from Hacker News

Ask HN: PhD in Physics in Tech/Finance Jobs

by JoshCalbet on 4/10/18, 12:51 PM with 4 comments

Do you guys work with/hire people holding a PhD in Physics? or do know if it is a common or rare practice?

Most of the people holding a PhD in Physics or Astronomy deal all their carriers with data analysis. Last week I went to a career fair and there was a company referring to positions in the finance sector while doing data analysis. When I asked, the head hunter said people holding an MBA and Economics degree is preferred. Something like the "Data analysis skill is the 'extra' not the main background desired".

  • by JoshCalbet on 4/10/18, 1:43 PM

  • by itamarst on 4/10/18, 3:25 PM

    Maybe that particular position is a problem, but there are many software engineers who started out as physicists. Also many data scientists.

    Just as an aside, finance is a bit of a waste of one's skills, there are more useful things one can do with one's career.

  • by sevensor on 4/10/18, 1:04 PM

    I don't think it's terribly unusual. I have a friend with a physics Ph.D. who went to work for a D.C. area consulting firm, subsequently moved to a startup. I've heard a lot of physicists get hired as quants too.