One of the questions I get asked most — by friends, family, and even clients — is: “Why did you decide to become a consultant after studying Applied Physics?” The follow-up is usually: “Don’t you regret not doing something with your degree?”
My answer is simple: no, not at all.
I chose to study applied physics because I’ve always loved mathematics, and wanted to challenge myself with something complex and broad. At the time, I wasn’t sure about what I wanted to do after university, and physics felt like a solid foundation that would keep many doors open. I really enjoyed the study, which taught me a certain way of approaching complex problems, and analytical thinking.
Discovering the value of collaboration
Although I really enjoyed the complexity and continuously being challenged, I sometimes missed the more social side. Over time, I realized that I wanted to work in an environment where I could still tackle challenging questions and collaborate more closely with and learn from others. That’s where consultancy came in.
Once I learned more about the field, it felt like the right fit. Consulting offered a combination of analytical work, real-world impact, and teamwork. Two years into working at Argon & Co, I am still very happy with my decision.
Putting theory into practice
While I don’t use the actual physics theories I studied at university, I apply the mindset I developed there every single day. Analytical thinking, breaking down large challenges into manageable parts, finding structured ways to reach solutions. Those are important skills as a consultant. My studies taught me to think critically and approach problems in a structured manner, which translates well to the consulting world.
What I’ve also come to appreciate is how concrete the work is. During my studies, topics were often abstract and theoretical, which made them hard to connect to everyday life. Now, the problems I work on are very tangible. Often during the first weeks of a project I will spend time walking through warehouses, to see how the process works with my own eyes.
Although the problems we work on are very complex, I am able to explain any of the projects in an understandable way to my friends and family in just a couple of sentences. For example, helping a company optimize the route a package takes from order to delivery is something anyone can visualize. And it’s incredibly satisfying to help clients by making those processes more efficient.
Learning fast, together
I really value the steep learning curve. Consulting gives me the chance to work with clients across different industries and to dive into very diverse topics quickly. I feel lucky I get to do this together with a team of colleagues who I can learn a lot from.
In the end, I didn’t choose consultancy instead of following a career path in physics — I chose it because of the skills my studies gave me, and because I wanted to apply those skills in a more people-focused, real-world setting. And that’s exactly what I get to do now at Argon & Co.
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