General > General Technical Chat
Doctoral studies - perspective
<< < (5/7) > >>
HighVoltage:
One of my nephews just got his PhD in physics and had high hopes for a good job and good pay, here in Europe.

He finally got a job....

The company who hired him, had applied for EU money grants but one requirement to get the grant was to have a full time PhD on staff. He is getting paid as much as he got before on his Masters degree. But instead of working in the field of physics, his main job is now to fill out forms and sign them with his title.
SiliconWizard:
Yes, there are numerous programs, especially in Europe, to fund "highly-qualified" staff with various public grants, so private companies can pay very little for someone with a PhD. So they'll hire you not just because you are highly qualified, but because you will cost them little while they'll be able to show off your title.

To add to what jeremy said, apart from academia or very specific jobs, and the point just above, having a PhD will also help to get access to the higher spheres of R&D management, especially in large corporations.
coppice:

--- Quote from: SiliconWizard on June 27, 2022, 07:17:27 pm ---To add to what jeremy said, apart from academia or very specific jobs, and the point just above, having a PhD will also help to get access to the higher spheres of R&D management, especially in large corporations.

--- End quote ---
It can work both ways. The man who was in line to become the head of an R&D lab in the UK some years ago had only ever worked in R&D roles. The charter of the lab called for its head to be someone with solid project management experience, so they had to find him a substantial project team and project for him to run for a couple of years, so he could fulfil that criterion. A task he was poorly prepared for, and for which he seemed to get a lot of assistance and mentoring.
ebastler:

--- Quote from: HighVoltage on June 27, 2022, 03:22:07 pm ---One of my nephews just got his PhD in physics and had high hopes for a good job and good pay, here in Europe.

He finally got a job....

The company who hired him, had applied for EU money grants but one requirement to get the grant was to have a full time PhD on staff. He is getting paid as much as he got before on his Masters degree. But instead of working in the field of physics, his main job is now to fill out forms and sign them with his title.

--- End quote ---

While I have no reason to doubt your specific story, it is anecdotal evidence at best -- and an anecdote which decidedly lacks colour too...

What field of physics did your nephew specialize in? Which type of companies and jobs did he apply for? In which countries; was a language barrier getting in the way? What experience does he bring beyond his university courses and thesis work -- stays abroad, industry work experience, technical hobbies?  Does he communicate well and get along with others? etc.

If your story was meant to imply "don't bother with a PhD, it's worthless", then I wholeheartedly object.
HighVoltage:

--- Quote from: ebastler on June 28, 2022, 11:33:16 am ---
If your story was meant to imply "don't bother with a PhD, it's worthless", then I wholeheartedly object.

--- End quote ---

Definitely was not meant like that at all.
It just happened like that a few weeks ago and was meant as awareness of what is out there. It is just one example of what can happen to a highly educated graduate.




Navigation
Message Index
Next page
Previous page
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...

Go to full version
Powered by SMFPacks Advanced Attachments Uploader Mod