I am at an interesting stage in my career (and life, in general,
I suppose!). I graduated with a degree in Mathematics from the
University of Stirling in 2016 and wasn't really sure what I wanted
to do career wise. I knew I wanted to continue to use my numerical
skills but in a more practical way; I had definitely had enough of
theorems and proofs! I was considering a career as a data scientist
as I wanted to use my analytical skills that I had developed in my
undergraduate degree in a way that would allow me to make
conclusions and create change within an organisation. Then I
discovered that the department I had been studying in also did an
MSc Big Data course, this seemed like a good way to translate my
maths skills into more hands-on abilities.
I was pretty unsure of this course at first. There was a real
emphasis on developing technical skills, something that was very
daunting to the mathematician side of me. Eventually I got my head
around it and I learnt about programming languages, database
management and data analysis. One of the main advantages of this
course was that I was able to complete a placement as part of my
dissertation. I was matched up with the Corporate Data Team at
Glasgow City Council and I'm so glad I was as it's the perfect
opportunity for me to use my new skills in a way that will have a
lasting effect on my local community.
I've been so impressed by the career opportunities available in
Glasgow. If you want to work in the private sector you can with so
many financial sector companies based here, or if like me, you want
to work in the public sector then that is an option too.
Another aspect I enjoy is being able to commute to the office in
just ten minutes. Having travelled through to Stirling most days
for the past five years it's been such a relief to work in my home
city, and I've got to say that I'm not missing the early starts,
the extra hour of sleep makes a huge difference.
Also, the office I'm working in is part of the City Chambers
Complex so there's a whole host of shops and cafes within walking
distance. Having grown up in Glasgow I felt like I already knew it
inside out but working with students who have moved to Glasgow
(some from other countries) gave me a much greater understanding of
all that's on offer from pop up restaurants to interesting places
to visit at the weekend and so much more. I had never really
thought about how many beautiful and fascinating places there are
nearby! This whole experience has definitely inspired me as I
embark on my career.