a guide for students to the job market 2007/08 maths ad(d)s · the job advertisements. it is...

Maths ad(d)s

A guide for students to the job market 2007/08

See where mathematics can take you

The International Centre of Excellence for Education in Mathematics (ICE-EM) conducts a national careers promotion program in the mathematical and statistical sciences. ICE-EM has a wide range of other national and international activities including the following:

• TheICE‑EM/AMSISummerSchoolforhonoursandpostgraduatestudentsinJanuary‑FebruaryandtheICE‑EMAustralianGraduateSchoolinMathematicsforpostgraduatestudentsinJuly

• TheICE‑EMMathematicsprogramforschoolscomprisingaseriesoftextbooks,teacherprofessionaldevelopment,multimediamaterialsandcontinuingteachersupport

• Intensiveindustrycoursesrelevanttoindustryandbusinessonthelatestmathematicaldevelopments

ICE‑EMismanagedbyAMSIandfundedbytheAustralianGovernmentthroughtheDepartmentofEducation,ScienceandTraining.

www.ice-em.org.au

AMSIisanationalcollaborativeventurewithamembershipof30leadinginstitutionsacrossAustralia.Itwasestablishedin2002andhasitsheadofficeinMelbourne.AMSIhasahighprofilenationallyandinternationally.

AMSIconductsawiderangeofnationalandinternationalactivitiesinthemathematicalsciences,includingscientificworkshops,distinguishedvisitinglecturerships,shortcoursesandindustryliaison.

www.amsi.org.au

Inthisbookletwehavegatheredtogetherjobadvertisementsthathaverecentlyappearedontheinternetandinthedailypress.Thecommonthemeoftheadsismathematicsandstatistics,buttheactualjobsvaryacrossaverybroadspectrum.Theygiveanoverviewofthemyriadofpossiblecareersavailabletoprospectiveuniversitystudentsaftergraduation–iftheyincludemathematicsorstatisticsintheirdegrees.

Whetheritbefinanceortourism,justabouteveryareaofemploymentdependsatsomepointonhandlingandinterpretingdata,andonpredictingandmodellingoutcomes–inotherwords,onthekindofexpertiseofferedbypeoplewithtraininginmathematicsandstatistics.Inaddition,manyemployersseekmathematicsandstatisticsgraduatesbecausetheyvaluetheiradvancedproblem‑solvingandanalyticalskills.

Inthisbookletyouwillfindcareeropportunitiescombiningmathematicsandstatisticswithhealth,computing,informationsecurity,biology,agricultureandmeteorology,justtonameafew.Youcouldendupinvestigatingthegeometryofliquidcrystalsorconsultingforasportscompany.

Whilemanyofthejobslistedherearebasedinbigcities,othersofferanopportunitytoworkinregionalcentresorachancetoliveoverseas.

Theadsinthisnintheditionarecompletelynewandshowanincreasedrangeofjobopportunities.Evensotheyrepresentonlyafractionoftheadvertisedpositionsfoundintheearlymonthsof2007.

Whetheryouareapragmatist,anidealist,oryoujustcannotdecidewhatyouwanttodoorbe,youcanbesurethatmaths addstoyourpossibilities!

Find out where mathematics can take you

Disclaimer: Theviewsexpressedinthisbookletaretheviewsoftheauthors.TheydonotnecessarilyrepresenttheviewsofICE‑EMortheAustralianGovernment,northeviewsoftheemployers,consultantsandnewspapersinvolved in these advertisements.

Maths ad(d)s 2007/08

A guide for students to the job market Page 1

MathsAdds2007/08Page2

BIOLOGY

Genetics, sustainable farming

practices…

This ad is an example of some

of the many opportunities to

mix mathematics and statistics

with the biological sciences.

Aguideforstudentstothejobmarket Page3

Read between the lines...

The increasing availability, awareness and dependence on commercial data have made the business sector a growth area for mathematics and statistics employment. The jobs are rarely titled “mathematician” or “statistician”, but the fine print makes it clear that’s who they want.

BUSINESS

MathsAdds2007/08Page 4

BUSINESS

Aguideforstudentstothejobmarket Page 5

COMPUTING

Distinguish yourself from the rest...

Combining mathematics and computing is a great way to get a clear edge over a straight computing graduate. As you can see from other ads in this booklet, many jobs require both mathematical and computing skills.


CRYPTOGRAPHYSecurity plus!

You guessed it! Cryptography is the mathematics of encrypting information and electronic security. Every teller machine and secure website depends on underlying mathematical techniques.

Financial institutions, the computing and telecommunications industries and the Department of Defence are always trying to gain an edge by developing faster and more secure encryption methods. It is a big industry and it is all about mathematics.


DEFENCE

Can you keep a secret?

Defence is a major employer

of mathematics graduates

with a wide range of

expertise. The work is varied

and exciting, and offers great

opportunities for career

development.


Not just for commerce graduates...

It’s not just commerce graduates who are employed in the finance industry.

The finance sector is a big employer of mathematics graduates because they need advanced quantitative and analytical skills .

“Finance” is an umbrella term covering banking, the stock market, other forms of investment, insurance, and the regulation of financial institutions.

FINANCE


FINANCE


GAME DESIGN

Go for top score!

The games industry is young, and so are many of the

people who work in it. Game designers need to create a

virtual world that behaves realistically, and mathematicians

are a vital part of the team that takes a game from a idea

to an interactive screen.


HEALTH

Of critical importance...

Current and future healthcare relies crucially on analysis of data. From cancer research to infectious disease, the work is important and varied, and statistics plays a central role.


MATHEMATICS

What’s involved?

You may not know it, but mathematics research offers a rare opportunity to explore and redefine the frontiers of modern knowledge. As these ads indicate, the possibilities are diverse and challenging.


METEOROLOGY

Does it look like rain?As everyone knows, the weather is hard to predict. The modelling of ocean

currents, weather patterns and climate change is all about mathematics. It is important to a range of industries - from fishing, shipping and farming to air traffic control. And it even affects the everyday person’s decision about what to wear!


MODELLING

Engineering? Mining? Meteorology? Finance? Communications networks?

The common thread here is the use of mathematical models to predict and forecast. Modelling is a fundamental tool used in industry and a skill in demand. The employment opportunities range across the spectrum.


OPERATIONS RESEARCH

What is it?

Operations research is about

the optimisation of scheduling,

manufacturing, pricing and so on.

It is a critical part of business and

government planning.


STATISTICS

In demand!

Statisticians are very much in demand. As you can see in just about

every category of this booklet. The ads on this page show many other

opportunities.

Statistics even has its own government agency: the Australian Bureau

of Statistics. The ABS provides statistics on economic and social matters

for use by state and federal governments and by the community. It

employs over 3000 staff in the state capitals and Canberra.


STATISTICS


TEACHING

INSPIRING YOUNG PEOPLEShare your passion for mathematics with the

next generation. Mathematics teachers are in

great demand both here and overseas.

Many teaching advertisements are now only

shown online, so you should check your state

government website for other ads.


Onceyou’vecompletedyourcourseofstudy,youarereadytokick‑startyourcareer.Herearesometoolstoassistyouthroughtheprocessofapplyingforjobs.

Sometimesjobhuntingcanfeelasifyou’remiredinthefog,sendingoutlettersandrésuméswithnoresults.Imaginethatemployerslookingforgoodpeoplearelikethespotlightfromalighthouselookingforshipscomingtoshore.Visualisethebeamoflightsweepingaroundinthedarkness.Then‘blip’,itlightsupaship,bringingitintostarkcontrast to the surrounding gloom.

Thisiswhatyouwanttohappenwhenanemployerissiftingthroughapileofapplicationsorrésumésandcomesacrossyours.Youwanttograbtheirattentionandconvincethemyou’vegotjustwhattheyneed.

Therearethreekeystepstodoingthis:1. Position yourself – obtain the exposure, skills and required

qualifications2. Understand the nature of the job you want 3. Tailor your résumé and application to suit – become a target

for the spotlight.

Throughyourcourseofstudyandanypart‑timejobsyou’veheld,you’vealreadycompletedthefirststep:Youarepositionedreadytoapply.

Understanding the nature of the jobThesecondstep,understandingthenatureofthejob,ismorecomplex,andthisiswheresomanyapplicantsletthemselvesdown.Ifyouexertsomeefforttoconsiderthenatureofthejobyoucan:

• Drawcorrelationsbetweenthejobdutiesandtheselectioncriteria

• Tailoryourrésumétohighlightthemostrelevantcriteria• Crafttargetedandconvincingapplications• Deliverpersuasiveandfocusedinterviewperformances• Obtainreferencesthatwillreallyworkforyou.

Interpreting the advertisementYouneedtointerprettheinformationprovidedinthejobadvertisements.Itisimperativethatyouconsiderthecorrelationbetweenthejobdutiesandtheselectioncriteria–thinkofthelatteras

theemployer’s‘wishlist’fortheiridealapplicant.Whenyoulookthroughthisbooklet,youcanseethateachadvertisementhasabroaddescriptionofthetasksorduties,prefacedbytermssuchas:‘Yourchallengewillbeto…’or‘Youwilljoinateamresponsiblefor…’or‘Yourrolewillinclude…’.

The advertisements then list the selection criteria orgiveawebsiteaddresswheretheycanbefound.Sometimestheseareclearlystatedasdotpointsandsometimestheyarecouchedintermssuchas:‘Whatwe’relookingforis…’or‘Theidealapplicantwillhave…’or‘Thepositionrequires…’.Mostselectionsarebasedonapplicants’claimsagainsttheselectioncriteria – nottheduties.Keepthisfirmlyinmindand target the criteria.

Correlating the duties and the criteriaThejobdutiesandselectioncriteriamustbeconsidered in the context of the position. Putsimply,acriterionsuchas‘High‑ordercommunicationskills’meanscompletelydifferentthings depending on whether it is for an academic teachingposition,aclientcontactposition,aresearch position or an administrative position. Thesuccessfulapplicantwillbetheonewhocandemonstrate and present their claims in the context oftheposition.Andthemoreseniortheposition,the higher the standard expected.

Thesestepswillhelpyoumasterthecorrelationsbetweenthedutiesandtheselectioncriteria:

• Imagine(andfindout)whatyouwouldbedoingonadailyand weekly basis in the position and what the short- and long-term tasks are

• Scrutinisethecriteriaandestablishwhichcriteriarelatetowhichduties–theremightbesomeoverlap

• Considerwhatqualifications,skillsandattributessomeonewould need in order to be first-rate against each of the criteria

• Assessthecriteriaandrequiredskillssquarelyinthecontextof this position in this organisation at thislevel.

Tailoring your résumé and applicationYouwillhavededucedbynowthatyouneedtocompletethisprocessforeveryjobyouapplyfor.Itisthebestwaytopresentyourselfeffectivelysothatyoustandoutfromthecrowd.Thisisimportant

APPLYING FOR JOBS

Spotlightonyou–winthatjob


becauseemployersarebusypeople.Recruitmentworkisofteninadditiontotheirdailyduties,andtheydon’thavethetimeorinclinationtoreadrésumésor applications more than once or to spend time analysingwhatisrelevantornot.Youmustdothatfor them.

Forexample,whenI’mshort‑listingapplicantsforagovernmentagency,Ican‘score’uptoeightrésumésandfullapplicationsinanhour–that’ssevenandahalfminuteseach.That’showlongyouhavetoconvinceme,becauseIonlyreadeachapplicationonce.Onlyifitishoveringrightonthecut‑offpointmight I review it.

Anapplicantwhomakestheefforttoresearchandconsiderthepositionandtakesthetimetodeliveracustomisedapplicationisconveyingsomethingelseimportant–attitude.Youarealreadyconvincingtheemployerthatyouareenthusiasticabouttheirjobandpersuadingthemthatyouunderstandwhat’srequiredandcandoit.Neverunderestimatethevalueof this.

Totailoryourapplicationyouneedtodothefollowing:

• Makesureyoulistyourmostrelevantqualificationsandexperience first in each sub-section of your resume, where it will catch the employer’s eye

• Whendraftingyourapplication,setitoutaddressingtheselectioncriteriaintheorderpresentedintheadvertisementor job information and respond to each criterion with a focus on the context of the position.

Itshouldbeclearfromreadingyourstatementsagainstthecriteriawhatpositionyouareapplyingfor.Donotbefooledby‘generic’criteriaforbulkrecruitmentrounds:thereisalwaysanappropriatecontextthatshouldbeaddressed.

Forexample,ifyoudecidetoapplyforapositionintheAustralianBureauofStatisticsandyouareaddressingthecriterion‘relevantexperience’,youwouldneedtoconsidertheworkoftheABSinprovidingstatisticaldatatothepublic,othergovernmentagencies,politiciansandresearchinstitutions.Therefore,evenifyourpriorworkexperienceissomewhatlimited,youcoulddescribeanyprojectworkyou’veundertakenforthestatisticalcoursesinyouruniversitydegree,oranypart‑timejobsinvolvingdatacollectionorsurveyanalysis,since

muchoftheABSdataisgeneratedthroughsurveys.

Thegoodnewsisthatonceyougettotheinterview,youwillfindthatallthisgroundworkputsyouinanexcellentpositiontobetterinterpretthefocusofthequestionsandtorespondwithpertinentandpersuasive answers.

Finally,referencesshouldbemorethanjustcharacterchecks.Youshouldaskyourrefereestowritereferencesthatcoverthecriteriasothattheyhelptobuildyourcase.Thenthespotlightshouldrestfirmlyonyou! ‑‑‑KaarenSutcliffe

KaarenSutcliffeisarecruitmentscribeandtheauthorofthehighlypracticalguide,

Open the Door to Your Future: Getting Interviews and Jobs in

Australia. The second edition is due soon – check for release details on her website

at www.kaarensbooks.com.

APPLYING FOR JOBS

Maths Adds 2006/07Page 24

About the advertisements

•Theseadvertismentsareonlyasample.Bynomeansshouldyouthinkthattheysettheboundariesforwhatispossiblenoworinthefuture.

•WehopethatMathsAd(d)shashelpedyoutoseethataddingMathematicsandStatisticstoyourskillsbringsgoodreward.

• Withflexibility,enthusiasmandapositiveattitudewhenyouapplyforayourposition,manyopportunitieswillbeopentoyou.

Where to get a mathematical or statistical sciences degree

TheICE‑EMwebsitehaslinkstomanyAustralianmathematicsandstatisticsdepartmentalwebpageswhereyoucandiscoverthebestcourseforyou.

www.ice-em.org.au/careers

Some websites that contain career information

• ICE‑EM www.mathscareers.org.au

•AustralianMathematicalSociety www.austms.org.au/Jobs/profiles.html

• StatisticalSocietyofAustralia www.statsci.org/careers.html

• CSIROMathematicaland www.cmis.csiro.au/careers InformationSciences

Some websites that contain more job advertisements Atgenericwebsites,searchusingkeywordssuchas‘mathematics’and‘statistics’.

•CareerOne www.careerone.com.au

•MyCareer www.mycareer.com.au

•AustralianMathematicSociety www.austms.org.au/Jobs/Job_listings.html

• StatisticalSocietyofAustralia www.statsci.org/joblists.html

• Jobsinquantitativefinance, www.quantfinancejobs.comoptionstrading,hedgefundsandriskmanagement

Prepared for ICE-EM by La Trobe Universitywww.latrobe.edu.au/mathstats/maths

FURTHER INFORMATION

ICE‑EMwouldliketothanktheemployerswhokindlygavepermissiontoreproducetheiremploymentadvertisementsinthispublication.

International Centre of Excellence for Education in Mathematics111 Barry StreetThe University of MelbourneVictoria 3010 Australiawww.ice-em.org.au

ICE-EM is managed by

Biology

Business

Computing

Cryptography

Defense

Finance

Game Design

Health

Meteorology

Modelling

Operations Research

Statistics

Teaching

Maths ad(d)s

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