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Ph.Ds in IT - Good or Bad for a Career?

Posted by Cliff on from the is-the-extra-education-worth-it dept.

LordNimon asks: "I'm thinking about getting my Ph.D. (I currently have a Master's) in computer engineering. I've heard all sorts of stories about Ph.Ds being less likely to find a job than their less-educated counterparts, but not a lot of credible evidence. So, I was hoping to hear from Slashdot readers on their experience. Do you think getting a Ph.D. in CompSci or CompEng will improve or worsen my career outlook in the industry? Has anyone witnessed someone being turned down for a job because he had too much education? If you're a hiring manager, what is your opinion on someone who has a Ph.D. and is otherwise already qualified for the position?"

12 of 781 comments (clear)

  1. Degrees? by Nick+of+NSTime · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Carl and I have our Master's, but Homer just showed up when the plant opened."

    1. Re:Degrees? by BigGerman · · Score: 2, Funny

      Don't forget his secret to managerial success -
      "Donuts and possibility of more donuts to come!"

    2. Re:Degrees? by proverbialcow · · Score: 2, Funny

      "Carl and I have our Master's, but Homer just showed up when the plant opened."

      "I didn't even know what a nuclear panner plant was."

      --
      The only surefire protection against Microsoft infections is abstinence. - The Onion
    3. Re:Degrees? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Associates degrees, or at most, bachelor's degrees are for job-related fields.

      You can always spot the DeVry graduates....

    4. Re:Degrees? by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 3, Funny

      O.K., so You're a PhD. Just don't touch anything.

      --
      "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
      Never been known to fail..."
  2. More important by Henry+V+.009 · · Score: 1, Funny

    More important than a Ph.D. is excellent karma on slashdot.

  3. Re:Too much is better than too little by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    "Do you want fries with that?"

  4. [OT] Old Joke by 4of12 · · Score: 4, Funny


    "So you know what B.S. is?"

    "Yeah."

    "Well, M.S. is More of the Same, and PhD is Piled Higher and Deeper."

    --
    "Provided by the management for your protection."
  5. Re:Phd problems by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I would bet that you don't have a PhD because if you did you would know that a "run-on sentence" such as yours makes it extremely difficult to determine what you are really talking about although I'm sure there are some people out there who are successful at making "run-on sentences" understandable, this is something that should be avoided if you want people to understand your thesis.

  6. My experience by slyckshoes · · Score: 3, Funny

    I have found that having a Bachelor's degree in CS was enough to get me mod points on Slashdot. I don't know if you'd get more points with a PhD, the FAQ doesn't seem to address this. Perhaps you could email CowboyNeal.

    Oh, you want a *real* job? ...

  7. Re:Too much is better than too little by heneon · · Score: 5, Funny
    A BS and 5 years' experience will take you farther than a PhD and no experience.

    Yeah and from my experience, 1 year of experience and 5 years of BS doesnt take you very far :P

  8. Re:I've waited seven years for my PhD to matter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Remember, this was 1998 when someone with a 2.0 GPA could get hired as a network admin.

    Now the 2.0 crowd has to fall back on being President of the United States.