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

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?"

Comments

nuclear planner plant

[vt0asta]

"yeah, I didn't even know what a nuclear planner plant was." - Homer

Re:Degrees?

[notcreative]

HOMER: I didn't even know what a nukular pannerplant was!

One of my favorite Zen phrases...

[gosand]

what about the guy that has his Associates Degree and has been coding for over 10 years?

I can't remember right now who said it, but I love this phrase. It is great when referring to lots of things, from coding to martial arts:

Ten years of learning is not the same as one year of learning repeated ten times.

Think about that, and remember it. Just because someone has been a coder for 10 years doesn't mean they have gotten any better. Just like someone shouldn't hire anyone on education alone, neither should you on coding experience. Just because they were employed and coding for 10 years doesn't mean squat by itself. Lots of places keep people around because it is easier than firing them. I have seen it first hand.

You are better off looking at the combination of things equally instead of prioritizing them. Education DOES matter. If someone has been coding for 10 years but they can't spell or write correct sentences, what are you going to do when they have to give a solution presentation to a group of people? On the other hand, if they have PhD but they can't interact or get along with other people at all, you don't want them on a team of coders working closely together. There are a lot of factors to consider when hiring someone, don't focus on one in particular, unless you are fitting a very specialized position.