As educators and mentors, we put forth a lot of  effort for a very noble cause: that of helping children achieve success in life.

Our knowledge acts as a powerful device that students can use. Teachers are accomplished and ideal mentors due to their immense subject knowledge. The education space, however, is constantly undergoing change.

The branches of subjects that are being taught in schools have increased greatly and as such, keeping up to date is necessary. Take the branches in the field of Mathematics for instance. Despite the popular belief that Mathematics graduates would, predominantly, take up engineering or architecture, the career options available to them are plenty.

Today, Mathematics deals with data, measurements and observations. It is used to
create algorithms and deduction techniques to understand society and human behaviour. Career opportunities widen when Maths is combined with Finance, Statistics or Science.

Mathematicians are also involved in research activities. Their work involves proving theorems, developing mathematical descriptions and applying mathematical principles, to analyse and foresee changes in the fields they work for.
Here are a few unconventional career options for students pursuing studies in Mathematics:

Actuary
Actuaries are more than, ‘just people who crunch numbers’. They are extremely good with Maths, are innovative thinkers and problem-solvers.
Their main work revolves around helping companies manage possible risks. This includes assessing how likely an event may be and the costs associated with it.
A Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics or Statistics is the first step towards entering the field of actuary.

Market researcher

Mathematics deals with probability. It helps students ascertain the probability of certain actions and the resultant response to those actions.

Market researchers essentially do just that. They scrutinise market conditions before the launch of a product or service and analyse its potential. This includes conducting polls and surveys on factors that might affect the sale of a product.

There are three types of market research that you should know about: Primary Research, Secondary Research and Data Collection.The basic qualification to enter this field is a Bachelor’s  in Statistics, Mathematics or Computer Science.

Stock broker

Stock brokers advise their clients on buying and selling the right stocks in the market. They keep them updated on any fluctuations in the market informing them about the right time to buy a specific stock.
Stock brokers also ensure that their company makes maximum profit in the long run. A Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics and related courses is the basic requirement that can help you have a flourishing career in
this field.

Meteorology

Meteorologists study the atmosphere. They determine the weather, investigate climate trends and also examine accidents that may have occurred due to bad weather. Such meteorologists who examine accidents are called forensic meteorologists.

Taking subjects like Calculus, and Earth science will be extremely beneficial. Students must also hone their writing skills as they will need to write research papers and lab reports. A BSc in Meteorology or a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics is the basic requirement.

Data scientist

Data scientists take an enormous mass of messy data points and use their formidable skills in Maths, Statistics and programming to clean and organise them. Then they apply their analytic skills to uncover hidden solutions to business challenges.

Data scientists are highly educated, with over 80% having a Master’s degree. Students will need to have knowledge of coding and a comprehensive knowledge of the industry they choose to work in. A Bachelor’s  in Computer Science, Maths and Statistics, Information Systems Management, Economics or Engineering can help you break into the field.

(The author is founder, Univariety, Hyderabad)