“Wherever there is number, there is beauty.” -Proclus
“Pure mathematics is, in its way, the poetry of logical ideas.” -Albert Einstein
These are few famous quotes that showcase the passion for numbers and Mathematics by some famous Mathematicians. Numbers were their first love, and if you share their feeling, this article is a must-read for you. Here I’ll share a few in-demand careers that will allow you to spend time with numbers and earn well at the same time.
So let’s look at some rewarding careers for those who love mathematics and numbers.
1. Statistician
Virat Kohli is now India’s third-most successful Test captain behind M.S Dhoni and Sourav Ganguly. How do you think we have reached such a conclusion? It was after analyzing and interpreting the data from all their test matches. Such analyses are done by experts and their conclusions are presented in the form of pie charts, bar graphs, tables, etc.
Statisticians are employed in various areas like population statistics, crime, healthcare, business, accidents and insurance, ecology, agriculture, politics, etc. Their main job role is the interpretation and analyses of data, and in some cases where data collection is required; they may even be a part of questionnaire design and collection of data.
Education Required: Bachelor’s in Mathematics/ Statistics followed by a Master’s in Statistics.
Read More: Statistics as a Career in India
2. Mathematician
Cellphones, Computers, Satellites, the Internet – Each of them have mathematics and mathematicians behind it. Mathematicians, who through their number crunching and analytical reasoning and critical thinking abilities have made an infinite number of advancements in the modern world possible. So, why not put your mathematical skills to use and follow in their footsteps?
Mathematicians are experts in mathematical theories and algorithms. Theoretical mathematicians are concerned with developing new theories and critiquing previous principles. Applied Mathematicians, on the other hand, use the same theories and techniques to solve practical problems in various domains such as Business, Astronomy, Climate Study, Robotics, Defense, Biology and Genetics, Finance, etc.
Education Required: Bachelor’s in Mathematics followed by a Master’s in Mathematics.
Read More: Mathematics as a Career in India
Recommended Read: Life Beyond IITs: 4 Premier Institutes in India for Pure Science & Research
3. Operations Research Analyst
We have all done some online shopping before or boarded a flight at an airport. How e-commerce companies like Amazon and Flipkart manage their transportation, product inventories, scheduling of deliveries to different cities, all refer to as operations. Even the way flights are scheduled at an airport to facilitate smooth functioning is an example of operations.
The professionals responsible for solving complex problems dealing with the efficient allocation of resources such as material, workers, machines, time and money are called Operations Researchers. They apply mathematical techniques to improve business strategies and operations in areas such as distribution, transportation, manufacturing, logistics, supply chain, inventory management, scheduling, etc.
Education Required: Bachelor’s in Mathematics/ Statistics/ Engineering/ Management followed by an MBA in Operations Management.
4. Actuary
The field of actuarial science is one that deals with risks of all kind, be it financial risks, insurance risks or business risks. They help solve complex problems for companies and help them develop policies. For example, they may decide the premium of a particular life insurance policy by predicting the likelihood of heart disease, cancer, and other chronic ailments in a particular set of people.
To accomplish this, they utilise their superior knowledge of business, statistics, and data. Actuaries can work in many different fields such as finance, banking, insurance, healthcare and corporate policy to predict the risk of uncertain and undesirable future events.
Education Required: Bachelor’s in Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, B.Com or Actuarial Science are recommended. After this, you are required to clear the Actuarial Common Entrance Test (ACET) followed by Actuarial Science stages (15 in total).
Recommended Read:Numbers Speak: Uncovering Actuarial Science as a Career
5. Data Analyst/ Business Analyst/ Big Data Analyst
Data Analysts, as the name suggests, work with data. This can be data of all kinds, sales figures, transportation costs, consumer demographics or even Internet search behaviour. Data Analysts process and analyse such data to draw patterns and conclusions for making business decisions. Every business produces such data in their day-to-day operations, but it the job of data analysts to make sense of it and get it to a form where it is of use in building business strategies. Data analysts help businesses increase their profits, launch/improve products, and make their processes more efficient.
Big Data is also a similar field but it involves dealing with huge amounts of data that cannot be processed by traditional tools like Excel. Professionals in these fields work with numbers, data and statistical tools all day, so it is perfect for those with a love for numbers.
Education Required: Bachelor’s in Mathematics/ Statistics/ Engineering followed by Master’s in Data Analytics/ Big Data Analytics/ Business Intelligence. Students interested in this field can also take up various online certifications in these areas.
Recommended Read: The Next Big Thing: What is a Career in Data Science All About?
6. Economist
Amartya Sen, Raghuram Rajan, Manmohan Singh – What is common between the three? They are the pioneers of the Indian Economic system and have contributed in formulating economic policies for our country. Economists monitor economic trends and make forecasts by researching, collecting and analysing data. They focus on topics such as inflation, taxes, interest rates, employment levels, exchange rates, and even how buyers make purchase decisions (a sub-field called Behavioural Economics).
Economists can make a contribution to a wide range of fields including Finance, Development, Education, Agriculture, Business, Environment, Politics, etc. Since many Economics theories are expressed as mathematical and statistical models, Mathematics is an indispensable tool for an Economist.
Education Required: Bachelor’s in Economics, followed by a Master’s in Economics/Econometrics/Applied Economics.
Read More: Economist as a Career in India
7. Market Researcher
A few years back, Kurkure wanted to introduce a new product in the market, called Chocolate Kurkure. They conducted a pilot survey where they approached people and asked them about their views both by sample testing and filling of questionnaires. The results showed a dislike towards the concept and they immediately rejected the idea. That’s how Kurkure saved itself from a big campaign failure.
Market researchers do exactly this – they study the market and consumer preferences towards a brand’s products to examine the potential sales of a product or service. To this end, they gather and analyse data about market conditions, competitors and customers. This helps companies accordingly create a business plan, design advertisements and market their products.
Education Required: Graduation in Mathematics, Statistics, Economics or Psychology.
Read More: Market Research as a Career in India
8. Psychometrician
“I am an introvert”, “I am very good at logical reasoning”, “She has a very high IQ.” All these are statements that are based on psychometric/psychological tests that ask a person a series of questions to check the degree to which they possess a particular trait. Personality traits, aptitude, intelligence, behaviour, and even the presence of a particular disorder, such as depression or anxiety, are all tested through psychometric tests.
Psychometricians design such tests or questionnaires to measure different psychological traits. For this, they collect data from a sample, prepare and analyse this data, employ different statistical techniques to prepare a final list of questions as the final test. Data and numbers are an integral part of the work of Psychometricians since they spend a lot of time gathering data and conducting statistical analyses on it.
Education Required: Bachelor’s in Psychology followed by a Master’s in Psychology/ Statistics.
Recommended Read: Life Beyond IITs: 4 Premier Institutes in India for Pure Science & Research
There! All these careers will fulfil your desire to be around numbers all day, and you will be doing your favourite tasks, i.e. crunching numbers. Such careers will fulfil your desire to be around numbers and you will be doing your favourite tasks i.e. crunching numbers. So pick whichever field you like best. Happy Crunching!
Which of these careers excited you the most? Share with us in the comments!