I am retiring on 2nd February. It is 12 years since I had the privilege to join the IMA as their University Liaison Officer and it has gone very quickly and enjoyably. So, if you will indulge me, a few reflections on the highlights, that have made it such a brilliant role and a few recommendations. What attracted me to apply for the was role the opportunity to use my career development experience, continue working with early career individuals and with clever people doing lots of fascinating things in such wide-ranging applications – I may not follow all the maths but I love hearing how it is used. I was also ready after 31 years of full-time working and at least 10 years of ridiculous working hours to downshift and the part-time and working from home was a real draw. Maybe not so unusual at the moment, post pandemic. I also enjoy the travelling that came with the role and has returned now we are back to ‘in person’ events; the opportunity to visit towns and cities as well as campuses.
So best bits, in addition to meeting all the welcoming people in maths and careers departments and student maths societies up and down the country: answering careers questions at careers fairs or after talks; attending the Joint IMA-SIAM Student Chapter meetings; the 3-minute thesis events, the Graduate modelling camps, and the Tomorrow’s Mathematicians Today undergraduate Conference, which will be taking place virtually on the weekend 11th/12th March 2023 hosted by the University of Greenwich. Registration is through the University of Greenwich website
Why are these the highlights? it is the energy and enthusiasm on display, seeing you all so obviously enjoying the mathematics and engaging in that shared experience.
So, a few things to leave you with:
- JOIN and stay with the IMA. Take part in things, get involved, get Chartered.
- Apply early, in any recruitment round, there were more good candidates amongst the early applications. Adopting the habits of successful people is a good way of becoming successful.
- Do an internship (paid) whether a summer one for 8-10 weeks or a full year out, a great passport to a good graduate job.
- When going for jobs, recruitment is a 2-way process, understand what a role offers you and make sure you really want it. There is no one right job, you will be good at lots of things and fit into many environments but there are wrong situations – where the environment is not one where you will thrive. If you don’t like the set up when you go for interview keep looking. And if at some point you find yourself not doing as well as you were, move! Change departments or change organisations.
All the very best in your careers, Erica
