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Interview with recent graduates currently in the workforce
This is one in a series of interviews with recent graduates who have completed a 3 or 4 year or Honours level undergraduate degree with a Physics major or a Physics-based multidisciplinary major. We’d value your opinions on your undergraduate Physics and how well it prepared you for the workforce.
Please fill in the following table of personal details:
I’d now like to ask you a series of questions pertaining to your Physics undergraduate studies (Physics below may be read as `multidisciplinary’ if appropriate).
1. What features of your undergraduate Physics studies were of most help to your learning?
• 1st year workshop tutorials - worked well when with other people - liked the great demonstrations - only opportunity to work with tutors around as well as peers - shame they did not continue into higher years! • Worked examples, assignments - anything that took pressure off the final exam • Lecturers who provided comprehensive notes - both in and out of class - had a good structure to their class • Interaction with tutors in labs
2. How were you made aware of employment opportunities for Physics graduates in your undergraduate Physics studies?
• Self initiated website research • Generally not a great deal of access to employment opportunities - knew that physicists are highly employable but not sure where • In conversations with lecturers (in later years) - they gave information about past graduates - initiated in tutorial, labs, informal settings • No formal information about career options in class • No information in 1st year • Even in 3rd year caught up in the ‘now’ and not so much in the ‘then’ • “Did not make my choices at university with a career in mind” - but knew that doing physics was not cutting off options
3. What aspects of your Physics education have helped you most in your career?
• Mathematical/statistical/computational applications - using various methods to solve problems - would have been better to have had more hands-on computational experience - computer labs not catering to the different levels of students’ computer competency • Confidence to tackle difficult problems/projects - physics being a “hard option” develops such confidence - looking at the bigger picture before moving into details - ability to tackle problems from different angles - not being spoon-fed a certain recipe • Problem solving skills • Communications skills NOT a huge part of physics - but not a huge part of current job either - personally needed to get the technical skills, communication came easy • Teamwork
4. Is it an advantage having done Physics? Do you think you have an advantage over graduates from other disciplines? How? Are there special knowledge and skills that Physics provides?
• Definitely an advantage • Physics gives very broad knowledge, appreciation for the bigger picture • In present job may have been better (easier) to follow direct path - but having done physics not in any way behind colleagues - have other skills that they don’t have • Have greater confidence because of physics, it instils a think-for-yourself attitude and allows you to cope in unfamiliar circumstances
Graduate attributes table
Please fill in the following table by ticking the box that represents the level to which a particular attribute was used or developed in your undergraduate Physics subjects.
Please say if there was another valuable attribute
• Treatment of error • Fudging & grasp at bigger picture
Normal vs. Advanced divide • Too much emphasis on maths and mathematical technique in Advanced stream (especially in 3rd year) • Did Advanced until 3rd year then did a number of Normal courses and enjoyed these much more – more emphasis on the physics, not the maths • But there is no incentive to do Normal courses for smart students and there is some level of stigma attached to doing the “easy option” • Maybe a name change? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Graduate Interview 4
