3 ms·

I would also like to point out the conflict between "Has written a compiler or OS for fun +15" and "Has Ph.D -1" and also wonder why having a Ph.D gets a ne

by user24 16y ago

I would also like to point out the conflict between "Has written a compiler or OS for fun +15" and "Has Ph.D -1" and also wonder why having a Ph.D gets a negative mark?

Xurinos 16y ago
Ph.D sounds good on paper but can suggest "too much time spent in academia", "not enough practical experience", "thinks awfully highly of himself, but can he make us money or do anything real?", and "is his focus even related to the job?". Or that is the general attitude I have heard. Personally, I have a small measure of respect for the Ph.D title, but it does not sway me unless the focus matches what I need. "It's great that you solved P != NP, but can you write a financial app for this customer?"
- kenjackson 16y ago
  And if you solved P != NP, why are writing enterprise apps?
- dkarl 16y ago
  In my experience, PhDs are generally smart people and pleasant to work with. They work hard, and the ones from engineering and the sciences are relatively immune to bullshit.
- user24 16y ago
  > Personally, I have a small measure of respect for the Ph.D title, but it does not sway me unless the focus matches what I need. "It's great that you solved P != NP, but can you write a financial app for this customer?" I do see that. But... well, quality PhDs aren't going to be applying for jobs that require you to do code monkey work, they'll be the ones writing new financial models, and a quick PoC in haskell.
  - jbarham 16y ago
    Hah, would these be the same financial models that were used to rate sub-prime securities AAA?! :)
- reeses 16y ago
  I really like seeing people with PhDs in completely random non-technical fields. "Ah, I see you have a PhD in Chinese Architectural History...umm, neat." MDs are even better, because they bring all that crazy doctor-talk with them. I still go around saying stuff like,"This bug is sequella to the change we made for the last release."
dagw 16y ago
There is a general assumption in most non-engineering industries that Ph.D means ivory tower philosophizing without any connection to or experience with the "real world".
cwp 16y ago
Would you care to elaborate a bit? I don't see any conflict.
- user24 16y ago
  writing compilers is a fairly involved computer science topic, and while it does happen that some people without formal education in CS have written compilers, I'd suggest that most compiler nerds are educated to at least undergrad level, more likely masters level in CS. So sure, neither of those are PhD's, but it seems odd to praise one aspect of formal CS - writing compilers, and not another - gaining a PhD.
astine 16y ago
I know at least one guy who is having trouble getting a job and he blames it on his PHD.
alanthonyc 16y ago
Perhaps the last picture in this series explains it... http://matt.might.net/articles/phd-school-in-pictures/ http://matt.might.net/articles/phd-school-in-pictures/
technomancy 16y ago
> and also wonder why having a Ph.D gets a negative mark? Premature optimization.

by user24 16y ago

I would also like to point out the conflict between "Has written a compiler or OS for fun +15" and "Has Ph.D -1" and also wonder why having a Ph.D gets a negative mark?

Xurinos 16y ago

Ph.D sounds good on paper but can suggest "too much time spent in academia", "not enough practical experience", "thinks awfully highly of himself, but can he make us money or do anything real?", and "is his focus even related to the job?". Or that is the general attitude I have heard. Personally, I have a small measure of respect for the Ph.D title, but it does not sway me unless the focus matches what I need. "It's great that you solved P != NP, but can you write a financial app for this customer?"

kenjackson 16y ago
And if you solved P != NP, why are writing enterprise apps?
dkarl 16y ago
In my experience, PhDs are generally smart people and pleasant to work with. They work hard, and the ones from engineering and the sciences are relatively immune to bullshit.
user24 16y ago
> Personally, I have a small measure of respect for the Ph.D title, but it does not sway me unless the focus matches what I need. "It's great that you solved P != NP, but can you write a financial app for this customer?" I do see that. But... well, quality PhDs aren't going to be applying for jobs that require you to do code monkey work, they'll be the ones writing new financial models, and a quick PoC in haskell.
- jbarham 16y ago
  Hah, would these be the same financial models that were used to rate sub-prime securities AAA?! :)
reeses 16y ago
I really like seeing people with PhDs in completely random non-technical fields. "Ah, I see you have a PhD in Chinese Architectural History...umm, neat." MDs are even better, because they bring all that crazy doctor-talk with them. I still go around saying stuff like,"This bug is sequella to the change we made for the last release."

dagw 16y ago

There is a general assumption in most non-engineering industries that Ph.D means ivory tower philosophizing without any connection to or experience with the "real world".

cwp 16y ago

Would you care to elaborate a bit? I don't see any conflict.

user24 16y ago
writing compilers is a fairly involved computer science topic, and while it does happen that some people without formal education in CS have written compilers, I'd suggest that most compiler nerds are educated to at least undergrad level, more likely masters level in CS. So sure, neither of those are PhD's, but it seems odd to praise one aspect of formal CS - writing compilers, and not another - gaining a PhD.

astine 16y ago

I know at least one guy who is having trouble getting a job and he blames it on his PHD.

alanthonyc 16y ago

Perhaps the last picture in this series explains it... http://matt.might.net/articles/phd-school-in-pictures/ http://matt.might.net/articles/phd-school-in-pictures/

technomancy 16y ago

> and also wonder why having a Ph.D gets a negative mark? Premature optimization.