Good with numbers, bad with computers . . . career choices?

[aww999]

After ten years of fairly low end jobs (lab technician, retail sales, Audio-visual installer) I managed to fit an Open University engineering degree into my life and promptly got a first. Lots of numeracy required, but none of the modules required me to even turn a computer on.

Then my son was born, and rather than go to work for a wage that would only just cover his nursery fees, I stay home with him, and am doing a Masters in Astrophysics at UCL. Lots of complicated maths, but I have avoided the modules that require C++ etc as I wouldn't know where to start with it.

So, once I've finished the MSc, where next? I will be 35, a little older than most graduates but I don't see this as a major problem. I have very strong maths skills, but most grad roles that capitalise on that assume a decent amount of computing/modelling/programming experience. So, who hires people that can do 2nd order non-linear differential equations in their head, but can't work anything more complicated than Excel? I have a few ideas but would welcome alternative opinions.

Edited to add: I'm not bad with computers per se, or scared of them or anything like that. I just haven't needed to use them for anything advanced! Would be happy to learn any software package under the sun, but I would be starting from scratch as the OU didn't teach me the basics, and the UCL courses at masters level are aimed at grads with lots of experience. Hopefully that makes it the situation a little clearer?

Edited by aww999 on Sunday 26th February 21:37

[anonymous-user]

actuary - only another 5 years of exams to qualify though.

[Rich1973]

Hey, you dissing the lab tech??!!

[Pabl0]

Mathematical Modelling / Algorithm Design / Data Analyst (you might get away with Excel and/or statistical analysis programs).

[GroundEffect]

Teach yourself Matlab or at the very least be very competent with Excel. Then you'll be fine.

[lazystudent]

Computer skills are something that can be learned relatively easily. I wouldn't necessarily see it as a barrier- there must be training courses for Office, and other higher level software packages that you can take?

[Landlord]

Banks (Investment). They'd love your numeracy skills - especially in Quant roles (bloody well paid too - well, when you get experience. Still pretty good starting salaries). Lots of areas to apply the skills too - so not restricted to just one.

Probably the same with Insurance but I've little/no experience of that.

If you can do Excel then you'll be in with a definite shout.

ETA: That opinion comes from 15 years experience of working for said IBs (i.e. a qualified opinion). My pub is a side line!