Careers for Applied Math Majors
» About Careers
Our graduates work in financial and insurance companies as analysts, computer companies as programmers and hardware developers, and in many different fields as researchers, as well as academia. They have have gone to excellent graduate schools in mathematics (pure, applied, & financial), physics, design, accounting, and M.B.A. programs.
To get an idea of what you can do with a degree in applied mathematics:
- "Thinking of a Career in Applied Mathematics?" and more from SIAM on Careers & Jobs.
- An interesting article in CNN Financial News on the increasing popularity of applied mathematics careers, and one on the growing role of mathematics applications from the point of view of the business world.
- Information about the mathematics profession from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- The American Mathematical Society has a site with career information for (non-academic) mathematicians. (Also this and this.)
- The Mathematical Association of America has career information for members, lists examples of how mathematics is used in the workplace, and published the book 101 Careers in Mathematics.
- This Wall Street Journal article states the best careers use math extensively, based on a range of factors, from quality of work life to salary to career prospects.
- Mathematicians, statisticians, and actuaries have some of the best jobs in the country according to CareerCast, a job-seeker assistance website.
- You can become an actuary. These sites were recommended by Israel Krakowski (Travelers):
- You can become a statistician.
- One of the largest employers of Applied Mathematics majors is the federal government, with many agencies and departments looking for applicants. Here is a list of the most popular agencies:
- Applied math majors can become K-12 teachers (for example, Tony Parrillo '08). For the best advice on this career path, contact the Math and Science Education Department at IIT. To teach college, one must go to graduate school.
Finding a job
The Career Management Center (CMC)
The CMC is your main on-campus resource for jobs and internships. CMC has a database of short-term and long-term employment opportunities. Visit the CMC early in you college career.
Recommended: Go to the CMC. Speak with the CMC staff or come to the department of applied mathematics and speak to a faculty member about career opportunities.
Recommended: Make a portfolio. The director of the CMC, Bruce Mueller, has assured us that with your portfolios, the CMC can find jobs for applied math majors when they travel around meeting with companies.
Recommended: Attend Career Fairs. Very few of the employers will have actually have "Applied Mathematics" listed specifically as something that they are seeking. While they do hire our majors, their representatives at the fairs are mostly geared toward recruiting engineers. So, we don't recommend just showing up that day with a resume and hoping for the best.
