Alternative Careers in Physical
Sciences (What are your options
after your Bachelor of Science
degree ?)
Outline of Workshop
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What services does CAPS offer?
What can I do with my B.Sc. in Atmospheric &
Oceanic, Chemistry, Earth & Planetary, Geography,
Mathematics & Physics right after I graduate?
What can I do with my studies in the Physical
Sciences with additional education/training or
experience?
What are some alternative careers for BSc. grads?
How am I going to make a decision about going onto
grad studies or moving into the work force?
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
What CAPS Has to Offer
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
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CAPS Job Listings Database for
full-time, summer, part-time jobs &
internships at www.caps.mcgill.ca
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On-campus recruitment in fall and winter
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www.workopoliscampus.com
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www.careercruising.com
Username: mcgill
Password: careers
CAREER EDUCATION
www.caps.mcgill.ca
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PowerPoint presentation is on website
under information by degree
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Individual advising
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Workshops
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Career Month: MAC Fair Feb. 3rd.
Panel discussions
A & O (Feb.1)
E & P (Feb. 9)
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Mentor Program
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PACE Program:Wed. Feb.9, 16, Mar.2, 9
Thurs. Mar. 10, 17,24, 31
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Job Finding Club
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Career Resource Library
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Potential Careers :
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences
with a B.Sc.
 Meteorologist
 Operational & Weather
Forecaster
 Aviation Forecaster
 Ocean Technicians
 Computer
technicians/analysts/
programmers
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with Additional Training…
 Wind Resource Analyst
 Wind Project Engineer
 Account Manager
 Research
 CEGEP Environmental
Teachers
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Potential Employers: A & O
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Government: Environment Canada, Fisheries and
Oceans, Natural Resources Canada
Media: Meteomedia
Consulting Firms: Helimax, Enviromet
Research Institutions/Laboratories
Universities and CEGEPS (McGill, Dawson)
Utility Companies (Hydro Quebec)
Fishing industry, agricultural centres
Chemical companies
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Potential Careers : Chemistry
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What to do with a B.Sc.
What to do with additional training…
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Laboratory Technician,
Chemical
Organic Chemist (junior)
Technologist
Research Assistant
Technical Salesperson
Quality Control Technologist
Forensic Laboratory
Technician
• Environmental Consultant
• Environmental Medicine Specialist
• Agricultural Scientist
• Quality Control Chemist or Manager
• Plant Manager
• Veterinarian
• Forensic Laboratory Technician
• Scientific Consultant
• Professor
• Pharmaceutical chemist
• Health Programs Operations Manager
• Physician
• Organic chemist (senior)
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McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Potential Employers: Chemistry
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Chemical Industries
Health Industries
Textile Industries
Pulp & Paper Industries
Natural Resource
Organizations
Environmental Protection
Agencies
Chemical Equipment
Manufacturers
Food & Beverage
Manufacturers
Aerospace Firms
Biotechnology Firms
• Law Firms
• Waste Management Firms
• Electronics Companies
• Agricultural Products Companies
• Oil & Gas Companies
• Pharmaceutical Companies
• Quality Control Laboratories
• Educational Institutions
• Libraries
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Potential Careers:
Earth & Planetary Science
with a B.Sc….
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Geologist/Geoscientist
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Geophysicist
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Petroleum/Mineral Technician
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Geographer
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Land Survey Technologist
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Physical Sciences Laboratory
Technician
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Hazardous Waste Inspector
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Pollution Control inspector
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Soil Scientist
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Hydrogeologist
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Geochemist
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with additional training or
experience…
• Resource Economist
• Professor
• Ecologist
• Seismologist
• Consultants
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Potential Employers: E & P
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Mining & Petroleum companies
Environmental Agencies
Metallurgical Industry
High Tech Companies
Engineering Firms
Hydroelectricity companies
Non-governmental Agencies
Geotechnical or Industrial Laboratories
Research firms/universities
Consulting Firms
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Potential Careers: Geography
What to do with a B.Sc.
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GIS
Aerial Photo Interpreter
Cartographer
Environmental Researcher
Remote Sensing (RS)
Eco-Tourism Consultant
Energy Researcher*
What to do with additional training…
• Urban Planner
• Energy Conservation Engineer
• Forester
• Industrial Developer
• Market Research Analyst
• Professor
• Environmental Consultant
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McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Potential Employers: Geography
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Environment Canada
Market Research Firms
Transportation Firms
Planning Agencies
Land Developers/Municipalities
Map Publishers
Public Utilities & Organizations
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Potential Careers: Physics
with a B.Sc….
 Lab Technician
 Technical Salesperson
 Physicist
 Engineering work
 Computer
Scientist/Systems Analyst
 Mathematicians
 Financial Analyst
 Satellite Data Analyst
 Forensic Scientist
 Meteorologist
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with additional training…
• Environmental Consultant
• Biophysicist
• Researcher/Professor
• Astrophysicist
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Potential Employers: Physics
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Engineering Firms
High Tech Companies (Mitec Telecom, Xerox)
Environmental Consulting Companies
Weather Bureaus
Government (Federal: Public Service Commission)
Educational Institutions
Research Laboratories (Atomic Energy of Canada)
Financial Firms/Banks
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Potential careers: Mathematics
What to do with a B.Sc.
 Statistician
 Underwriter
 Mathematician
 Research Associate
 Investment Analyst
 Actuary
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What to do with additional training…
• Accountant
• Financial Manager
• Transportation Planner
• Purchasing Agent
• Aerospace Engineer
• Banking Manager
• Computer Consultant
• Financial Auditor
• Air Traffic Controller
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Potential Employers: Mathematics
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Bank & Trust Companies
Contract Research Organizations
Public Service Commission / Statistics
Canada / Revenue Canada
Insurance Companies
Computer Consulting Firms
Research Institutions
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Alternative Careers
Education & Communication
Informal Science Educators (Mad Science, museums)
Scientific/Medical Illustration and Imaging
Science and Technical Writing, Editing, Publishing
Broadcast Science Journalism: TV, Radio, Electronic Media
Reporter
Producer
Editor
Broadcaster
Executive Producer
Web developer/producer
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Informatics
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Alternative Careers
Business
Venture Capitalist
Science-Based Investment Advisor
Analyst/Investment Banking
Business Development
Entrepreneurship
Sales & Marketing
Executive Search
Regulatory Affairs
Consulting
Law (Intellectual Property Law Firms)
Technology Transfer
Science Policy, Advocacy, and Regulation
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McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
How are you going to make a decision
about going onto grad studies or
moving into the work force?
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To help make this decision, it is important to
do some self-assessment:
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What are my interests, values and goals?
What are my skills?
Why did you do your degree?
What motivates you? What makes you happy?
What is your dream job?
What is important to you?
What are your ambitions/goals for the future?
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
What are my interests & values?
(Soul-searching)
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Different people require different exercises
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Personality tests
Feedback from family, friends, colleagues
Personal exercises
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Geographical
Preference
This exercise
is best done
in pairs –
with a friend
or your
partner.
For each of
the
categories at
right, make
lists
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Working
Conditions
Special
Knowledge
Transferable
Skills
People
Environment
People, ideas,
information, data
& things
Goals,
Purposes and
Values
How much are
you worth?
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Personal
Traits
What are my skills?:
What did I learn at McGill anyway?
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Technical (hard) skills
Transferable (soft) skills
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Analytical / Critical Thinking / Problem Solving
Ability to synthesize / Deal with Complexity
Technical Writing / Report Writing
Research Methodology / Data Analysis Techniques
Computer Skills / Simulation
Organized / Thorough / Precise / Detail Oriented
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
Make the decision
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The self-assessment that you undertake is
very valuable and will help you whatever
your decision
To be successful, both grad school
applications and job applications require that
you know yourself very well
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
What are the best strategies to use to
get an employer to hire me or a grad
school to accept me?
1.
Know what you have to offer:
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your interests (do some soul-searching)
your skills (technical & transferable)
be able to express them in your CV and at an interview
Research the employers/schools to find out what
they are looking for
Make the match between your skills and their
needs
Network, network, network
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)
CAPS Contact Information:
Susan Molnar
398-3304 ext. 0759
susan.molnar@mcgill.ca
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Catherine Stace
398-3304 ext. 00947
catherine.stace@mcgill.ca
NSERC - http://www.math.mcgill.ca/students/usra.php
The NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) in Universities program is
meant to stimulate interest in research in the natural sciences and engineering, and the
pursuit of research careers in these fields. Recipients of the award are engaged in a
research and development activity under the supervision of a professor holding an NSERC
grant. It is an opportunity to gain research experience in an academic setting, while
receiving financial support for summer 2005. Application Deadline: January 28th
ISM - http://www.math.mcgill.ca/students/ism_usra.php
ISM Summer scholarships are offered to undergraduate students in mathematics and
statistics who are registered in one of the ISM member universities. They allow selected
candidates to carry out research under the supervision of a Postdoctoral Fellow affiliated
with one of the ISM member universities. Application Deadline: March 7th
McGill University Career and Placement Service (CAPS)