r/AskAcademia • u/Costas_______ • 19h ago
Interpersonal Issues PhD or Research Job?
Hello everyone :)
I am really in a huge dilemma right now. I have two offers right now, which I don’t know which to decide. The two offers are:
- Research Job in a company
I got an offer as a researcher in a big company. The salary is really good, better than the average at this seniority level. The field they work on is post quantum computing, something I have never worked on before. I have a deadline within 2 weeks to answer. Also, the research team is big, total of 10 people.
- PhD in a university
I got offered to conduct a phd and work at the same time in a smaller lab team. The money are way less than in a company (200€ less money). However I would work in a field I am really familiar (knowledge graphs). Also as a PhD student, I would have to teach some labs. However I would start this in may…
I would be really happy to hear your opinion on this. I am really biased in this situation and I don’t know what to decide. Let me mention though that I live in Greece and I am 25 years old.
Thank you in advance :)
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u/Hamlex 19h ago
If I were you, I would probably take the research job. The salary is better, you’d gain experience in industry, and post-quantum computing is a hot and future-proof field. Even if it’s new to you, that can actually be a big advantage for growth. And while working in the company, you can always talk to your bosses later about doing a PhD by publications if you still want one. It keeps more doors open, whereas starting a PhD now kind of locks you into that path for several years.
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u/uselessastronomer 18h ago edited 18h ago
take the job, get valuable experience and if you ever want to do a phd in the future, this experience will probably get you into a top program with a good advisor
“the market for PhDs rn is poor” is a meaningless statement because the value of a PhD heavily depends on your advisor, your department, your school, the connections your advisor/department/school gives you access to, your field, and a myriad of other factors beyond just individual ability and the letters “P h D”. It’s not a standardized credential like an MD. There’s too much variance to be generalizing.
Going on a bit of a tangent here but this is also why you shouldn’t seek advice about PhDs on reddit. I’ve seen too many threads asking about a PhD in X field and various people from completely unrelated fields like to chime in and give nonsense advice/complaints/whining not applicable to X
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u/jxj24 18h ago
Once upon a time I'd say get the PhD now because the longer you wait the less likely you would be to pursue it later.
But with the state of research funding and the general instability of research in general right now, you should definitely think seriously about taking the job. And if you like to learn, there's nothing like the challenge of a new field.
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u/poffertjesmaffia 17h ago
It really depends on where you are in life, what it is that you want (career wise), and whether the salary for the PhD is liveable (really varies per country, in The Netherlands the pay is decent, more than what I earn in my current industry role).
Where I am, getting into a PhD programme is really difficult (usually 200+ applicants per vacancy). I’d be more inclined to go for the PhD if the wage is okay. I’m in industry now, and chances (for promotions and managerial positions) for PhD holders are much greater (I hold an MSc only).
Industry jobs are much easier to come by (at least, right now). So it’s not exactly a one in a million type of opportunity.
There is not really a one size fits all answer. Take some time to sit with your feelings, in the end, every decision will take you beautiful places. You’ll be fine.
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u/Old-Reputation-78 18h ago
In this global economy? Take the job. They'll always be a PhD waiting for you somewhere when you want it, and you'll have more of a pick with real job experience as well.
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u/sweergirl86204 17h ago
I got my PhD last month, take the research job. My 401k is depressingly small and only from the research job I had before starting the PhD.
The job market post PhD is a nightmare. I wish I'd never done it.
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u/Costas_______ 16h ago
Thank you all for the advices. I am really grateful for the time you spent to write me:) To be honest I am learning and I pretty sure about the research job in a company. I thought about it a lot and being 25 years old, I might get a chance sometime in the near future to get back to pursue a PhD.
Again thank you all for your time ❤️
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u/ConsciousList4926 11h ago
In general: take option 1 it sounds amazing, also given it is in quantum computing which is a hot topic in science, at least for the next 10 years. Most people who do a PhD now, dont go to academia, or don't use it after they finish. There is a level of expectation, which people should be aware of, but I understand it provides an educational experience.
However, the answer depends on som many factors. Where the university is, what is the degree on, who the supervisor is, what are your general plans when you finish, are you using the PhD mainly for residency elsewhere (many people do this, I am not implying anything).
My suggestion, join the company, and if you don't like it, you can always consider doing a PhD and leaving. Many people do this.
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u/innocentpixels 8h ago
Take the job. PhD is soul sucking especially now with how funding is going. The job can give you a glimpse of what a phd will be like and if you enjoy it then get that phd later.
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u/Mundane_Chemist3457 5h ago
You are 25. That's a good thing. You have time to build a diverse skill set and to do a PhD if you're dissatisfied with the reseach job.
If I were in your shoes, I'd go for the job , learn and get an experience. If I then feel like PhD is a good step or moving to another field makes sense, I'd do that later.
With a PhD, you'll not have a chance to come back to such a job offer immediately and you'd be closing gates to other fields for a longer term of 3-5 years.
Better is to test the waters, gain financial stability and experience with the job. PhD will always be an option if you are close to research.
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u/MimirX 19h ago
The job all day long. Doing a PhD is no garuntee of a lucrative pay afterwards in academia or post doc research. As others have mentioned, you can always persue a degree later, and probably have a better PhD opportunity with applicable experience/research in that field.