What can you do with a physics degree? Take 2

Where do physics majors end up, besides broke and teaching the next mob of physics majors? How many physics majors end up working in History and English right out of school?

Watch at your own risk for a speedy list of careers for physics majors, plus some words of advice - and some words of nonsense - from a physics major (turned software engineer ... for now).

[supernaturalswampaids]

You know, it's not the length of the vector that counts... it's how you apply the force.

[grahamtaylor]

I did physics, then computer science .... and now I work as a carpenter. No one mentioned that in the careers advice session.

[josh]

Physics degree -> mailman. I call it very applied physics.

[kpaar]

I graduated with a bachelors in Physics and Astronomy and now I'm at Yale nursing school learning to be a nurse midwife. So yes! You can do anything with Physics, and it is amazing!

[physicsgirl]

Aaaaabsolutely! I wish I had time and the attention of viewers enough to say, "Alternative energy projects, independent cloud computing, green data storage projects, financial adviser, tech startup consultants.." All the jobs that apply to what are, at least in my opinion, today's pressing issues - the list goes on and on!

[gwho]

Doesn't stem include engineering? Science technology, engineering, mathematics.

Why are they different categories?

[AlexPlaysLoL]

That was tricky of you to put that "how to use majestic swashbuckler" in the beginning or I wouldnt have watched.

[physicsgirl]

I got my degree in plain 'ol physics. But I had a focus in electrical engineering, and I did research on particle physics (Dark Matter!) while I was an undergrad. :) Thanks for the question!

[lesnyk]

My first full-time after getting my physics degree? Forklift driver.
Moved on to computer science
then engineering.
Now I'm retired, and trying to break into photography. What a long, strange road!

[erictaylor]

Isn't engineering, by definition part of STEM? I mean the "E" stands for engineering doesn't it?

[RogerRocks]

OK, she gave me no choice, I have to become a brick layer...

[anniewebb]

My son, a Junior in HS just said, while doing his Physics homework "I really like this a lot, maybe I'll major in Physics." Which sent me running to Google, which brought me to you. Very informative and entertaining!

[physicsgirl]

It is hard to decide to make the switch into any career! When making my decision, I had to consider many things -- what industries were expanding, what skills I needed to learn, what I was already good at, and is that what I actually liked? Often it was... :) Then of course there's the final jump into a new career. Scary! But fun. Hope the job applications go well!

[physicsgirl]

Good question! I had taken a bushload of programming classes (ok, like 2..) in college. That helped. But I think programming is one of those things you can easily learn on your own if you're motivated. You know? There are online classes, and so many books.

[naomiwright]

I love physics and quantum mechanics! I have learned more about this outside of school more than I ever did in school and as a result I learned a lot of math too and got better at it. I feel like the education system needs to change and grade schools need to be a little more like college where kids get to choose their classes or their classes are chosen based on their interests. It would be nice if at a certain age all children were assigned a robot that is their friend and mentor. The robot is updated with all of the lessons that the child's current teachers are actively teaching so that the robot can be an extension of those teachers and teaching the children in the moment that they are interested in the subject rather than forcing them in a classroom and shoving unwanted information down there brain throats.

[ArgoIo]

My guess:
5 % Physics and Astronomy
8 % Natural Sciences
9 % STEM
13 % Non-STEM
35 % Enginering
30 % Computer/Info Systems

Edit: Well... That was anticlimactic. Admittetly I extrapolated from what I knew of the job expectations as a chemistry student.

[d.w.stratton]

Majestic Swashbuckler actually is too long for a horse name. They have to be 18 characters or less. But I suppose you could do shorthand and do: Majstk Swshbcklr

[KickerHandle]

Physics and chemistry are my favorite subject. Although I applied for applied chemistry and CS in college. And chose CS over over chemistry but both physics and chemistry are my favorites, later I studied little bit of psychology and added that to the loved subject pool. I just like to learn I guess!

[alexmurray]

I just finished a Physics Degree and needed this video! Thank you Physics Girl!!

[BillRemski]

After I got my degree in 1984 I was a dishwasher, an electronics engineering technician, a consumer electronics technician, a landscaper, a carpenter, a school science lab tech, and sales associate. Now I am just an unemployed poet. Finally a job I love.