Add to that the incredibly complex system of baggage handling and routing as passengers for different flights all check in at the same counter within minutes of each other. Think, too, of food and beverage preparation and stocking requirements for all these aircraft. Most importantly, and crucially, are the on-ground maintenance checks and quick repairs that must often be done to keep the aircraft flight worthy. Consider the logistics involved in making sure those parts are available, that your favorite beverage is on board, and that your luggage arrives when you do.
Running any complex organization requires incredible coordination of people, machines, and materials. Operations research analysts sometimes called management science analysts, help large organizations mount and run systems such as our airport example. They do this by applying mathematical concepts to organizational problems, generating a number of possible solutions, and then choosing solutions that meet the organizations goals, finances, mission, and philosophy.
Predicting how systems will work involves mathematical modeling, extensive use of the computer, and lots of consultation with other people, especially people on-site who will be involved in making these systems operational. Computer use listening skills, teamwork, and the computer. Sound familiar? Like every other job type mentioned in this chapter, operations research analysts share these common needs.
Basically, you'll begin your problem solving by doing a needs assessment. You'll begin by talking to working professionals and trying to understand the problems and nature of their work. Maybe your job is to try to assess economic order quantities (EOQs) for materials purchases. Over-ordering means risking damage or loss or stock becoming out-of-date; under-ordering means you risk a stock-out and/or a production shutdown.
You'll take your problem and isolate all its elements and ensure you understand and have information on each of these elements. For example, you might want to learn about alternate shipping methods for transporting parts, direct computer links to the parts suppliers, etc.
Then you'll begin to design a series of analytical techniques using any number of mathematical models to construct a system that solves the problem at hand. These methods might include simulations, linear optimization, networks, waiting lines, and game theory.
Generally, use of the computer involves significant work with databases. Operations research analysts need to master database collection, management, and programming to be successful. Many of the mathematical models employed by operation research analysts are very large and multilayered and use major amounts of computer resources to process.
Working Condition
All of the paths generally work regular hours in an office environment, although there may be frequent team meetings and project committee work. None of these jobs are desk bound; some, including actuaries, may travel to branch offices of their own employer or to the offices of clients. Frequently, there are deadlines to be met, and that means occasionally working under pressure. As all of these jobs are management- level, salaried employees, it is not uncommon to work more than a forty- hour week to accomplish specific tasks or during certain times of the year. Because new information is vital to all of these jobs, there is typically frequent opportunity for professional development which may include traveling to seminars and conferences.
Training And Quaulifications
A strong background in math and computers is certainly essential for all of the jobs listed in this chapter. All of these positions also require you to think logically, work well with people, and have good oral and written communication skills. Each job category, however, presents its own unique set of training and qualification demands.
Actuaries
Again, the authors need to be frank here. There are math majors and there are math majors. All of the jobs in this chapter require superior math skills. Not only that, but it would not be uncommon during the interview process to discuss mathematical issues with you. Not on the first interview, perhaps, but if you return for a second interview with any employer for an actuarial, statistician, operations research analyst, or mathematician-type position, you may be shown some work-in-progress and asked to comment on it. You might be asked to spend some time on a sample problem or case study involving mathematical processes. So your math must be top-notch. Though in many of the Great Jobs series, we have indicated employers seldom look at college transcripts, in your case that is not true. Your transcript and your performance in your major courses will probably be of real interest to these employers, since many of them took the same courses. All of these interview procedures help the employer to understand your strengths and weaknesses and have a richer appreciation for how you might be utilized in the organization.
The rewards of a career in actuarial work (and there are many rewards) are probably directly related to the passing of the many levels of qualifying examinations to achieve professional standing. All professional actuaries begin by taking the same three initial examinations and then, following specialization, go on to take their own specific course of additional examinations in their professional specialty. It's not unusual for some college students to have taken and passed one or two of these exams prior to graduation. Generally speaking, it takes from five to ten years to pass the entire series. With the passage of different exams, you move from actuary trainee, to actuary, to actuary associate.
Statisticians
Math majors also can find employment with their bachelor's degree as statisticians. Many of you will have taken a significant number of the courses offered in your math departments at college. Those will be important, of course, but your employer will also be interested in what and how many statistics courses you took as well. Try to take as many specific courses in statistics as your math department offers.
Don't neglect the opportunity to take additional hours of quantitative courses in any other discipline your college might offer, as well. For example, there may be statistics courses in an engineering, education, premed, social science, or biology department. Depending upon your own interests and the prerequisites for those courses, you might want to try your hand at some of those. It will come in handy in your job search. Statistician jobs occur in a variety of settings.
Job candidates for federal positions will need to document at least six semester hours in statistics courses and nine semester hours in other math courses. Higher-level positions with the government have commensurately higher demands for advanced math courses.
Like all the positions in this chapter, employers seeking statisticians want good communicators, and those hiring in the private sector want job candidates who have a solid working knowledge of business, economics, and management practices.
Operations Research Analysts
You'll begin your career doing routine assignments under the supervision of an experienced supervisor who most likely will have an advanced degree, many employers prefer operational research analysts to have at least a master s degree. There are entry-level positions in this field, but you'll have to work hard to prove yourself as the premium candidates generally have advanced degrees. Your entry-level title may be as a coordinator or project manager. As bachelor's degree candidates advance with their employer in operational management, they may begin to attend university classes to gain their advanced degree at the employer s expense. That, however, may be more of an unspoken demand than an option if you want to advance beyond the lower rungs of the employment ladder. The great thing about working on a master's degree while employed is that, although it certainly impacts your social life and sleep, your job gives you wonderful day-to-day laboratory of experiences that make the learning come alive.
In addition to your continuing professional improvement, your qualifications should include some demonstrations of your ability to think logically, to work well with people, and some samples of your written work. Your communication skills during your interview will also be judged. Your resume should include a section devoted to your computer skills, indicating systems and software you are familiar with or proficient in, as computer expertise is yet another important qualification for operations research analysts.
