Last Updated on August 1, 2019 by Tim
STEM subjects are ones that are encouraged in education systems all over the world. This is because math, science, technology, and engineering are all important subjects, and students that are knowledgeable in them could thrive in several industries. With this said, if you’re skilled in any of these subject area, then it could open a world of opportunities to you career-wise. Not only could you find fulfilling work that contributes significantly to society, but it’s also an opportunity to earn competitive wages. Here are a couple of interesting career paths for anyone that’s good at math and science, technology or engineering.
Mathematician
For all of the math geniuses out there, an ideal and interesting career path you could follow is becoming a mathematician. If you aren’t sure what a mathematician does beyond playing around with numbers, they use theories and techniques like mathematical modeling and computational methods to compose and solve practical problems. This can be done within business, government, engineering, social sciences and in real life.
The good thing about being a mathematician is you can find yourself in any industry whether it be working with economists, engineers, computer scientists or technicians. Becoming a mathematician requires that you start by getting a bachelors in mathematics. You can then choose between applied or theoretical mathematics, complete a master’s degree and learn computer modeling software.
Engineering
Another STEM subject that you may have an interest in is engineering. As complex as it sounds, engineering can be an interesting career path to take as you would be the link between groundbreaking innovation and everyday consumers. You take sometimes complicated innovations, and make them accessible and practical so that your average person can use them. Although this is a somewhat simplistic view of what engineers do, there are multiple jobs that you could decide to engage in as a skilled engineer. Here are a few steps you’d need to take to start practicing:
Get a Bachelor’s Degree: The first step you’ll need to take is to acquire a bachelor’s degree. Ensure that the institution you seek your degree from is accredited, as this could affect your ability to get licensed and work within a reputable company.
Get Licensed: Common steps to getting licensed as an engineer are to take the Fundamentals of Engineering exam which is an 8-hour test, work as an engineer-in-training or intern for up to four years ,and get experience for full licensure. Lastly, you’re going to have to take the professional engineer exam.
Further Your Education: Although this is optional, making the decision to further your education as an engineer could certainly give you a competitive edge. You should, therefore, think about getting an MS in electrical and computer engineering once you’ve completed your undergraduate degree and received a license.
Actuary
If you’re pretty good at looking into the future and predicting risk, becoming an actuary is something that may interest you. More specifically, these types of professionals analyze the financial consequences of various risks often using math and statistics, as well as financial theory to predict the future.
Some of the things you’d be doing on a daily basis include helping clients minimize loss which is something that is especially important in any profitable business or organization. It also helps ensure such clients can charge the right prices for their present products and services. As an actuary, you could earn a median salary of almost $90, 000 which is definitely reasonable. Getting a degree and majoring in subjects like math, statistics or business is a good place to start.
Biomedical Scientist
For those who enjoy behind-the-scenes work, you may find becoming a biomedical scientist an exciting career. You get to research diseases in a bid to advance knowledge and develop new treatments. In terms of where you can work, you can decide to work in a college, as hospital, at a medicine manufacturing company, or as an independent worker. To get started, you’ll need a degree in biology, chemistry or anything related.
In regards to core skills you’ll be using, critical thinking, decision making, data analysis, and scientific software are just a few to keep in mind. With the right experience, you could also end up making over $100,000 a year with opportunities to make more.
Web Developer
Moving on to the technological side of things, becoming a web developer can also be an exciting role. These days, there are so many opportunities opening up online because of how many people now have access to the internet. As a web developer, you’d be providing people with a relevant service as everyone is trying to make a home for themselves online.
In case you’re wondering what the difference between a web developer and web designer is, a designer focuses on being visually creative and the user experience, while developers focus on building the core structure of the website. Having said that, as a web developer you’ll need to know about complex coding languages to do well in this arena. Below are a few tips on becoming a web developer.
Choose an Area of Specialization: Seeing as building a website can be enormously specific, it helps when you specialize in a certain area. Each element of a website links to something else, so you need to be proficient in using a range of software programs. Some include JavaScript frameworks, CSS, and version control among others. Some examples of areas that you could specialize in are interface design, mobile application development, or front-end development.
Get Educated: When it comes to becoming a web developer, there isn’t a specific educational path you have to follow. It is very possible that you can become one without a degree as it’s more about your knowledge, skills, and experience. However, formal education can teach you to implement coding skills within a broader context which gives you a competitive edge. It can also help promote critical thinking which is crucial for a web developer.
Develop Your Skills: As mentioned above, you need to develop your skills as they will be a major part of your success as a web developer. You should have expertise in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript as well as solid coding prowess. This is what is going to stand out to employers, so practice and perfect your craft.
