Hello. 22M here. Majoring in Physics, 1st year. Looking for decent earning options, almost as a whole career, but I have no idea which way to go.
Let me tell you a bit about myself. I have a strong fictional imagination, basically a writer’s mind. English is not my native language. But I’ve practiced one or two short stories in my own language.
I have created multiple plots for multiple stories. I’ve intentions to start writing soon on them.
Anyway, I have close to zero bit of knowledge about coding. I only know html.
I had the time to pursue further into other languages like python, C, C++, but I’m very weak in mathematics. So I didn’t learn further coding. I also didn’t learn much mathematics, which has put me in an almost degraded institution for honours.
My current mental state cannot focus on one thing to pursue, I don’t know why. Sometimes it gets all motivated to write the story, and other times, it gets depressed thinking about how AI is taking all the jobs and I have to learn to code to battle against AI with my own AI.
So this is the overall depiction of my shattered mind and life. I also come from a lower-middle class family. So money is scarce.
I don’t want to argue about my moral ethics that if I want to earn money quickly, I can do this or that over my innate talent etc.
What I want to know is, which way will first build a strong foundation of knowledge within me and will keep me going for the long run along with the money.
Because, if I have to learn to code, I also have to study mathematics, if I want to write, I also need to research for a long time before I can even layer the elements inside the story.
My laptop broke 2 years ago and I’ve been on my android since then. I’m going to buy either a laptop or a tablet soon.
And a tablet adds another way which is digital arts. I don’t know how to draw at all. But, as I said, whichever way I choose, I’ll have to spend a bit long amount of time to actually train myself to be sufficient on that path. So I have no problem getting introduced to such new ideas and paths and spending time to get along with them.
I also got stuck between the device choice. If I buy a laptop, I’ll be able to learn to code and to write my stories. And if I buy a tablet, I’ll be able to learn to be a digital artist and can also write my stories but no coding.
So, the way the world’s economy is going, which way and which device should I go after?
I’m one of the few people here working in the trades and I’m not the tiniest bit worried about being replaced by AI or automation. I also like that at the end of the day I’ve actually manipulated the physical world and objectively made it better. Yeah, I might not be coming up with cure for cancer or influencing world politics but granny over here has a working faucet now and she’s immensely thankful for it and I also get cookies (not the digital kind)
I went to trade school in the late eighties/ early nineties to become a plumber. When I finished school in 91 there were no jobs for plumbers, so I did extra schooling to be an electrician. Still could’t find a non temp job, so in 96 it was working in a chemical plant as an operator, and studying to eventually get a degree in chemical engineering.
All this just to say that the job market can’t be predicted. Working in the trades is great, if the jobs are available. Unfortunately, they usually are among the first jobs to disappear when the job market goes a bit slower.
I’ll work manufacturing until the doors fall off, but trades would be next. Something not at the mercy of mad kings in the USA.
At 35 years old, what should I do? My brain isn’t as elastic now. I failed at welding prior to this. Electricians is oversaturated here. I was thinking HVAC or Plumbing. Those seem like they’ll always be in demand.
I’m plumber by training but started my own bussiness a few years back and now work as a so-called “handyman” Now plumbing is only around 5% of what I do. Painting seems to be in high demand.
Noted. I’ve seen another 2 commenters’ steer towards business and economy. I do have a knack for economy myself. But I didn’t pursue that line of study. In my country, students have to choose 3 branches of study line, after completing a specific class. Science( this includes all the possible subjects related to Science; Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry etc), Commerce( Everything about Economy and finance) and Humanity( Everything about History, facts, philosophy etc).
I’m in such stage of my life where I’m kinda regretting choosing Science. Not that I cannot continue the subject I’m in now, but, I get the gut feeling that, I could do so much more being in finance than being in Science.
Also there is an added hard-built societal perception onto my psychology by my parents and Society. I was determined to study in Science branch by my parents and Society.
I remember having interests over so many different things and subject as a child, but, as I was forcefully being molded into a scientific genius, I forgot which things I had interests on.
I kept blaming myself for not being able to concentrate on my study, I even forgot that I could just explore different interest myself.
And now that I’ve gained a bit clarity over my mind, I’m still psychologically bounded by the societal perception and capitalistic vision.
Blaming myself, I tucked myself inwards so tightly that I can’t make up the courage to consult to someone in real life who is an expert in these career choices.
But I will approach someone soon. The main purpose of this post of mine is to receive all kinds of different opinions and perspectives to let my constrainted mind see the bigger picture and eventually hopping out of my own negative perception and be direct, clear and knowledgeable about my will and vision.
The world is everchanging. If I decide something to be my one and only career now, there will still be way more choices for me to persue. Life is everchanging, choices are too.
No matter what I choose, I’ll have to first accept it myself and work on it. As I will get better at it, I’ll eventually get introduced to other choices that will meet the educational criteria and I’ll be enough intellectual by that point to either shift my work or stay in the same work. This is what I understood from all the comments so far. And thank you personally for enabling me to think this way.
My mom always said "don’t try to decide what you are doing for your life, just decide what you are doing for the next 5 years and commit to doing it for 5 years, you can always change. "
I do accounting, and some sysadmin stuff, I like accounting because you can do it at any company in any industry, or government, or whatever - nearly everyone deals with money. I do not try to go up a career ladder but it’s there if you want it and are good with people, as you move up that gets more important than the numbers!
The kids, a mix of medical, science, military, and one who I think will become an electrician. The oldest who stayed in military and quickly rose through the ranks is rolling in cash, so if you literally have no ethical concerns, that is one way to really rake it in. Second highest earner (and balanced life) is a genetic counselor, so a medical specialist but not doctor.
I think you are taking the right approach, mostly here to say that it’s really ok to just have a job that pays the bills, especially if you like writing, finding something that gives you enough money but also enough time to work on that might be a better life, and really what you are trying to do is build a good life, yes?
Why are you studying physics?
Have you talked with your professors, instructors and or people with physics degrees about what the career options are?
Moreover, if you’re curious about design or writing, have you considered taking some course work in those areas? Do you live somewhere that required elective courses outside of your major?
I forgot to mention this part. Thank you for reminding.
Physics degree does have multiple career options. But only after completing the degree along with Masters’. Monthly wage increases if my certificate has more milestones reached by me. Meaning, If I do PhD after Masters, I’ll have a better overall condition than just earning just-above-average wage.
What I’m seeking now is totally different from that. To support my financial expenses myself and building a strong foundation alongside.
If I choose coding, eventually I’ll have to learn mathematics, and this will make me somewhat better at physics than I am now.
If I choose writing, I’ll need to study history, mathematics, chemistry and a bit of everything to be like a polymath of some sort. If my book hits the market, then I won’t have to worry about my financial expenses until my physics degree get me in a stable career.
And if I choose Digital arts, let’s just say, I didn’t practice drawing ever in my life. And I cannot foresee where I’ll be if I choose Digital arts. To me, it feels like a money-on-demand service. Like, I can set a commission and do paid arts and that’s it. Nothing more, nothing less.
And the thing about courses. Where I live, there’s a system where in every major district( states as USA terms ) has a government funded institution where they offer to intake any kinds of course for those who completed a specific academic limit. So, someone completing high-school can get admitted into a course to get a certificate after it ends. That certificate is sufficient enough to apply for a less-than-average waged non-government job. Also it can get an individual to be favoured more when applying for a respective government job after completing education in that respective degree( in my case, Physics ).
What I’m seeking is building a strong foundation alongside just doing my major. Mathematics, digital arts or writing. I can invest the entire year of 2027 if I can fix my focus on one single goal.
I enjoy writing; Don’t actually know why I hate math( I assumed it has to do something about my childhood trauma ); And I don’t know the world of digital arts, maybe because I haven’t been exposed to someone or some platform that entirely based on it, or I just know close to nothing about it.
If you don’t like math then we can pretty much eliminate pursuing a masters or phd in Physics from the list of options.
Or a bachelor’s for that matter. The only way he could be doing more math is if he was an actual math major
A mediocre engineer makes more than a mediocre artist.
If you are good at any STEM and any creative profession you should pick STEM.
Experience design jobs pay pretty well. That said, for every scrum 4 or 5 engineer roles, you’re only going to need one experience design role.
So you have to take it seriously and major in user experience / product design to land a job. The days of boot camping your way into the field are nearly done.
Writing takes a HELL of a long time to start getting good, usually a million words or so, and that’s not guaranteed success. Physics, as others have mentioned takes mathematics to a high level, have you looked at other aspects of sciences and math if you at least enjoy it?
If you’d like to get some career guidance, I do alot of training and mentorship pro-bono, drop me a message might be able to help a little.
Based on what you wrote, it seems like you need to take a step back and look at the whole picture. Why are you at school and what do you want to study.
Goin to school can help you position yourself for a career, but is usually primarily about becoming educated (and isn’t for everyone).
If you’re primarily concerned about a career, then focus you’re studies on something you feel capable in. Physics requires a lot of mathematics (and nowadays usually some programming). Programming coursework may have mathematics, but usually relies more on logic than math. Writing is a great way to work on communication skills and analysis, but will have a less direct career path after school (becoming a professional writer is no guarantee).
On top of all of that, most people won’t even end up working in their field of study.
At the end of the day, no one really knows where the economy is going long term. That means there isn’t a surefire path to success, and why I recommend you think harder about what you feel good about pursuing.
On top of that, most people won’t even end up working in their field of study.
You can already guess the idea that I don’t particularly like Physics either. I ended up with it because of my bad result. And the reason for bad result is that, I was disinterested in mathematics prior to the exam, overall low grades summed me up in this major.
Even with full attention, full seriousness, I found myself difficult to study mathematics attentively.
I can’t specifically point back to the point from where I started disliking mathematics, I only reached to the conclusion that, this problem is rooted in my psychology. I found that my brain is slow while processing mathematics and its logic. At least slower than the average.
Since I cannot opt out of my major, I’ll have to eventually train my mind to mindfully learn mathematics.
I’ve decided that I’ll give myself a bit more time to reach to a final decision.
Not sure if this sounds stupid but you might enjoy being a consultant in your preferred field of expertise; be it in IT, engineering, education, construction, medicine, finance, fine arts, anime tiddies etc.
As a consultant, I get to point out mistakes made by professionals and choose my working hours. Most of the work is writing with only occasional remote meetings and onsite visits. A mild form of autism is a plus when juggling 20+ cases at once.
The pay is kinda meh but I would do this for free. AI is protruding here too but realistically cannot be more than an automation tool since the job relies on a human making million dollar decisions and reading between the lines. Workload varies and customers are always wrong.
Disclaimer: Im neither a coder, an artist nor an engineer (although I did study all 3) and love my work a helluva lot, so a grain of salt may be required.
Hope you find yer place.
Doctor. Everyone always needs doctors, all the time forever. And they’ll always make good money, because even rich people like to continue living.
A lot here. I have two suggestions:
- Create, then
- Share
Channel everything you want to do and is rattling around your brain into creation. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Nothing is. Get feedback from people you trust, then push them out without caring if anyone looks at it or reacts.
And keep learning. Especially things outside your comfort zone.
Eventually you’ll figure it out.
Physics major that doesn’t do well in math? Also not good at coding?
I wouldn’t go down physics unless you want to improve in both those areas
Even then, physics isn’t where people to to make money
Edit: regarding the device, I would go for a laptop no matter what you go in. A cheap tablet can be found for under $100 and a drawing tablet by wacom that connects to your laptop is like $40
https://www.ebay.com/itm/316136237261
Edit 2: If this was advice 5 years ago I would’ve told you to do whatever major you wanted because if you wanted tech with a psychology major, people would still hire you. In this economy, pick whichever you most likely want to do and make sure your plan B, C, D… can be easily attainable with the major you have.
You don’t need to be good at math to learn to code. In fact, someone telling me there wasn’t much math involved is what made me seriously consider it.
And well over a decade in, I’ve actually found I enjoy math when it’s about how things fit together rather than the numbers themselves… But generally you can totally avoid it, the computer is really good at math so make the computer do it
Get away from the C++, start with python then move to another high level language like typescript or C# or something. You can learn to code on your phone if you hook up a keyboard, it will be limited but you will be able to do code challenges and even build apps
As far as the future? AI is really killing junior dev jobs. Which is going to lead to a lack of mid and senior devs pretty soon.
The Internet is also dying, a lot of people make money as content creators, but it’s not a quick path to money and it’s a very uncertain one. The people who love it are living their dream, if that’s not your dream, don’t do it to yourself
My honest advice? Get a job as a handyman and major in computer science if you find you have the aptitude.
No one knows what is going to happen in the near future, but people will always need things patched up. And if you can break through the gap in junior devs, there’s going to be a huge need for people to maintain all the old code that underpins modern life
In uncertain times, it’s good to go all in or hedge your bets. If you’re not the all in type, learn every skill you can
My advice is to target either healthcare or the trades. What you need is a medium-skilled career that will earn well, so you can write as a hobby. You can do very well as a carpenter, plumber, sonograph operator, or other medical technician. These are trades that have professional skill training courses you can take. It’s not necessarily a college program.
But forget writing. If you write well that will always help you a little bit but the fact you have written two short stories doesn’t even belong in a conversation about what job to get.
And forget coding. It doesn’t sound like it’s for you and it’s a very unstable field right now because of AI. We don’t know what it will be in 5 years.
Get into the trades. You’ll always have good work. You won’t be tied to any one area.
Decent Earning Options? In this economy?
I’d advise chemical engineering, guess what degree I got. But besides my bias, CE is a very broad education subject, so no deep dive into math beyond calculus. Also, like another poster pointed out, lots of people end up working in a different field, so the broad education helps there too.
Usually I’ll answer product management because that’s what I do and I enjoy it (and I had no idea this career existed while I was in school), but reading this I actually think it could be a good fit for you, depending on how you feel about socializing with people.
I have an English degree but I also worked at an IT company every summer from high school through college, doing many different jobs with an increasingly technical focus. I taught myself HTML and CSS when I was like 10, but except for one high school class of Java I never got deeper into coding than that.
My interest in language and words combines with my technical aptitude in product management. I usually describe it as a job of translation, because I have to work with customers, internal users, business leaders, designers, and developers, and I need to be able to talk to and listen to all of them and understand their context well enough to translate to the other groups. I might need to tell the exact same story half a dozen completely different ways depending on my audience.
There are lots of different approaches to product management and every company does it differently, but some of the critical skills are being able to identify and deeply understand problems (of the business, of customers, etc.) and propose solutions to those problems.
It sounds like you have some technical aptitude but also interest in language and story telling (and a big part of product management is writing what are literally called “user stories”), so if you don’t mind the people interactions, it might work for you too.
I’ve been on or involved with Product teams for about 10 years now and had an actual Product Manager title for over 6, managing a team of PMs for the last 3. I feel like I found it by accident but I totally lucked into a career I actually love, so I’m happy to talk to people about it any time!
will keep me going for a long time along with the moneyThis depends entirely on you. I chose my path in life thinking “what can I do today and still be passionate to do tomorrow?” And here I am, some 15 years later, still liking my everyday tasks.
Some comments: not many writers have an income stream out of their work. Many have a little extra at the end of the month, most have their name on a book and that’s it. The Steven King/Rowling/… are few and far between.
A degree in Physics opens many doors if you do it seriously: physics research and coding being the two main one, but not only.
All comments we can give are local to us, your location and the society around you really influences the options. Talk to your seniors and professors and anyone willing to answer your questions about the job market. Think outside of the box but look at the data around you before jumping ship.
