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I find the situation even funnier when you consider that France, Germany main partner in the European Union and direct neighbor, views having a PhD outside of r

by brmgb 6y ago

I find the situation even funnier when you consider that France, Germany main partner in the European Union and direct neighbor, views having a PhD outside of research as a waste of time and something which will be held against you. The cultural differences between European countries are fascinating.

pjmlp 6y ago
Indeed, however I feel when you immerse into local culture, eventually we find out there is a thin common culture across the continent, regarding what everyone was watching while growing up or certain points of view versus other continents.
- hencq 6y ago
  As a European living in the US, I think Europeans have much more in common than they think. The differences between countries seem big until you're looking at them from a distance. I'd even argue that the UK has more in common with 'the continent' than with the US.
  - pezezin 6y ago
    As an European living in Japan, I totally agree with you. And obviously Western countries (including AU and NZ) have much more in common with each other than with Asian/African/whatever countries.
BrandoElFollito 6y ago
Are you French? I am, I have a PhD and work in a large French tech company. Having a PhD has never been an issue, usually an advantage, often neutral.
- brmgb 6y ago
  I am French. Most of my friends have PhD. You still get the usual "you must not be very practical" during interviews and your salary is never better that what someone from a good engineering school would get.
  - BrandoElFollito 6y ago
    If they get such a message, sorry but they are applying to the wrong companies. The ones I know very well (top tech in France, to take the French ones) would not say something like this. As for the salary - this is normal. You apply to an engineering position so your experience in engineering positions/education counts. A PhD is not a hinder but not a huge booster either. This is not different from other countries, except for Germany and to some extend Poland and Italy. Please note that France is extremely unique when it comes to engineering schools. Our pride in prépas and then top schools does not count at all abroad. You finished Polytechnique? OK, that's an engineering school in the top 100-400 of international schools.
    - coldtea 6y ago
      >If they get such a message, sorry but they are applying to the wrong companies. The ones I know very well (top tech in France, to take the French ones) would not say something like this. Well, it's common in the US too, from what I've read. Tech companies (in IT at least) don't particularly care for PhDs...
      - BrandoElFollito 6y ago
        Yes, they do not particularly care about PhDs. It does not mean that a PhD is a problem, though. I worked in IT for two large US companies (from mid-90's to end-00's) and the first job my PhD was not a particular asset (but nothing wrong with that) and it helped for the second one.
        coldtea 6y ago
        >It does not mean that a PhD is a problem, though. No, but it is often perceived as a sign that "let's skip this person, they are too researchy, older than a college graduate, and likely to ask for more too".

by brmgb 6y ago

pjmlp 6y ago

Indeed, however I feel when you immerse into local culture, eventually we find out there is a thin common culture across the continent, regarding what everyone was watching while growing up or certain points of view versus other continents.

hencq 6y ago
As a European living in the US, I think Europeans have much more in common than they think. The differences between countries seem big until you're looking at them from a distance. I'd even argue that the UK has more in common with 'the continent' than with the US.
- pezezin 6y ago
  As an European living in Japan, I totally agree with you. And obviously Western countries (including AU and NZ) have much more in common with each other than with Asian/African/whatever countries.

BrandoElFollito 6y ago

Are you French? I am, I have a PhD and work in a large French tech company. Having a PhD has never been an issue, usually an advantage, often neutral.

brmgb 6y ago
I am French. Most of my friends have PhD. You still get the usual "you must not be very practical" during interviews and your salary is never better that what someone from a good engineering school would get.
- BrandoElFollito 6y ago
  If they get such a message, sorry but they are applying to the wrong companies. The ones I know very well (top tech in France, to take the French ones) would not say something like this. As for the salary - this is normal. You apply to an engineering position so your experience in engineering positions/education counts. A PhD is not a hinder but not a huge booster either. This is not different from other countries, except for Germany and to some extend Poland and Italy. Please note that France is extremely unique when it comes to engineering schools. Our pride in prépas and then top schools does not count at all abroad. You finished Polytechnique? OK, that's an engineering school in the top 100-400 of international schools.
  - coldtea 6y ago
    >If they get such a message, sorry but they are applying to the wrong companies. The ones I know very well (top tech in France, to take the French ones) would not say something like this. Well, it's common in the US too, from what I've read. Tech companies (in IT at least) don't particularly care for PhDs...
    - BrandoElFollito 6y ago
      Yes, they do not particularly care about PhDs. It does not mean that a PhD is a problem, though. I worked in IT for two large US companies (from mid-90's to end-00's) and the first job my PhD was not a particular asset (but nothing wrong with that) and it helped for the second one.
      - coldtea 6y ago
        >It does not mean that a PhD is a problem, though. No, but it is often perceived as a sign that "let's skip this person, they are too researchy, older than a college graduate, and likely to ask for more too".