to the position you apply for with a cover letter. When you have little experience for a field, selling it with other experience is tough if done wrong. The key is to evaluate your experiences and extract things/characteristics etc that you've gained from it that is more abstracted than specific to what you did. If you at uct that career centre at the old chemical eng building usually helps you with these things.

Another thing to look at is this.. UCT has a graduate career fair coming up soon(check their calender) which is a good way to find graduate programs and meet people in industry.. like a captive audiance, also get an idea of where you can go with degree and meet past graduates etc Off hand i'm thinking insurance, investment, banking, analyst and even retail industries but again depends on what you want to do, how quickly you able to reskill etc. I know a few people who were really great at university but struggle to adapt and reskill when needed thus only do things directly related to degree.

 

[battletoad]

Why not do masters in financial mathematics and sell yourself to one of the big fund managers?

I'm doing a masters course concerning something in algebraic number theory already. Be that as it may I'm working thru stochastic calculus with emphasis on mathematical finance on the side. My thinking is that masters implies a candidate can work on their own, whereas the things I'm studying on the side will hopefully help somewhere down the line. Either way, I'm liking the stochastic calculus so even if it doesn't pay off it doesn't really matter.

There are a few financial/banking IT/developer positions available in cpt at the moment for graduates incl. one which is more aligned to stats etc i saw a a week or so ago. Question is can you code(excl. matlab) in c++/java? with regards to your question, it's better to have multiple cv/resumes and then custom make it according to the position you apply for with a cover letter. When you have little experience for a field, selling it with other experience is tough if done wrong. The key is to evaluate your experiences and extract things/characteristics etc that you've gained from it that is more abstracted than specific to what you did. If you at uct that career centre at the old chemical eng building usually helps you with these things.

Another thing to look at is this.. UCT has a graduate career fair coming up soon(check their calender) which is a good way to find graduate programs and meet people in industry.. like a captive audiance, also get an idea of where you can go with degree and meet past graduates etc Off hand i'm thinking insurance, investment, banking, analyst and even retail industries but again depends on what you want to do, how quickly you able to reskill etc. I know a few people who were really great at university but struggle to adapt and reskill when needed thus only do things directly related to degree.

thanks for the head's up, your points are extremely worthwhile (i have actually done some of them when I was applying for vacancies a few years back with a BSc). Altho I'm not at UCT I will try to attend the graduate career fair. I have experience with these types of fairs and they indeed are fairly beneficial.

Thanks all, you guys have been a great help