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No, your education does not. The real reason you see many PhDs fail to get private sector jobs is that they're expecting to be compensated for that PhD. But fr

No, your education does not. The real reason you see many PhDs fail to get private sector jobs is that they're expecting to be compensated for that PhD. But from the perspective of a hiring manager they're really just a recent grad with a superiority complex. If you are willing to accept that your PhD does not catapult you into being a senior developer (particularly for startups), then you shouldn't have any trouble finding a job, assuming you are in fact a good developer (unlike many PhDs). Also, if you're in dire straits, I recommend picking up a contracting gig. It's a great way to tide you over without rushing into the first job offered. If you'd like to work in NYC, or want to try your hand at contracting, just write to me: morgante@cafe.com.

kenrikm 12y ago
This ^ generally you have to start at the bottom at least until you get some real world experience on your resume. Don't expect to find any benefit from your increased schooling until you've shown you can apply it to actual business problems.
tensor 12y ago
>But from the perspective of a hiring manager they're really just a recent grad with a superiority complex. I know it's fun to hate on PhDs here, but this just isn't true at all. A PhD isn't about development true, but it still holds value. Basically it shows that you know how to problem solve, push the boundaries of what is known, work independently, and persevere until the job is done. Any hiring manager that doesn't value these traits is doing an awful job. As for supporting evidence, I guess I could cite the fact that when I neared the completion of my degree I had a lot of recruiters calling me for very well paid jobs. All my friends in the program had similar experiences, many of whom went on to big tech companies. Hell, big tech companies advertised directly to PhD students on campus. Hardly the picture of worthlessness you are painting.
- morgante 12y ago
  > Basically it shows that you know how to problem solve, push the boundaries of what is known, work independently, and persevere until the job is done. Okay, sure. I don't completely discount a PhD when looking at a resume, but this also doesn't add much. For most development jobs, a PhD is about as useful as one undergraduate summer internship in terms of demonstrating skills and adding value. Of course, there are some jobs around theoretical & mathemetical problems where a PhD is worth a lot more. And those are probably the jobs at big tech companies which your PhD friends have been offered. I don't think a PhD is worthless. I just don't think it makes a big difference for a developer's resume, especially because it also carries some unfortunate signaling effects (I know many PhDs who only went that route because they weren't good enough developers to get good jobs straight out of undergrad).

kenrikm 12y ago

This ^ generally you have to start at the bottom at least until you get some real world experience on your resume. Don't expect to find any benefit from your increased schooling until you've shown you can apply it to actual business problems.

tensor 12y ago

>But from the perspective of a hiring manager they're really just a recent grad with a superiority complex. I know it's fun to hate on PhDs here, but this just isn't true at all. A PhD isn't about development true, but it still holds value. Basically it shows that you know how to problem solve, push the boundaries of what is known, work independently, and persevere until the job is done. Any hiring manager that doesn't value these traits is doing an awful job. As for supporting evidence, I guess I could cite the fact that when I neared the completion of my degree I had a lot of recruiters calling me for very well paid jobs. All my friends in the program had similar experiences, many of whom went on to big tech companies. Hell, big tech companies advertised directly to PhD students on campus. Hardly the picture of worthlessness you are painting.

morgante 12y ago
> Basically it shows that you know how to problem solve, push the boundaries of what is known, work independently, and persevere until the job is done. Okay, sure. I don't completely discount a PhD when looking at a resume, but this also doesn't add much. For most development jobs, a PhD is about as useful as one undergraduate summer internship in terms of demonstrating skills and adding value. Of course, there are some jobs around theoretical & mathemetical problems where a PhD is worth a lot more. And those are probably the jobs at big tech companies which your PhD friends have been offered. I don't think a PhD is worthless. I just don't think it makes a big difference for a developer's resume, especially because it also carries some unfortunate signaling effects (I know many PhDs who only went that route because they weren't good enough developers to get good jobs straight out of undergrad).