Tell us your electives and we'll match you to a STEM career!
Can't work out what to do beyond Year 11 and 12? The answer is in your electives! Click on your three favourites and we'll tell you what super cool STEM career would be perfect for you.
What's your all time favourite elective? (If you don't see its exact name listed, please select the closest option)
What's your second favourite elective? (Please choose a different answer to the previous question!)
And finally, what's your third favourite elective? (Please choose one you haven't previously selected)
Cyber security specialist
A cyber security specialist discovers flaws or vulnerabilities in computer networks and systems so they can secure them and ward off cyber attacks.
This is a brilliant STEM job for anyone who loves solving problems, is interested in justice, has (or wants to acquire) coding skills or understands different computer languages.
To get you inspired for your study and career path into this field, read the stories of STEM pros working in cyber security. There are plenty of words of wisdom here and lots of insights into where you could work and what your days will look like!
Christine Vinaviles - cyber security graduate at Commonwealth Bank
Drashti Patel - pen tester at Simbiant
Ash Lennox-Steele - security analyst at TVNZ
Be sure to check out our cyber security webinar for more from the experts, as well as our latest Careers with STEM: Cyber Security magazine.
Check out our STEM + Cyber Security hub for more about cyber security study and career paths.
Renewable energy engineer
A renewable energy engineer develops new tech and systems that use renewable sources of energy, like solar, hydro and wind. If you want a career that helps fight climate change and gives you in-demand skills then this is it!
It's also a great engineering path to walk if you're passionate about the environment and making a difference.
To kickstart your career in renewables, be inspired by the people already doing incredible things in this space! Take a look at the stories of renewable energy engineers and experts below:
Angela Begg - sustainability consultant at Lendlease
Yuneska Harris - engineering manager at Clenergy
Elnaz Hariri - solar lead at Sun Cable
Check out our STEM + Resources & Energy hub for more about renewable energy study and career paths.
Plus, download our FREE renewable energy engineer job kit. In it you’ll meet real-life mentors, get career tips and insights, and get inspired about how you can be part of the energy revolution.
Data scientist
A data scientist provides companies with the information needed to make smarter – more informed – business decisions. They hunt down numbers to uncover new insights, predict trends and understand complex consumer behaviours.
Knowing how to sift through huge amounts of information, research, records and data and reveal patterns (which is taught in so many humanities electives!) is super handy in this STEM career.
Want to know exactly what it's like to study data science? QUT student, Emma Studerus, shares her journey here.
Then find out how to land your dream career in this field by watching our data science Q&A with a data scientist from The Iconic!
Plus, download our FREE data scientist job kit. In it you’ll meet real-life mentors, get career tips and insights, and get inspired about how you can be part of this exciting and in-demand field.
Science communicator
A science communicator is someone who can take scientific concepts, topics and research, and explains them to the general public. This could be through journalism, video creation, public speaking, art, animation and more. It's awesome for anyone who is passionate about science and also has a creative talent or interest.
Does science communication sound like the perfect area of STEM for you? Be inspired by role models already working in this field:
Kirsten Banks - astrophysicist and science communicator
Shasta Henry - entomologist and science communicator
Arjumand Banu Khan - environmental scientist and science communicator
You can also check out our STEM + Creativity hub for more on science communication study and career paths, plus other STEM careers you might like to consider.
Marine biologist
A marine biologist studies life in the ocean and other saltwater environments. It’s an amazing STEM career path for anyone who’s keen on conservation or passionate about the environment. And it sounds like your electives match perfectly with this cool STEM job!
Want to get started on this STEM study and career path? Check out our guide to becoming a marine biologist and find out exactly what they do in their 9 to 5.
Also, get inspired by the incredible careers of the marine biologists below. They share advice, tips and stories to help you succeed in this field.
Vanessa Pirotta - marine biologist
Blake Chapman - marine biologist and shark advocate
Dr Kathryn McMahon - marine scientist
Entrepreneur
Did you know that some of the most impactful entrepreneurs started their business in STEM: think SpaceX, Google and WiFi! Mixing STEM with business often means taking your science, tech, engineering or maths smarts, then mixing them with innovation and business know-how to create products and solutions other people want in their lives.
Your electives are a great match for this career mash-up, so check out our STEM + Business hub for more about business and entrepreneurial study and career paths.
And meet some awesome STEM pros already working in this area! Maybe they'll inspire you to innovate or go for that double degree in science and business?
Liam Ridgeway - co-founder and director of NGNY, Indigitek & IndigiGig
Nathan Adler - Surf Sense Founder
Yemi Penn - rail project entrepreneur
Find more STEM + Business role models here.
Food scientist or technologist
A food scientist or technologist develops new food products, improves existing ones, and sets standards for producing, packaging and marketing food. Essentially, they are responsible for the safety and quality of food that thousands of people eat every day.
This is an amazing study and career path for anyone interested in health, or if you're the ultimate foodie!
Keen to kickstart your career in this area? Here are four STEM + food CVs you need to see, plus other jobs in food science you might like to know about (plus what you need to study to get yourself there).
For more on STEM careers, head to the Careers with STEM website and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Game developer
A game developer designs and develops games for PC, consoles and devices. They need to know their tech (and have sharp coding skills) but it's also important that they can think creatively - story and character development is a big part of this job too.
This is a fantastic pathway for anyone who loves technology and art, or is super passionate about gaming!
Get inspired to do great things in this STEM space by hearing the stories of gaming pros with your dream job:
Niamh Fitzgerald - game developer at Dinosaur Polo Club
Sam Crisp - programmer at Mountains Studio
Plus, download our FREE game designer and developer job kit. It's filled with real-life profiles, day-in-the-life stories, salary info, stats and pathways into booming career areas.
For more on STEM careers, head to the Careers with STEM website and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Sports statistician
A sports statistician gathers real time info on sports performances and use their maths and computer skills to create formulas, programs and apps that turn stats into new data. Coaches and athletes then use this data to strategise about future games or competitions. Journalists and sports organisations find it handy too, and use it to report on matches and track progress and performance.
This is such an awesome STEM study and career path for anyone who loves maths, sports and/or health!
Keen to hear what these pros do on the daily? Meet senior data scientist for Tennis Australia, Dr Stephanie Kovalchik. She uses maths processes like statistical modelling, Bayes’ Theorem (which shows how to update probabilities with new information), and machine learning to quantify things like how a player’s physicality might affect their performance.
Find our more about mixing science, technology, engineering and maths with sport over on our STEM + Sport hub.
For more on STEM careers, head to the Careers with STEM website and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Geologist
A geologist studies the earth’s soil, minerals, water and energy resources. They also research earth processes like earthquakes, floods and volcanic eruptions to understand them better.
Fieldwork is a big part of a geology gig, and this could take you anywhere from Antarctica to the Sahara Desert! Geologists are employed by environmental consultant groups, universities, museums and CSIRO.
This is an exciting STEM career for anyone into biology, earth and environmental science and/or maths... Or for anyone who wants to work in the great ourdoors!
Want to find out more about becoming a geologist? See how Kat Gioseffi found her calling in this STEM field and what she has to say to those following in her footsteps.
For more on STEM careers, head to the Careers with STEM website and subscribe to our YouTube channel.