10 Jobs for People Who Love Mathematics
Are you the kind of person to find comfort in numbers and mathematics? Check out these jobs.
Published 01 Sep 2022
Are you the kind of person who finds comfort in a clean-cut calculation? Love how rational mathematics is? You’re not the only one. There’s something therapeutic about mathematics and how everything can be solved with the correct equation.
If you have a passion for numbers, here are some jobs that you’re bound to love.
#1. Actuary
If there’s a job that is defined by how much it uses numbers and maths, then actuary has to be at the top of the list. An actuary is someone who uses data to research and makes predictions to provide companies with strategic and commercial advice.
Actuaries are most commonly found working in insurance companies, pension funds and financial services. The job is all about looking at numbers, finding patterns, crafting analyses and making educated predictions based on those analyses.
Not just anyone can be an actuary. You must have a background in mathematics or actuarial science as your role will require you to be efficiently trained in analysing numbers. In some roles, you will also need a professional qualification (e.g. Society of Actuaries (SOA), Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA)) to progress in your career.
If you love mathematical modelling, statistical analysis and risk assessment, then there’s no better job for you than becoming an actuary.
#2. Engineer
From civil and environmental engineering to electrical and mechatronic engineering, the engineering field is vast, each with its own purpose and application. What’s common between them, however, is that every one of those branches requires you to be proficient in maths.
Essentially, engineers solve problems, whether it’s building functional dams, designing more aerodynamic planes or building more power-efficient computer chips. They do so by utilising a variety of mathematical and scientific concepts. To succeed as an engineer, you must have a deep understanding of both mathematics and physics.
So if you want a job that combines your love for numbers with your passion for science, then engineering is perfect for you.
#3. Accountant
An accountant’s job is all about helping companies make sound financial decisions to optimise their business. Specifically, they are in charge of collecting, recording and analysing the company’s finances.
The job involves plenty of numbers and the calculations that you’ll be performing will revolve around addition, subtraction and basic algebra. If you have an aptitude for mathematics and enjoy piecing together business-related puzzles, this will be the perfect job for you.
Another great thing about being an accountant? The profession consistently features in Malaysia’s Critical Occupations List year after year.
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#4. Chemist
Chemists work in laboratories where they conduct experiments on chemical substances for various purposes ranging from research to product development and improvement.
It may come as a surprise to you but the job of a chemist is perfect for someone with a knack for numbers. The reason for this is because chemistry uses a lot of maths for a number of tasks including balancing equations, calculating energy and exploring chemistry concepts. This is why chemistry studies often involve mathematical modules such as calculus and algebra.
If you’re interested in both maths and chemistry, then this is the perfect job for you.
#5. Investment analyst
An investment analyst is someone in the finance field who provides counsel to their clients regarding investment decisions. They do so by researching and studying the financial market and performing analysis.
As an investment analyst, your ability to do your work will rely heavily on your understanding of financial information such as financial statements, company accounts and industry data. You will need strong numerical ability and quantitative skills, with working knowledge in mathematical areas such as calculus, linear algebra and statistics.
The job of an investment analyst can be highly rewarding for someone who likes numbers and research and has a keen interest in investments and current affairs.
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Start now#6. Machine learning engineer
Machine learning is a branch of artificial intelligence (AI) within computer science that focuses on creating machines that can imitate the human brain.
As a machine learning engineer, your job is to develop programs and algorithms that enable computers and machines to learn automatically without further direction or programming. Examples include image recognition, self-driving cars and recommendation algorithms.
To be a proficient machine learning engineer, you’ll need exceptional mathematical skills as you’ll be building complex algorithms based on statistical modelling. You’ll also need to have a solid background in computer science including knowledge of data structures, algorithms and computer architecture.
Artificial intelligence is becoming more prevalent in our daily lives as more and more companies utilise machine learning to increase efficiency and improve customer experience. So if you want a future-proof job revolving around mathematics and algorithms, then this is the one for you.
#7. Psychologist
A psychologist is a mental health professional who performs psychological assessments and provides treatment for mental and behavioural issues. From the description, it might not sound like you need maths but the truth is that you actually do.
Ask any psychology student and they will tell you that you need to have a basic understanding of maths if you want to pursue psychology since the field uses plenty of statistics. This is because you’ll be conducting research and experiments as part of your studies and you’ll need to know how to interpret a great deal of information and data.
So if you have a keen interest in maths and the science of human behaviour, this could be perfect for you.
#8. Architect
Architects design new buildings and physical structures and make alterations to old ones.
You don’t have to be a maths genius to join the architecture field but it helps to have the basics down. Specifically, you will need to be able to do simple calculations and know basic algebra, geometry and trigonometry.
As an architect, your main role is to produce detailed drawings and specifications for a project. At the same time, you may find yourself having to review the numbers to see if your design is mathematically sound and feasible.
If you’re looking to combine your mathematical prowess together with your creative spirit, then you should definitely consider architecture.
#9. Economist
Economists are analysts who observe market trends and develop economic models to make forecasts and advise businesses and corporations on economic decisions. It’s an important role that requires strong knowledge in the field of accounting and finance.
Unsurprisingly, good mathematics is essential. Not only do you need to know how to use mathematics to calculate and analyse trends, but you must also be critical and creative with it. A good economist is not someone who can do basic maths; it’s someone who knows what econometric and financial modelling techniques to apply to generate insights and develop forecasts.
Additionally, you will also need to be an excellent communicator who can explain and simplify the numbers for laymen since a big part of the job requires that you communicate your findings with non-economists.
#10. Data analyst
As a data analyst, your job is to collect and analyse data to help drive business decisions and improve operations. It’s a very important job in today’s data-driven world.
As a data analyst, you can work in business intelligence, data quality, finance, marketing and sales. The field requires sufficient proficiency in mathematics though you don’t have to be a maths whizz. Specifically, you’ll need to be adept at statistics as well as linear algebra and calculus. These play important roles in your data analysis.
If you’re looking for a business role that’s analytical and numerical in nature, then this role will be great for you.
So there you have it. We hope this gives you a good starting point for the many jobs for those who love mathematics. Whatever you choose, make sure to do your research on what the job entails and how it relates to your own interests. After all, if you make something you love your job, you might feel like you’re not even working.
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Dzulfazreena Dzulkefli
Too busy complaining about lemon but I sometimes read.
