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A PhD degree in a relevant subject area (think STEM) can be a door-opener in industry, not just academia. Many interesting jobs are reserved for PhD holders, or
by neodypsis 4y ago
A PhD degree in a relevant subject area (think STEM) can be a door-opener in industry, not just academia. Many interesting jobs are reserved for PhD holders, or at least, are more readily available for them.
- musicale 4y agoIt can serve as a meal ticket in certain fields, yes. Should it? I'm not entirely sure. The opportunity cost is certainly high. In less fortunate areas you can be consigned to a permanent adjunct or postdoctoral purgatory.
- neodypsis 4y agoVery true, the opportunity cost can be very high. There's always the risk of pursuing a wrong research path. At some point I've considered that a second master's in a complementary field could make more sense than a PhD.
- DocTomoe 4y agoBeware, though, because in other fields - particularly in STEM - a PHD may actually lower your job prospects. "You're overqualified" gets old really fast if no one offers jobs that align with your proficiency level.
- neodypsis 4y agoDo you see this happening in CS? I've seen positions where they don't care if you have formal training or not, then why would being a PhD holder hinder your chances?
- DocTomoe 4y agoChannelling my inner HR drone here, but I've heard that all at different times from them when looking for talent: Because why would you linger around in university if you can have a serious income ten years earlier? Obviously something must be "wrong" with you, something that would make you a complicated employee that just asks for creating trouble. Better hire a CS bachelor for a third of what you would ask (risking you'd run as soon as you get some offer more to your liking), not like we're doing any revolutionary bleeding-edge stuff anyways.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]