One Day, One Job » math

Ceteris

Willy Franzen — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:19:06 +0000

The way that large corporations operate often boggles my mind. Take for example my friend who worked in the internal consulting division of a massive, well-known company. Despite being owned and operated by the company, his division had to bid against outside consulting firms for projects. There was a good reason for this (it forced the internal consulting division to watch its back), but it still seems a bit ridiculous. Another example of this kind of thinking is transfer pricing (don’t worry, I had to look it up too). It’s the “pricing of contributions (assets, tangible and intangible, services, and funds) transferred within an organization.” At first it may seem that since all of the money is going to the same place pricing things that are transferred within an organization doesn’t really matter. Unfortunately, that would cause all of the accountants in an organization (and the IRS too) to have a fit. So how do companies price these transfers? There’s no external market to set the price, and trying to do it internally can get really messy. That’s when companies bring in Ceteris a “global independent consulting firm specializing in transfer pricing, intellectual property and valuation services” that is headquartered in Chicago.

Transfer Yourself to Ceteris

For most new grads, grasping exactly what Ceteris does is pretty hard. The best way to get a feel for the kinds of projects that they work on is to take a look at examples of their work. It turns out that this stuff is pretty fascinating—at least to me. If you agree, you’ll want to check out Ceteris’ Jobs page along with their Campus Recruiting page. Although they don’t explicitly post job opportunities and they don’t have any campus events coming up, they say that they’re looking to hear from outstanding undergraduates with a background in Economics, Business, Accounting, Finance, Statistics, or Mathematics. They provide a decent amount of information about what it’s like at Ceteris including employee profiles, and they invite interested applicants to send a résumé and cover letter to careers@ceterisgroup.com. The company has only been around since 2003, but they’ve already expanded to 13 locations: Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; Calgary, AB; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Libertyville, IL; Los Angeles, CA; Mexico City, Mexico; New York, NY; Salt Lake City, UT; Toronto, ON; Washington, DC; and Auckland, New Zealand. It’s not clear which offices have entry level opportunities, but their Locations page does allow you to contact the head of each office if you’re so inclined.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What have you heard about Ceteris?

New York City Teaching Fellows

Willy Franzen — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:00:16 +0000

This is a sponsored post for New York City Teaching Fellows. Check out our editorial post on entry level jobs with New York City Teaching Fellows to see what we said when we first covered them.

Before I launched One Day, One Job in 2007, I shared my idea with employers at a Cornell University career fair. One of the organizations from the fair that I was most impressed with was New York City Teaching Fellows. They are an alternative teacher certification program that firmly believes that putting the highest quality teachers in New York City public schools will lead to better academic outcomes for the students in those schools. Out of 30 or so employers that I spoke with at the fair, they were the only one forward-looking enough to actually follow up with me. As a result, they were one of the first non-profits that we featured, and now, more than 2 years later, they’re leading the charge again as one of our first sponsors. Since their inception in 2000, New York City Teaching Fellows has placed more than 13,500 teachers in New York City schools, so they are constantly looking for innovative ways to reach talented new grads. That’s why they’re working with us to reach you.

Fellowship of the Teachers

In 2000, the New York City Department of Education faced a serious teacher shortage, and in response they launched New York City Teaching Fellows. Ten years later NYCTF’s Fellows account for 11% of New York City’s population of teachers. Since 2000, the Fellowship has focused specifically on the highest need subject areas such as special education, science, math, bilingual education and Spanish. Today, the highest need subject areas are special education and science, and NYCTF anticipates most Fellows for 2010 to be trained to teach in these subject areas. As an alternative certification program, NYCTF recruits and prepares high-quality, dedicated individuals who have no prior background or experience in education. These people are often new college graduates, but they may also be career changers or people coming from graduate school.

If candidates meet NYCTF’s highly selective criteria—the organization only accepted 9% of 14,500 applicants in 2009—they are then fast-tracked into full-time teaching positions in New York City’s public schools. These Fellows first go through an intensive 7-week pre-service training program, and then continue their education through a subsidized Master’s degree program in conjunction with their teaching. It’s a tough path to becoming a teacher, but it’s intensely satisfying—at least that’s what NYCTF’s 92% first-year retention rate would indicate. I guess it also helps that Fellows with only a Bachelor’s degree will earn an annual salary of $45,530 with full benefits as a full-time teacher in the program.

Who Will Remember Your Name?

You know as well as anyone how important education is. It’s the reason that you’re able to read about New York City Teaching Fellows and say, “That’s something that I can do.” Not everyone has that opportunity, but you do. And by choosing to teach you can pass that opportunity on to your students. Getting a job is hard enough these days. Through the New York City Teaching Fellows program, you have the opportunity to earn a great salary, excellent benefits, a subsidized Master’s degree, and the ability to make a lasting difference in the lives of New York City’s children. Whether a career in education is in your long-term plans or it’s something that you are in the process of exploring, New York City Teaching Fellows is the perfect program for pursuing your ambition.

You can find all kinds of detailed information about New York City Teaching Fellows—from Fellow profiles to all of the details of the Fellowship—by visiting their home page at NYCTeachingFellows.org.

To apply for New York City Teaching Fellows’ June 2010 program, you should visit their Application page (be sure to use this link so that they know you came from One Day, One Job). The final deadline to apply is Monday, January 25, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. (EST), so get your act together soon!

Wolfram Research

Willy Franzen — Tue, 19 May 2009 14:49:42 +0000

If you’re an Internet geek like me, then you’ve probably noticed all of the buzz around Wolfram|Alpha. Some have dubbed it a “Google killer,” but as far as I can tell, they’re way off the mark. They’re wrong because Wolfram|Alpha isn’t a search engine – it’s a knowledge engine. The goal is “to make all systematic knowledge immediately computable by anyone.” The concept is kind of hard to grasp until you try it, but once you see how it works, I think that you’ll be impressed. So, who is behind Wolfram|Alpha? Wolfram, of course! They’re based in Champaign, IL, and they’re “one of the world’s most respected software companies–as well as a powerhouse of scientific and technical innovation.” They’re the company behind Mathematica – a software package that excels in ” computation, modeling, simulation, visualization, development, documentation, and deployment.” I’ve never had the pleasure of using it, but I know math teachers who think it’s pretty awesome.

Join a Powerhouse

From what I can tell, Wolfram is about as academic as a company can get. They use their expertise in computer science to create amazing tools that help smart people do their jobs and research better. Yet, Wolfram’s ambitions go beyond that. This Wolfram|Alpha thing seems to be a well received attempt at going mainstream, and it’s only in its early stages. You have to love a company that is constantly working to make people smarter and more effective, which is why you should consider jobs with Wolfram Research. They don’t have specific job openings listed, but they are constantly looking for people in the following areas:

Algorithm Development
Software Engineering
Financial Engineering
Image and Signal Processing
Control Systems
Geospatial Information Systems
Instrument Control
Experimental Data Analysis
Statistics
User Interface Development
Applications Development
Software Quality Assurance
Technical Support
Technical Marketing
Business Development
Project Management
International Business Development
Special Projects
Mathematica Programming
Information Technology
Customer Relations
Educational Outreach
Technical Writing
Sales
Scientific Business Development
Technology Licensing

There’s a single online application form for all of these positions, and it’s really in-depth. So, if Wolfram Research already has you fascinated and “you’re clear-thinking, pragmatic, and energetic about getting things done well,” then go ahead and apply ASAP. Additionally, Wolfram Research has some Science and Technology R&D Fellowships that you may want to check out. Beyond Wolfram’s headquarters in Champaign, IL, they also have locations in Boston, MA; Oxford, United Kingdom; Paris, France; and Tokyo, Japan.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you think of Wolfram|Alpha’s capabilities?

Reasoning Mind

Willy Franzen — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:56:59 +0000

I don’t know where they were when I was looking for a math related non-profit for Pi Day, but I was excited to learn about Reasoning Mind through a Facebook message from George Khachatryan that asked me to help them get the word out about their entry level positions. We’ll get to those in a second, but first let’s talk about what Reasoning Mind is. It’s a Houston, TX based non-profit (with offices in Dallas, TX and Moscow too) that is offering “an engaging online community that develops students’ math knowledge and thinking skills” so that every child can receive “a first-rate math education.” They’re already working in quite a few schools in California, Texas, and Louisiana, and they also offer individual enrollment over the web. Reasoning Mind seems to be a family affair, as the President & CEO and the Vice President also happen to be Khachatryans.

Reasoning Jobs

Reasoning Mind wants you to “imagine a day when children love their math class so much, they do math problems at home instead of playing video games.” That’s a lofty goal, but they’ve created what they call RM City to make it happen. It looks like an awesome web interface that might remind kids of Club Penguin or Webkinz World. I wish I had RM City when I was a kid. So, what about their jobs? According to George, they’re looking to fill 30 Program Coordinator positions across the country. Most positions are expected to be in cities across Texas, but that may change depending on where Reasoning Mind is able to initiate new partnerships. The job posting is fantastic, and it even has a picture of the hiring manager – Steve Gaudino – and his title at the top, so you know whom you’re going to be working for. I’ve never seen that before, and I love it.

Program Coordinators are responsible for supporting around 1,000 students and their teachers who are using the Reasoning Mind program by “visiting schools, meeting with teachers to provide training and support, monitoring the progress of students, and working with principals and other school staff.” It sounds like an awesome job, so check out the job description and apply (the application form is on the job description page) by May 1st if you’d like to start in July. You can also apply at the end of August or end of November for a later start date.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

What do you think of RM City?

U.S. Census Bureau

Willy Franzen — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:48:34 +0000

Every 10 years our country does a census to collect demographic data about our populous to drive public policy decisions. It’s an extremely big deal, and it temporarily creates 1.4 million jobs (according to government figures). But those aren’t typically the types of jobs that we talk about here, at least not the ones that send you door to door asking how many people live at a given residence. Luckily, the U.S. Census Bureau does a lot more than its once every ten years nationwide census. They are “the leading source of quality data about the nation’s people and economy,” so you’d be amazed by all of the things that they track. For instance, much of the economic data that you have been hearing about in the news lately – as in “Stocks plunge on weakened Monthly Retail Sales” – comes from the U.S. Census Bureau. If you’re fascinated by data or just love counting things, there aren’t many places that offer a more interesting work experience that the Census Bureau.

Everyone Counts at the U.S. Census Bureau

Ok, I’d like to go on about the cool things that the Census Bureau does, but we don’t really have time. Navigating the Census Bureau’s job offerings is kind of a hassle, so I want to make sure that you can find what you’re looking for. On their main Jobs page they have links to four sections – Headquarters Opportunities, 2010 Census Taker Opportunities, Regional Office Opportunities, and Student and Research Opportunities. You may be tempted to check out the Student Opportunities, but you actually want to check out either the Headquarters or Regional Office Opportunities. If you check out the Headquarters Opportunities, you’ll find job listings like Statistician / Analyst, Mathematical Statistician, Information Technology Specialist, Geographer, and Cartographer. These links will take you to more specific listings where you’ll find a link titled “How to Apply.” If you click that, you’ll find even more information and another link to the specific job descriptions on USAJobs.gov. You can also skip ahead and just search all of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 90 current openings. If you decide to check out the Regional Office Opportunities, you’ll just have to select a region, and you’ll be shown a list of opportunities. It’s a lot simpler.

As for locations:

The U.S. Census Bureau headquarters is located in Suitland, Maryland, just outside the District of Columbia.

The National Processing Center (NPC) is located in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The NPC also has two call centers located in Hagerstown, Maryland and Tucson, Arizona.

The Census Bureau has 12 Regional Offices located in Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia and Seattle.

The Census Bureau has a ton of jobs, and there are a lot more coming. Many of these offer extremely interesting entry level work, but you’re going to have to show off your data parsing abilities to find and apply for the jobs – they don’t make the process easy at all.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Are you excited for the 2010 Census?

The Mathematical Association of America

Willy Franzen — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 14:00:28 +0000

If you’ve been reading One Day, One Job for a year or more, you probably remember that last year we did a holiday post for Pi Day (you should also get your butt in Found Your Career, because a year long job search is way too long and you need to put an end to it soon!). I’m a dork, and I love dorky holidays. That’s why I’m already counting down the seconds until 1:59:26 (ok, I didn’t stay up for it, I’m waiting for the PM version), when the date and time will represent 8 digits of pi. Since today is a weekend, I thought that it was my duty to bring you info on jobs with math related non-profits. Unfortunately, there are a lot fewer of those than one would think. We’ve already covered Math for America, and last year we took a look at Pi Media, so we’re stretching a bit by looking at job opportunities with The Mathematical Association of America. They’re located in Washington, DC, and they’re “the largest professional society that focuses on mathematics accessible at the undergraduate level.”

Pi in the Sky Jobs

The MAA has 5 core interests:

Education: We support learning in the mathematical sciences by encouraging effective curriculum, teaching, and assessment at all levels.
Research: We support research, scholarship, and its exposition at all appropriate levels and venues, including research by undergraduates.
Professional Development: We provide resources and activities that foster scholarship, professional growth, and cooperation among teachers, other professionals, and students.
Public Policy: We influence institutional and public policy through advocacy for the importance, uses, and needs of the mathematical sciences.
Public Appreciation: We promote the general understanding and appreciation of mathematics. We encourage students of all ages, particularly those from underrepresented groups, to pursue activities and careers in the mathematical sciences.

It’s all about furthering the field of Mathematics, especially at the undergraduate level. Alright, so I admitted that it’s a bit of a stretch to talk about jobs at The Mathematical Association of America. They don’t have any job postings right now, but they do have a Jobs page. It includes a link to their Organizational Chart, which will show you what kinds of jobs they have. They also have a page on How to Apply, so if you’re serious about a job with the MAA, you should use the info supplied there to give cold calling a try. And if you’re just looking for jobs in Math, you should check out the MAA’s MathClassifieds.org.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

How are you celebrating Pi Day?

Math for America

Willy Franzen — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 12:54:38 +0000

We’ve told you about teaching fellowship programs before, and today we’re going to look at another one. It’s called Math for America, and it’s based in New York City with operations in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Washington, DC as well. Their goal is simple; they want to “improve math education in secondary public schools in the United States by recruiting, training, and retaining outstanding mathematics teachers.” Numerical literacy is essential to a properly functioning society, and, unfortunately, we’re falling short. If people can’t understand basic math, there’s no hope that they’ll ever be financially responsible. If they can’t understand statistics, how will they ever fully comprehend the political process or medical advice? Our country’s math education is woefully inadequate, and even many students at top colleges have a fear of math. Great teachers are the answer, and that’s why Math for America is recruiting great mathematical minds for America’s classrooms.

Do You Love Math?

If you really love math and want to share that love with the next generation, then Math for America is perfect for you. They are aggressively recruiting new college grads who “know and love math, enjoy teaching and interacting with young people, possess excellent communication skills, can create a constructive learning environment for students, will make a five year commitment to the MƒA Fellowship Program, and can take personal responsibility for themselves and their actions.” The Fellowship Program has great benefits, and makes teaching a much more intriguing option for mathematically inclined new grads who may have never considered education before. Math for America’s website is fantastic, and you can find all the details of their Fellowship Program here. You can apply online, and the deadline for applications is February 13th.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

Have any good math jokes?

Carnegie Learning

Willy Franzen — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:00:00 +0000

Tomorrow, we have a special holiday themed post for you. If you know what holiday we’re talking about, then you’ll know why we asked a math teacher for ideas on what company to feature. If you have no idea what we’re talking about, then you’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out. Our math teaching friend made a great recommendation, but we found something that was a slightly better fit. Still, we couldn’t pass this one up, so consider it a hint about what holiday we’ll be celebrating tomorrow. Carnegie Learning develops comprehensive mathematics curricula for middle school and high school students. They were founded by cognitive science researchers from Carnegie Mellon University in conjunction with veteran mathematics teachers.

So, this math teaching friend of ours was raving about Carnegie Learning’s curriculum, and he’s not the only one. The Carnegie Learning approach combines the use of their proprietary software with classroom instruction to improve educational outcomes for students. Basically, Carnegie Learning’s software assesses students and then provides curricula tailored to individual student needs. Not only are teachers shouting their praises of the system, but the Department of Education has recognized Carnegie’s Cognitive Tutor Algebra I program “as one of only two math curricula scientifically proven to have significant, positive effects on student learning.” We’re sure that some of you are really interested in this, and you should certainly go to the Carnegie Learning website to continue your research.

We think that the coolest jobs at Carnegie Learning are probably in curriculum development, but those jobs typically require at least a few years of teaching experience. If that’s what you want to do, you might want to take a look at some entry-level teaching jobs instead, and come back to Carnegie Learning in a few years. If you want a job with Carnegie Learning now, then you should look at their job listings page and look for the Software Engineer – Infrastructure, Software Engineer – User Interface, and Inside Sales Representative positions, which might be a little more entry-level friendly. There’s a lot more research that you can do on this one, so get to work!

Note: On April 25th we revisited entry-level jobs at Carnegie Learning.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

We want our “job search curriculum” to be as effective as Carnegie Learning’s math curricula. Tell us what you think we can do to achieve that. Ok, we don’t have a curriculum, but we want to know what kind of things you’d like to see us add.