Physics degrees :: Australian Graduate Forum

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13/01/2010 08:24:09

Subject: Physics degrees

annap

Diploma in Posting Joined: 11/01/2010 16:47:54
Messages: 8
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Hi,
I've tried almost every graduate job search engine and I can't find any companies that want to hire physics students, particularly in Sydney. Graduating with a physics major, I would really appreciate any suggestions on where I could apply that isn't teacher related!!

It doesn't necessarily have to be in the field of physics, my main troubles are finding graduate programs that physics students are eligible to apply for.

Please help

Anna

14/01/2010 08:48:30

Subject: Re:Physics degrees

mike

Professor of Posting

Joined: 29/10/2008 21:38:29
Messages: 409
Location: Sydney Australia
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Hi Anna,

Sorry for the late reply, I am still over in New Zealand until Friday and so am trying to get on regularly when I can. To answer your question you are in luck. There are a few organisations out their that hire physics graduates and many others that hire all capacities of science, and many others that would hold a physics degree in high regard.

My advice to you would be to go to our generalist and leadership section of our website. http://www.gradconnection.com.au/graduate-jobs/generalist-and-leadership/index.htm . Here you can search for all the different graduate employers that hire graduates for roles that are unlikely to be related to their degree.

We also have a number of employers coming on board soon in the industries of research and development and science. These include companies such as Mars (who make the candy bars, pet food etc...) and Thales, which has a number of Australian Defence Contracts. Another one to look at would be the Australian Defence department, who will also be coming on our site early this year.

Warm regards,

Mike

Mike Casey
GradConnection Director

20/01/2010 09:45:06

Subject: Re:Physics degrees

annap

Diploma in Posting Joined: 11/01/2010 16:47:54
Messages: 8
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Hi Mike,

Cheers for you help so far. In my grad hunting process Ive come across quite a few articles about the job boom in photonics, below is an example. All of them go along the same lines of massive job boom and skill shortages in this are etc but I dont see where the vacancies are. A lot of uni webpages under the photonics courses say the same thing but few have any actual links to companies that hire photonics students. So if you come across any Id love to know!

Cheers,
Anna

27/01/2010 10:12:46

Subject: Re:Physics degrees

mike

Professor of Posting

Joined: 29/10/2008 21:38:29
Messages: 409
Location: Sydney Australia
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Hi Anna,

I called a couple of different people to talk about photonics graduate jobs. Unfortunately I could not get a definative answer, which pretty much means they are few and far between in the graduate market. There are a number that hire science graduates including a number of engineering companies, but these are more earth science based. There are a couple of firms that are into the physics arena. Compiling a list for you as I write this,

Mike

Mike Casey
GradConnection Director

27/01/2010 16:54:29

Subject: Physics degrees

annap

Diploma in Posting Joined: 11/01/2010 16:47:54
Messages: 8
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Hi Mike,
Ive done quite a bit of hunting myself and have gotten a similar reply of no definitive answer.
Looking forward to checking out the companies who are interested in phys grads!

Cheers,
Anna

02/02/2010 17:06:29

Subject: Re:Physics degrees

mike

Professor of Posting

Joined: 29/10/2008 21:38:29
Messages: 409
Location: Sydney Australia
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Hi Anna,

Sorry I ended so abruptly in my last post, but we actually had a fire alarm in the building and was forced out be a warden :p Long story short we survived the drill and went and had a coffee and a long talk about the options for a physics graduate.

The companies that I believe would be a great place for a physics graduate are

-THALES (profile on GradConnection coming soon)
- Mars Australia (Research and Development)
- Department of Defence (profile on GradConnection coming soon)
- CSIRO (although I am pretty certain you need post graduate qualifications to apply)
- Australian Nuclear Reactor (Although I am not sure if they have a formal graduate program)
- BHP Billiton (radiation protection)
- BP
- Xstrata

I suspect radiation protection will be a viable option in a number of other mining companies, especially in the Uranium Industry. There are also plenty of other companies that will hold your degree in high regard, although you won't be putting on protective eye wear and a cool lab coat

Hope that helps a bit!

Mike

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 02/02/2010 17:07:01

Mike Casey
GradConnection Director

03/02/2010 11:39:55

Subject: Re:Physics degrees

dan

Professor of Posting

Joined: 30/10/2008 08:35:42
Messages: 61
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Hey annap,

I just loaded BP into the science section of the site yesterday and they have outlined that they are looking for grads with physics backgrounds.

If you want to check out science focussed employers who are interested in grads with physics backgrounds, keep an eye on this link here: http://www.gradconnection.com.au/graduate-jobs/science/index.htm#j1-i3-171 as this ranks the employers with a preference for physics grads higher than non-physics employers.

hope this helps

Dan

Daniel Purchas
GradConnection Director

06/02/2010 22:32:14

Subject: Re:Physics degrees

tanuws

New Member Joined: 06/02/2010 22:22:39
Messages: 1
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Hello Anna

If you are a graduate science student with a photonics major then I'd like to have a chat to you about possible opportunities.
I work for Thales.
Please call me during business hours.

cheers
Tim
(02) 9848 3814

08/02/2010 10:26:13

Subject: Re:Physics degrees

mike

Professor of Posting

Joined: 29/10/2008 21:38:29
Messages: 409
Location: Sydney Australia
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Thanks Tim,

Good to see you found the forum, and looking foward to getting Thales on our site soon. Good luck Anna, let us know how you get on!

Mike

Mike Casey
GradConnection Director

Grad Connection