Foreword

Welcome to Physics World Careers 2023, a guide to the many career opportunities open to physics graduates.

Having taken over last year as chief executive of the Institute of Physics (IOP), which publishes Physics World, I have quickly realized how important it is for physicists to have high-quality careers advice. Too often, it’s wrongly assumed that a degree in physics will lead you only to a career in academia. The reality, as this guide makes clear, is so much different.

For physicists, the world really is your oyster. Many of you will, of course, embark on fulfilling research careers. But some of you will join the commercial world, bringing cutting-edge, physics-based technology to consumers. Others will become engineers, patent officers or teachers. Or perhaps you’ll end up working in the worlds of IT, finance or publishing.

One important theme in this year’s guide is the importance of developing not just your knowledge of physics itself, but ensuring that your soft skills are up to scratch too. Whether it’s being able to communicate with your peers, manage your time or sort out workplace conflict, these transferable skills are vital – whatever kind of job you end up doing.

I n a d d i t i o n t o t h i s g u i d e , d o n ’ t f o r g e t t ha t t h e I OP offers many other resources and support to its members at all career stages. You can find out more about the I OP ’ s c a r e e r s a n d p r o f e s s i o na l d e v e l o pmen t a t www.iop.org/careers.

I hope that you find this guide useful and I wish you all t h e b e s t a s y o u embar k o n y o u r f u t u r e c a r e e r s .

Tom Grinyer Chief executive, Institute of Physics

In association with Physics World Jobs

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Physic s Wor l d  C a r e e r s 2023