/sci/ - Science & Math

>>7721399
I wonder, how legit is this? I'm a UK maths undergrad, considering the PhD route but I'm scared of getting a PhD and becoming unemployable (because you're overqualified for everything except for PhD/post-doc jobs but you're also not good enough for the competitive PhD/post-doc jobs) or ending up in the 'post-doc trap'.

...is it any wonder that I'm strongly considering chasing the actuarial profession?

>>7717851
>>7717491
Note, I've been told that pic related (for this post only) may be bullshit, I'll look into it some time.

Continuing...
It might look like I've only attacked the Big 4, but it's worth remembering that the Big 4 advertise so heavily that finance will be on most people's mind. Not to mention that finance stuff is suggested to maths grads anyway.
Teaching (at, or above college level) - that's a good backup plan, for obvious reasons, but I've heard that a lot of teachers end up spending more time doing admin and planning shit than actually teaching, I screenshoted a few posts on it if anyone's interested.
PhD, and then go into research - either this or actuarial work is what I'm pursuing, but /sci/ will tell you all about the problems pic related, although I'd still like to learn more.
Obscure parts of finance (e.g. actuarial work, insurance shit, analytical work) - that's my main backup plan, I'm looking to learn more (I'm currently reading a book on the actuarial profession), at least I'll only be competing with STEM graduates. What are the good non-mainstream finance jobs anyway?
Statistical work - shit... I need to look more into this, any pointers?
Banking (mostly investment): Long story short, go watch a documentary - the whole sector is corrupt as fuck and it's extremely competitive anyway, while being insanely stressful and long hours. Ask /biz/ for more info, but I'd serious recommend just going and watching a documentary on Enron, Bernie Maddoff or the global financial crisis. Investment banking is corrupt as fuck, and more client-facing stuff and other roles in banking just seem shit tier."

Anyway, for the stuff in the OP pic, I'll talk about them later, I've got to go for now.

>>7685030
Teaching (at, or above college level) - that's a good backup plan, for obvious reasons, but I've heard that a lot of teachers end up spending more time doing admin and planning shit than actually teaching.
PhD, and then go into research - my current plan, but /sci/ will tell you all about the problems pic related, although I'd still like to learn more.
Obscure parts of finance (e.g. actuarial work, insurance shit, analytical work) - that's my main backup plan, I'm looking to learn more, at least I'll only be competing with STEM graduates. What are the good non-mainstream finance jobs anyway?
Statistical work - shit... I need to look more into this, any pointers?
Banking (mostly investment): Long story short, go watch a documentary - the whole sector is corrupt as fuck and it's extremely competitive anyway, while being insanely stressful and long hours. Ask /biz/ for more info, but I'd serious recommend just going and watching a documentary on Enron, Bernie Maddoff or the global financial crisis. Investment banking is corrupt as fuck, and more client-facing stuff and other roles in banking just seem shit tier.

>>7670890
>>7671020
>>7671032
Obscure parts of finance (e.g. actuarial work, insurance shit) - that's my main backup plan, I'm looking to learn more, at least I'll only be competing with STEM graduates. What are the good non-mainstream finance jobs anyway?
Banking (mostly investment): Long story short, go watch a documentary - the whole sector is corrupt as fuck and it's extremely competitive anyway, while being insanely stressful and long hours. Ask /biz/ for more info, but I'd serious recommend just going and watching a documentary on Enron, Bernie Maddoff or the global financial crisis. Investment banking is corrupt as fuck, and more client-facing stuff and other roles in banking just seem shit tier.

>>7637649
>Is there anything I should know?

Image related. You will work long, hard hours, and you will likely be impoverished. Nobody gives a fuck about what you do, and because of that, funding is getting more and more scarce. The ONLY reason to get a PhD is if you live, breath, fuck mathematics, and you want more.

If this is you, then either specialize in a field that will get you employed in the private sector, like statistics, finance, or a growing applied math field, and/or get into the absolute best graduate school you can. This is because academic jobs will always be a tier lower than your education. i.e. getting your doctorate from Cambridge means you'll likely be teaching at some state university. Getting your PhD from a non-prestigious university means you will likely be working as an adjunct for a long time.

>>7637720
>Isn't that more of an American issue?

Although the problem is particularly bad in America due to our GDP to research investment ratio decreasing, this is a problem across the world.

As far as starting research, it's pretty simple. I recommend that you do undergraduate research because it will look great on your graduate school resume. Talk to your professors and math faculty members about prospective research opportunities. Get your feet wet, see what you're interested in.