survival

A Physicist's Survival Guide

Should I major in physics?

Only if you truly LOVE physics.

If you are more concerned with getting a job, then read the following article on USA today first.

Scientist shortage? Maybe not

So, what jobs are in demand? Here are the occupations with the largest numerical growth.

From undergraduate to graduate school

ZapperZ's So You Want To Be A Physicist

Employment

Skills

What Makes an Employable Physicist?

• design of experiment
• statistical process control
• writing
• oral presentations
• electronics
• computer modeling
• control systems

Job hunting techniques:

1. Target new companies instead of big and established companies.

New Business, Not Small Business, Is What Creates Jobs: Nearly all net job creation since 1980 occurred in firms less than five years old.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704013004574517303668357682.html

Resume:

flood your resume with technical data

Interview skills:

• Always ware a suit [for men].
• A firm handshake and confidence.
• fluent and at ease in an interview.
• simple changing the subject during the interview. [Their questions are ALL bad. Every question they ask is a question that is meant to in some way disqualify you. ]
• talk about things that interest the interviewer. [let they talk about everything but you and leave the interview with a warm/happy feeling about you. it is impossible to judge someone's ability to do the job you want them to do based on a resume and interview. Employers have no idea what they need, and even if they did, they have no way of finding out who has the skills they actually do need.]
• bluff [if you bluff your way into a job your not qualified for, you don't just get fired immediately. The manager doesn't want to look like a fool for hiring the wrong person and usually they can hang onto the job for as long as they'd like to. Many people refuse to be misleading in their interview or on their resume and think that shows integrity... when all they really get shown is the door.]

Why Companies Aren't Getting the Employees They Need

Why Bad Jobs-or No Jobs-Happen to Good Workers (slashdot discussion | IEEE spectrum popcast)

Later in life

How to Avoid Becoming a Chronically Unemployed Older Engineer

More useful information

Beyond physics from university to the work market

PhDs.org Jobs for PhDs, graduate school rankings, and career resources for scientists and engineers

Physics Forums - Career Guidance Discuss topics on science professions and career paths.

CareerOneStop: job outlook Identify what jobs are in demand, have the largest employment, or are experiencing declining employment. [Warning: do not choose a college major or career based solely on the number of possible job openings. Always remember that it is supply and demand.]

College Navigator - National Center for Education Statistics Provide number of graduates by major from each college and other information.