Looking for career advice - PhD or job?

[TW]Fox;18895963 said:
Don't forget its tax free - so it's like earning what, 16-17k a year before tax?
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Personally I'd not want to be earning that in 4 years after enduring tons of stress doing a phd. I'd rather have a solid career with a nice house and car than a phd.
 
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Nitefly said:
I then learned that if I took a PhD it would most likely be spending 4 years rearching one receptor on one protein out of a hundred that is produced in one stage of a life cycle of a fungus that nobody cares about and has no use.
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That sounds awesome! I really hope I get a PhD place doing something that interesting.

(not being sarcastic)
 
As above depends on what you do in your PhD, you could be looking at a full time job at the end or starting your own company off with patents, etc... Also PhD isn't just to get into academia, there are very well paid jobs out there that require a PhD.
 
I still haven't made a proper decision but then as it stands I haven't had an official job offer to compare to. The sustainability is so important though very soon - It will be huge in manufacturing as we have no choice (in other subject areas it will be this could or should be big and the subject may never take off into industry).
 
meghatronic said:
No council tax + student discounts + student accounts/overdrafts etc. + freshers makes it a good deal :)
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Council tax is only ~£1k per year, not £10k. So it's still far below average wage, the hourly rate is further reduced when you consider it's not going to just be 9-5 but something that consumes enormous amounts of time.
 
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Do the phd. By the time it has finished the economy will have picked up. You will also find it a lot easier to emigrate/ find work abroad if that is of interest to you.
 
I have now been offered a position. £25500 with repayment of the course fees. They said something about negotiation as the salary is the standard graduate one.
Not a clue how to negotiate without sounding cocky or rude!
 
Nitefly said:
Blergh, PhD :p

The thought of doing a PhD couldn't be less appealing to me. Essentially, you will be paid pittance to research something that anyone else could spend four years investigating. It's unlikely to be life changing. Furthermore, anyone else can use your knowledge in a practical sense after you have completed it.

The whole 'change the world' philosphy is a massive farce most of the time. When I studied biology I wanted to cure cancer. I then learned that if I took a PhD it would most likely be spending 4 years rearching one receptor on one protein out of a hundred that is produced in one stage of a life cycle of a fungus that nobody cares about and has no use.

Do you really want to spend four years of you life doing that? Really? Really really really?

Unless there are other factors influencing you and you are 100% sure it makes sense, avoid like the plague!
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Surely the whole point of researching it is to find that out? :D

Also, cross-thread mating with the random image thread, i think this is appropriate:

comic2560.png

(Credits to MikeHunt for finding it)

Anyway, if it was me i'd take the PhD, but if you don't think you'll enjoy it then there's no point really.
 
mglover070588 said:
I have now been offered a position. £25500 with repayment of the course fees. They said something about negotiation as the salary is the standard graduate one.
Not a clue how to negotiate without sounding cocky or rude!
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Surely that's very attractive?

In four years your salary will be hopefully higher, course fees refunded (less debt), you will have some savings and 4 years experience.

vs

A PhD with a relatively poo wage for 4 years, no work experience and no guaranteed job.

Has to be the job, come on!

Re: negotiation, start off higher than you want to get. If you fancy £27k, go for £29k, or similar.
 
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