What Can I Do With a Major In Statistics?

CAMPUS RESOURCES:

• Department of Statistics • Undergraduate Opportunities

Campus Clubs/Organizations:

• Statistics Club at UGA • Data Dawgs • Actuaries at UGA • Graduate Scholars of Epidemiology and Biostatistics • Statistical Consulting Center
• Find additional clubs and organizations at the Involvement Network 

Online Resources:

• Free technical training - access LinkedIn Learning through myUGA
• Github - online portfolio platform. Cannot post academic material from courses on a public site - must create a private repository

Additional Training:

• Certificate in Computing • Certificate in Applied Data Science 

Finding Research:

• On-Campus: use the UGA Career Guide for templates and guidance on reaching out to faculty to gain research experience, the Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities (CURO) at UGA can also support you in finding research opportunities.
• Off-Campus: Research Experiences for Undergraduates offered through the National Science Foundation and ORISE Fellowships offered through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education are great options. The Career Center can help you prepare your materials for research fellowship applications. You can also search for research internships and full and part-time positions in Handshake.

POTENTIAL CAREER PATHS IN STATISTICS

• Actuary - Professionals in the actuary field calculate the financial impact of risk and uncertainty.  They evaluate the probability of events and quantify the contingent outcome in order to minimize the impacts of financial losses associated with uncertain undesirable events. Accountants focus on measuring and documenting financial information that helps others make decisions about allocating resources.
• Biostatistician - use statistical knowledge and theory when researching within the life sciences. 
• Business Analyst - As a business analyst, you'll work within an organization, helping to manage change and plan for the future in line with company goals. This could be for one specific project, or as a permanent feature of the organization. You'll need to understand the current organizational situation, identify future needs, and create solutions to help meet those needs, usually (but not always) in relation to information and software systems. 
• Clinical Data Manager - A Data Manager in a clinical setting applies their statistical knowledge in combination with a knowledge of health care to analyze medical data and identify trends. 
• Cryptography - A cryptographer develops algorithms, ciphers, and security systems to encrypt sensitive information. 
• Data Analyst - Data analysts are in charge of producing and tracking key performance indicators. Additionally, they gather, understand, and document business requirements using a variety of tools and techniques. Additionally, data analysts manipulate, analyze, and interpret complex datasets relating to the business they work for. 
• Data Scientist - Data scientists are in charge of collecting and utilizing large amounts of data and convert them into information using algorithms and machine learning. Data scientists take charge of projects to meet a variety of business needs and present their results using clear and engaging language. 
• Economist - Professionals in this field are focused on the analysis of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.  Economists work in many fields including academia, government, and in the private sector.
• Financial Quantitative Analyst - Quantitative Analysts, or "Quants," use statistics in combination with financial knowledge to inform the finance industry. 
• Market Research Analyst - Market research analysts study market conditions in local, regional, or national areas to examine potential sales of a product or service. They help companies understand what products people want, who will buy them, and at what price.
• Mathematician - A mathematician conducts research in fundamental mathematics or in application of mathematical techniques to science, management, and other fields. They solve problems in various field using mathematical methods. 
• Operations Research - Operations research analysts use advanced methods of mathematical analysis to help organizations solve problems and make better fiscal decisions. Most operations research analysts in the federal government work for the Department of Defense, which also employs a large number of analysts through private consulting firms.
• Quality Analyst - A quality analyst evaluates, tests, and validates software and/or IT services. Analyzes deficiencies in service or performance and recommends product or service improvements to address problems. 
• Project Manager - Project Managers are in charge of managing projects and ensuring that they adhere to the pre-established budget, schedule, and scope. They must also track project milestones and deliverables to ensure the successful execution of the project. Project managers help develop project plans, objectives, technologies, schedules, funding, and staffing as well. 
• Risk Analyst - Risk advisors manage risk by identifying, measuring, and making decisions on a variety of risks within an organization. Some key responsibilities include documenting key risks, communicating risks, maintaining data quality of risk management systems, and making recommendations on ways to control and reduce risk. 
• Statistical Consultant - A statistical consultant provides a range of services to clients including statistical advice, analysis, and training. Clients can come from a wide variety of subject areas including business, medicine, environment, and government. 
• Statistician - A statistician develops or applies mathematical or statistical theories and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information. May specialize in fields such as bio-statistics, agricultural statistics, business statistics, or economic statistics. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

When should I start looking for jobs?  Your industry has two main recruitment seasons- September/October and January/February. May graduates are encouraged to recuit during both seasons. To support your search, the UGA Career Center hosts career fairs in September and January/February every year. To see the specific dates, look on Handshake. 

What skills should I emphasize with employers? Your technical skills are valuable, but don't forget about your soft skills! Remember that programming languages and data analytics skills can be taught, but it's much harder to teach someone skills like communication, work ethic, and leadership. Look here to see a list of skills employers and graduate schools value. 

What should my resume look like? A statistics resume typically follows a standard resume formatting. To see good examples, check out the UGA Career Center resume samples.

What are cover letters? Why do I need to write them? A cover letter is a business letter written to the employer that explains why you are qualified and a good fit for their open position. It accompanies your resume when you apply for a job. While your resume is an overview of your experiences, a cover letter directly address how those experiences have qualified you for the role. The cover letter “builds the bridge” between your resume and the position description so that there is no miscommunication regarding your qualifications. For example, “My experience in ____ and ___ have directly prepared me for this role.” Good cover letters are tailored to the job you are applying to. Even if a cover leter is not required for a role, submitting one demonstrates your initiative and excitement about the role. To see a breakdown of a good cover letter, check here. 

Are internships important? Internships are great tools to help you achieve your goals for full-time employment. Students typically complete an internship the summer before their final year, but you are welcome to search for an internship earlier if you would like. While they are excellent tools, they are not prerequisites for the workforce. You can demonstrate your skills and experiences through other mediums, like class and/or independent projects, part-time jobs, student leadership, and more. 

Should I attend graduate school? Whether or not you attend graduate school is a multi-faceted decision. I encourage you to make an appointment to discuss this in greater depth. In general, a Master's degree is required to continue past entry-level roles in this field. However, should you choose to get a higher degree, you do not have to get it right away. You can always work for a few years and come back to school. You can see what schools/programs previous graduates attended by looking below in the "Graduate & Professional School" section. 

How can I meet with my career consultant for a one-on-one appointment? You can schedule an appointment with your career consultant by calling 706-254-3375 or logging in to Handshake. On Handshake, click on "Career Center" and then "Appointments." 

• O*NET Online – The O*NET database includes information on skills, abilities, knowledge, work activities, and interests associated with over 900 occupations.  
• My Next Move – An interactive tool for students and job seekers to learn more about their career options.  
• Occupational Outlook Handbook – The OOH is a career resource offering information on the hundreds of occupations that provide most of jobs in the United States.  
• Vault – Vault.com provides in-depth intelligence on what it’s really like to work in an industry, company, or profession – and how to position yourself to land that job.  
• Candid Career – This resource provides you with access to thousands of informational video interviews with real professionals through an easy-to-use website.  
• UGA Mentor Program – Connect with a mentor (alumni, faculty, staff) to research and explore industries and careers. Research industries and careers by connecting with a mentor for a quick chat or formal 16-week mentorship through the UGA Mentor Program.  
• Interstride - Interstride is an interactive tool for both international and domestic students to enhance their international experience and employment potential. The platform consists of job-listings, hiring trends, employer information, self-assessments, and up-to-date immigration guidance. 
• Glassdoor - Glassdoor is a free jobs and career community that offers an inside look at jobs and companies through "employee generated content" – anonymous salaries, company reviews, interview questions, and more – all posted by employees and job seekers.  
• Steppingblocks - Research your future career with real-world stats about your major, your interests, and your dream job title with career and education searches designed to find your best path based on millions of others. It’s data-powered career exploration for doers like you.

GENERAL: 

• Handshake (scroll down to the bottom of the page; login with your UGA MyID and password)  
• LinkedIn (this popular networking site also has a job board!) 
• Idealist (non-profit jobs) 
• USAJobs (federal jobs) 

MAJOR/CAREER SPECIFIC:

• Big Data/Analytics • StatsPerform • Bureau of Labor Statistics • StatsJobs

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS: Institute of Mathematical Statistics • The Biometric Society • International Association for Statistical Education • International Biometric Association • International Statistical Institute • Society for Industrial and Applied Math • American Statistical Association

NEWS: Science Daily • The Conversation • The Entrepreneur 

COMPANY & SALARY RESEARCH: Career Bliss • GlassDoor • Salary.com

LINKEDIN: Join LinkedIn groups that are relevant to your career interests. To search, select "groups" & type in your keywords. Review the groups that professionals in your field of interest have joined & consider joining those as well. To login, visit the LinkedIn main page.