Congratulations! You have just been hired by the West Chicago Employment
Agency to open a new department for people interested in careers using mathematics.
Click here to view the letter.
Your research is in five parts:
Phase I: The Portfolio
Phase II: The Interview
Phase III: The Presentation
Bonus
Evaluation
Phase I: The Portfolio
Your first duty is to make a portfolio containing information on one of
many different jobs available to these talented mathematicians. The portfolio
must contain the following information either in a table format or short,
concise prose:
| Job Description | Best Colleges: Cost and Scholarships | Expected Salary |
| Who is Hiring and Where? | Employment Outlook | Personality Traits |
As you compile information there are items which must be
included within your job description:
Below are some possible sites to search on the Web.
Mathematical Sciences Career Information
American
Mathematical Society's -- Seeking Employment
Careers
In Math and Statistics.
"What
Can I Do With A Major In Mathematics?"
Math
Fields and Applications (mathematicians in industry and government)
The
SIAM Report on Mathematics in Industry
People
In Mathematics (people who have written about their careers and mathematics)
Colleges: Cost and Scholarships
Since most mathematics related careers require higher education (post high
school), your portfolio must include information on colleges which offer
programs related to your career. Also include scholarship information. Below
are some possible links to get you started.
Colleges
and Universities
CollegeNet (also a good site
for financial aid)
College
Guide - Money Resources
The
College Board
Expected Salary
Prospective clients will certainly want to know what salary they can expect.
Below are a few possible sites. A better and more current source for salary
information may be someone who is actually in the industry. When you make
contact with a professional in your interested career to interview, salary
should be a topic you address.
Source EDP Salary
Guides
Carnegie
Mellon's Salary Statistics
Ohio
State's Salary Statistics
1996
Computer Industry Salary Survey
STC
Rocky Mountain Chapter 1995 Salary Survey
Who is Hiring and Where are
They?
What companies need talented mathematicians? Here are a few sites to explore.
Job Center
Career
Mosaic Employer Profiles
Career
Magazine - Employer Index
Employment Outlook
What is the employment outlook for mathematicians? Are jobs available for
professionals in your chosen career?
Career
Center Resource Links
Recommended
Reading on Math and Careers
Judy Rickard's Career
Advice
Seeking
Employment in Mathematical Sciences
Personality Traits Best
Suited for the Job
There has been a tremendous amount of research done recently on personalities
and careers. A person spends 8 to 10 hours 5 to 7 days per week working.
It might as well be at a job one enjoys. What personality traits are best
suited for the career you are researching?
This may be an area in which library research may produce better results
than a Web Search. Below is one possible web site.
Careers Online
Phase II: The Interview
Write a brief letter of introduction about yourself and your project. Explain
that you are gathering information on a particular career in mathematics.
Include questions you have the about the field. NiS'
site has a list of some useful questions to include. Responses may be
sent to your attention at my e-mail.
I will print and deliver your messages to you.
Below are possible resources for e-mail interviews for students. I would
begin 3-4 weeks before the start of the project to make contact with potential
professionals.
"What
Can I Do With A Major In Mathematics?"
Web
Servers for Mathematical Societies
Yahoo's
Professional Organizations
Women's
Professional Organizations
SIAM Home
Page
Phase III: The Presentation
Once your portfolio is completed, you are to make a presentation to your
customers (students in your class) on your findings. Your presentation should
be between 10 and 12 minutes and contain all the important information in
your portfolio plus any other interesting information you have researched
about the job.
Bonus
Your boss has agreed to give you a bonus if you go above and beyond the
call of duty and include any of the following in your presentation:
Evaluation
Your employer has established a criteria by which you will be evaluated.
The details are outlined in a table.
Good luck in your new position as an employment agent!
Back to top of page
Return to Project
Objective.
Author: Gwen
Neuberger, a participant in The Fermilab LInC program sponsored by Fermi
National Accelerator Laboratory, Friends of Fermilab and the Illinois State
Board of Education.
Community High School, Dist. #94
326 Joliet Street
West Chicago, IL 60195
(630) 293-8137
Created: May 11, 1996
Last Updated: July 28, 1997