Skills
Mathematician Skills & Tools
The technical skills, people skills and tools employers look for in mathematicians, and how to build and show them.
What skills do mathematicians need?
Mathematicians need technical skills such as advanced mathematics, proof writing, and modeling, plus people skills like persistence and creativity. They also use tools such as MATLAB and Python.
Technical (hard) skills
- Advanced mathematics
- Proof writing
- Modeling
- Programming
- Statistics
- Algorithm design
People (soft) skills
- Persistence
- Creativity
- Communication
- Curiosity
Tools, equipment and technology
- MATLAB
- Python
- Mathematica
- LaTeX
- R
- High-performance computing
Skills in action: common tasks
These step-by-step guides show how mathematicians put their skills to work:
- How to turn a real problem into a math model
- How to write a clear mathematical proof
- How to explain math results to non-mathematicians
How to show these skills on a resume
- Lead your skills section with the technical skills from the job posting, for example, “Advanced mathematics” and “Proof writing.”
- Prove soft skills with results: instead of listing “persistence,” describe a situation where you used it.
- List credentials such as Ph.D. in mathematics near the top, with the issuing organization and date.
- Use the employer’s vocabulary. Our mathematician glossary covers the terms hiring managers expect.
How to build these skills
Formal training, supervised practice and certification are the most direct routes. Our Mathematician training introduces each of these skills with plain-language lessons, procedures and a final knowledge check: a strong foundation before hands-on training or your first day.