Career and Professional Development Services
- Virtual Resources
- On-demand Career Advising
- Career Assessments
- Practice Interview
- Career Exploration
- Building your resume or CV
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Prepare for a career
Getting Started
Not sure if you want to work in the private sector, conduct research at a university, or teach? If so, start here:
- Look at the career paths other physics graduates have taken. This will help you to determine what careers would suit your interests and also what it takes to get there.
- Research Areas - Look over the different areas within physics. Once you know what area interests you most, you will have a sense of what career will fit you best. Once you have found an area of interest reach out to faculty in that area to discuss joining their research group. Having research experience as an undergraduate will help boost your application when applying to graduate school.
- Depending on the career path you have chosen, you may need a graduate degree. Use GradSchoolShopper to look up the different graduate schools that thrive in your field. Take a look at these helpful resources: Physics PhDs 1 Year Later and Who's Hiring Physics PhDs?
- Network - Whether you want to go into the private sector or pursue a PhD, you'll need references. Make yourself known to your professors by attending office hours, setting up one-on-one meetings, and attending department events. The best letters of recommendation come from those that know you in and outside of the classroom.
- Find a Mentor - Use ASU's mentorship platform to connect to faculty, students, and professionals in your field of interest. Create your profile to get started!
Employment Information
Arizona Specific Employment
Interested in pursuing a career in Arizona? The American Institute of Physics provides a list of employers in Arizona that hire physics graduates. To see the list of companies, click here.
Career Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides a database full of career duties, salaries, job summaries and outlooks. Use the BLS handbook to find your perfect fit!
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook
Job Boards
| National Science Foundation | SPS Job Listing | AIP Science Fellowship Listing | Physics Today | USAJOBS.gov |
Use this list to help steer your job search
|
Systems Engineer |
Electrical Engineer |
Design Engineer |
Mechanical Engineer |
Project Engineer |
|
Optical Engineer |
Manufacturing Engineer |
Manufacturing Technician |
Laser Engineer |
Associate Engineer |
|
Application Engineer |
Development Engineer |
Engineering Technician |
Field Engineer |
Process Engineer |
|
Process Technician |
Product Engineer |
Product Manager |
Research Engineer |
Test Engineer |
|
General Engineer |
Technical Services Engineer |
Software Engineer |
Programmer |
Web Developer |
|
IT Consultant |
Systems Analyst |
Technical Support Staff |
Analyst |
High School Physics Teacher |
|
High School Science Teacher |
Middle School Science Teacher |
Research Assistant |
Research Associate |
Research Technician |
|
Lab Technician |
Lab Assistant |
Accelerator Operator |
Physical Sciences Technician |
Where are they now?
Here is a list of careers for recent ASU physics graduates.
| Career Title | Company/Organization | Location |
| Tutor/Camp Leader | All Around Math Learning | Tempe |
| Government Relations Specialist | American Physical Society | Washington D.C. |
| Process Support Engineer | Applied Materials | Chander |
| Teacher Assistant | Arizona State University | Tempe |
| Teacher | BASIS Educational Group | Chander |
| Technician Assistant | Don Air, LLC | Scottsdale |
| Quantitative Analyst | DriveTime | Phoenix |
| Materials Scientist | Headway Technologies, Inc | San Jose |
| Electrical Engineer 2 | Racion | Tucson |
| Test Engineer | Soraa | Fremont |
| Administrator | Stoneman Law Patent Group | Phoenix |
| Director, Photography | 282 Studios, LLC | Tempe |
| File Clerk | Aiken Schenk Hawkins & Ricciardi P.C. | Phoenix |
| Research Assistant | Arizona State University, Biodesign Institute | Tempe |
| Consultation Agent | Best Buy | Chandler |
| Director, Flight | Challenger Space Center | Peoria |
| Regulatory Affairs Associate | CR Bard | Tempe |
| Research Analyst | Global Patent Solutions | Scottsdale |
| Process Engineer | Intel Corporation | Hillsboro |
| Intern, Application | Nanoscience Instruments | Phoenix |
| Failure Analysis Engineer | Soraa | Fremont |
| Web Developer | Vuurr | Chandler |
| Engineer | - | Los Angeles |
| Mechanical Engineer | - | Tempe |
| Engineering Aide | - | Chandler |
| Process Engineer, Senior | American Society for Microbiology, Arizona/Southern Nevada Branch | Phoenix |
| Engineer | Boeing Company, The | St. Louis |
| Space Vehicle Controller | Boeing Company, The | Springfield |
| Software Engineer | Demandbase Inc | San Francisco |
| Associate, Senior | Discover Financial Services | Phoenix |
| Process Engineer | Lam Researcg Corporation | Fremont |
| Photonics Engineer | Optilab, LLC | Phoenix |
| Field Application Engineer | Radiall | Tempe |
| Associate Assistant | Discover | Phoenix |
| Corporate Accounting | - | Phoenix |
| Assistant Director, Finance | - | Sedona |
| Research Assistant | - | - |
| Tutor | Chandler-Gilbert Community College | Chandler |
| Unit Process Engineer | IBM Corporation | Albany |
| Software Engineer | Intel Corporation | Chandler |
| Systems Engineer | Orbital ATK, Inc | Gilbert |
| Traffic Support Lead | Sports Entertainment Services | Phoenix |
| Legal Assistant | Suzette Lorrey-Wiggs P.C. | Tempe |
| Tutor | Varsity Tutors | Phoenix |
Prepare for a graduate school
Join a student organization
You'll get a break from school work, gain opportunities to network, give back to your community, and build your resume.
Build your network
Networking can lead to professional relationships, letters of recommendation, job offers, and much more.
LinkedIn is a great way to stay connected, even after your graduate.
The ASU Mentor Network is an online community that helps connect students with professionals in their field of interest.
Attending conferences is a great way to meet other like-minded individuals. Conferences also provide you a chance to interact with individuals outside of your home institution, which can help steer your future research or job search.
Gain Research Experience
Research is an important part of your graduate school application. Having this type of experience shows your level of competency in a lab, your ability to work with other students and faculty, and your eagerness to contribute to the physics community.
The Graduate Record Examinations® (GRE®)
For information on test prep, go to career.asu.edu/grad-school-and-test-prep
The GRE (R) General Test is completed by students who wish to attend graduate school. Students are encouraged to check graduate school admissions for their specific prgoram to determine if the GRE General Test is required. The Princeton Review Test Prep is available to ASU Students FREE of cost. Click here to register for a review.
The Physics Subject test is important and required for most physics PhD programs. The test may also be required for physics master's programs. To determine if this exam is required, check the admission requirements at your intended graduate school.
Fall Dates: September and October
Spring Dates: April
Finding a Graduate Program
Finding the right graduate program is more than just a great location. Students should consider a university's specific faculty, funding, notable research, and research area openings.
GradSchoolShopper.com is a database that compiles information on graduate programs within the physical sciences.
If you would like information on the climate for women in physics, APS has compiled 92 surveys from various institutions regarding inclusion.
Graduate School Comparison Worksheet
Use this document provided by Career and Professional Development Services to help narrow down graduate programs.
Applying to Graduate School
Recommendation Letters
Students should start communicating with their faculty recommenders first semester of their senior year. Students should seek letters from internship supervisors, faculty research advisors, faculty mentors, and instructors. The best recommendation letters are from faculty who can attest to a student's character outside of the classroom.
Your personal statement is an important way to let program committees know why you are applying to their program and how you would contribute as a student.
Creating a CV for graduate school will help showcase all of your achievements that may not be visible on your transcript. You'll want to include any research, internships, or community service you have participated in.