I have an issue I am not sure what to do with my math degree. I graduate from a state school almost a year ago with an M.S in Math yet I have struggled to find a job.
This entire time I been tutoring. I have been thinking about the following jobs but I am not sure which one is for me.
Data Scientist. I think about this job. The problem is that I do not know the companies often ask for languages like sql or tableau. I have used sql on a project before to query data. Another thing is I know probability or taken many classes but I do not know statistics as well like making hypothesis from your sample. I think a data scientist tries to use metrics or data to see how well the business is performing to help the management make better decisions.
Computer Programm/software Problem with this is the only programming language I know well is java. I did take a couple of electives in computer science, but I am not sure if I can compete with C.S students. When I look a job advertismenets they list all these languages c++,python, java,javascript, there is no way I can learn all these and have projects to show employers not for years. I know java and I know programming languages like object oriented ones do have similar ideas so if you learn one you can probably learn the others. And I have been working through a book on data structures in java but I feel no one will hire me without work experience.
Another issue is I feel there is a lot of competition as a software developer. I think some of the math classes I took like graph theory would perhaps allow me to understand algorithms better.
Math Teacher I do not want to be a math teacher. Maybe at a community college but I am not sure if you need a PhD. I do have a lot of teaching experience because I taught classes when I was master student.
Actuary This is something I been thinking. I could be an actuary, I would have to take at least two exams to get an entry level position. The only thing is I have the exam are very difficult and even if I take the exam would I get a job I do not want to do something hard like my degree study and then get no reward from my efforts.
The first two exams are probability which I think I know well and financial mathematics. I have no clue about insurances all I know is that companies have to calculate risk to see how much they charge of premiums.
Overall I am not sure what to do should I keep teaching myself programming or try to become an actuary I cannot study both its too much.