From student to scientist – how to build a career with physics

Whether it’s cosmology, quantum mechanics or particle theory, most of us go into physics because we’re fascinated by the universe and its mysteries – and not because of the career options it might lead to. In fact, by the time you’re at university, you’re so snowed under with lectures, labs, coursework and tutorials – not to mention having fun – that there’s almost no time to think about what to do after graduating.

It doesn’t help either that most university staff are only familiar with careers in research, and so aren’t the best career mentors for physics students exploring the many options outside academia. That’s why Physics World has published countless careers articles over the years looking at what physicists do after they graduate – not just in research but also in industry, finance, teaching, IT and engineering. Each year we also gather many of these into our annual Physics World Careers guide – which includes a directory of employers seeking physics graduates.

But when the time comes to look for a job or plan your next steps, you won’t want to plough through every guide we’ve published. So to help you through the maze of options, this article brings together all our tips, information and help in one place. In today’s tough job market, a physics degree is an absolutely fantastic thing to have, giving you a deep technical knowledge and an ability to think rigorously. But before even starting to apply for jobs or courses, you first need to sit down and think hard about what it is that makes you happy and fulfilled in life.

Stop and think

As Crystal Bailey from the American Physical Society advised in a 2025 Physics World Live discussion “Not sure what to do with your physics degree? Our expert panel give their careers advice”, first ask yourself what it is you want for your career and your life. Do you prefer theoretical questions or practical problems? Do you like working alone or with people? Do you want a good work–life balance, a flexible schedule or just to make pots of money? “You need to understand what will be a good match for you,” she advises.

We suggest you do this kind of self-reflection long before you expect to graduate – don’t leave it to the last minute when you’re short of time. It also helps to make an audit of all the “soft skills” you have as a physicist, of which there are 16 different kinds. From being able to manage your time, knowing how to communicate or sort out conflict, these attributes are just as important to employers as your technical prowess.

The “hard” skills you gained while studying – such as knowing how to solve a differential equation or line up mirrors on an optics bench – are easy to provide evidence for, from the modules you took, or the lab work you did. But the other more nuanced and practical skills – such as presenting in front of your peers, writing reports or keeping to deadlines – are just as crucial.

While you’re still at university, it also helps to take advantage of the huge amount of talented people you’re surrounded by – or as Katie Perry, a physicist who works at the Daphne Jackson Trust, once put it, “network like crazy”. Scientific meetings, talks and conferences are a great place to do this, where our tip is to devise an “elevator pitch” – a short and pithy statement of who you are. If someone asks you about yourself, you can then confidently reel off a few well-considered words.

Networking doesn’t necessarily come easy so if you find it awkward, you just need to get out there and practise. As science communicator Claire Malone believes, networking doesn’t have to be scary and something that only super confident people excel at. Learn to ask questions, be a good listener, take an interest in other people – and remember to ask for their business card so you can contact them later.

And our final piece of advice before even brushing up your CV or creating a LinkedIn page is to get a sense of the current job market for physics. It always goes through ups and downs, with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) causing huge uncertainty right now. But overall there are some constant characteristics to the physics jobs market, as you can find out in a 2023 Institute of Physics report, which is packed with information about the UK physics jobs market by size, location and salary.

From reflection to action

So now you’ve done all that self-reflection, analysed the job market, audited your soft skills, and had a go at networking, it’s time to start applying for things to do after you graduate.

A number of you might be considering a PhD and, if so, we have some specific advice just for you (see “The PhD pathway” box below). But more than half of today’s graduates move into the private sector and pursue industry careers instead. If that’s your target, plan ahead by spending a summer interning at a company and try to find the right mentor for you. It’s also a good idea to do some extracurricular activities beyond your core academic aims, which will help you develop a range of transferable skills that can help you switch into a different area beyond physics.

The PhD pathway

For graduates who choose to remain in academia, and have found a PhD position, resilience and critical thinking are key skills to have. While it can be exciting and fulfilling to do your own research for the first time, completing a PhD is challenging. Most people have tough moments during a PhD, but people don’t often share their difficulties and it’s easy to think you’re the only one struggling.

Creativity is the backbone of scientific success so, if you’re doing a PhD, take the time to have a break and let new ideas come to light. Things can go wrong – from funding cuts to global pandemics – and it’s important to make sure that you value your mental health and don’t burn out. If you are one of the many neurodivergent people in science, it’s a good idea to ensure you have the accommodations necessary for success, and to embrace your diversity and the unique perspective you bring to your work.

Once you have completed all your research and gathered your data, the final step is to write your thesis – which can be a particularly stressful task, so its important to find different ways to motivate yourself and complete that final hurdle. Even if you don’t stay in academia, a PhD will teach you a lot about how to get ahead under your own steam and complete a major piece of work on your own.

A degree in physics opens doors into many different fields, from nuclear energy to quantum and beyond (see “Across the physics careers spectrum” box below). You might also be keen to use your physics skills in a more lateral way, whether in scientific patent law or science communication. You may choose to be an entrepreneur and set up your own business or decide to teach future generations of physicists. Remember, if your original plan doesn’t pan out as you imagined, it’s never too late to take a risk and make a change even at a later stage of your career.

Across the physics careers spectrum

Green energy and sustainability: Physics graduates are ideally placed to tackle the world’s environmental challenges, with their technical knowledge and problem-solving skills. You can find out more about the physicists who are doing their bit to build a greener, more sustainable future in the field of decarbonizing energy sources.

Quantitative finance: With strong mathematical and analytic skills, physicists are a great fit for the financial world, and are often in high demand in quantitative finance in particular. Meet five physicists who pivoted to a career in finance, and explore what physics skills they use day to day.

Intelligence and cyber security: If a challenging but rewarding career is what you are looking for, you may want to consider a role in security. Here you can find out more about the careers of two leaders from GCHQ – the UK’s intelligence, security and cyber agency – with a background in physics.

Medical physics: Medical physicists have a wide variety of roles across academia and industry. From clinical research and medical imaging to computational simulations and testing new scanners, many job options for medical physicists around the world are included here.

Quantum: The quantum sector is thriving and there are numerous roles across the four main pillars of quantum computing; quantum simulation; quantum communication; and quantum sensing and metrology. From industry to academia, government and policy, and education;  there are many ways to join the revolution.

Nuclear energy: With the push away from fossil fuels, there is a shortage of skills in the nuclear power sector. Here we speak to six physicists working across the nuclear energy industry – from design and construction, to safety and waste and beyond – highlighting how a background in physics can open many doors in this expanding sector.

The overall picture for all of you graduating with a degree in physics is positive. Physicists all over the world are keen to help solve some of humanity’s biggest challenges and help further our understanding of the universe at large. We hope that all of the resources above – alongside the annual Physics World Careers guide, the Physics World Jobs Hub and the Physics World LinkedIn page – will give you the headstart you need in planning your path and building a fulfilling career.

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