I am finishing my Master in control systems in ETH this semester. I am a bit confused if doing PhD directly after the Master or go for a job. Probably lots of students came across such question before.
My average grade is quite high (around 5.75) so I guess getting PhD position wouldn't be so difficult (I have seen several interesting positions also in EPFL) but I am hesitated because PhD salary is around half of what I can get from a job. Moreover it doesn't have all benefits that I could have in a company (eg. overtime).
I would like to listen your opinions and if it is worthy to spend 3-4 years with low salary doing PhD.
I don't know how easy to get a job, but I have applied for some positions and I got polite rejections after couple of weeks.
Guess it depends if you want to work, or do research. I think if you do a PhD you need to be really passionate about research. I couldn't do it, my bachelors dissertation nearly killed me
Island Monkey is right. If you are passionate about research, want to contribute to the academic literature, and can withstand the long hours and the low salary, then try for the PhD. If you prefer a better salary and the demands of an industry job, then try for the job. But also note that with a PhD, you could find a better industry job tailored for someone with your expertise.
p.s: And check out these comic strips. These truly encapsulates the life of a PhD researcher
It makes sense to view the Phd as an investment. You will certainly make less while being a Phd student, but that is likely to be very different once you are done. Plus, you might qualify you for higher positions in the long-run.
It depends on what field you are in, but only few PhDs are still worth doing. A PhD is not a coveted degree anymore, tons of new PhD graduates are pumped into the system, and there are virtually no positions in academia.
As others said, a PhD prepares you for a life in research and academia, a miserable life I would argue. You have to publish or perish, stand low salaries, many years as a postdoc, and then (maybe) in your late 30s you can finally land a permanent position. Off course you can be so passionate about it, that you can stand all the negatives.
Just to put in some (sorely missing) positives of doing a PhD:
Of course, if you're motivated by money, then don't do a PhD. The hours are long and the pay is pretty terrible (and it's better as a postdoc, but not compared to an industry job).
However, if you want to have flexibility in your hours, work with interesting people who are also passionate about research and have a lot of autonomy in your daily work, then doing a PhD is a great idea.
Also, it's not a job. It's an education. It may not be a coveted degree, and there are a lot of bitter PhDs out there, but lots of us also think that our grad school time encompassed some of the most fun years of our lives and that we learned a lot during this time.
That being said, please think hard about where you want to go (and don't be afraid to leave Switzerland-it's a great opportunity to go abroad while paid for a limited period of time). Also, consider what you would like in an advisor-this decision (not necessarily the exact topic of your thesis) will be the single greatest factor in how happy you are during your PhD.
The job market is getting tougher -- as you've already experienced, even with a master's degree you'll find it difficult to land a good job. If you're still relatively young, I'd consider doing the PhD (but as someone else said, consider it an investment where you are very fortunate to be paid to study!), then applying for postdocs in industry, not in academic institutions. This is a great way to get into a company through the back door. It's much easier to secure a top job when the employer already knows you and your capabilities.
Bear in mind that more and more employers are.requiring PhDs for roles that a decade ago required only a university degree. Why? Because competition amongst candidates is fierce. You need to stand out.
PhDs are the new MBAs. Everybody seems to have one. That's why you need one too. (And an MBA ... but we'll get to that later ... )
Presumably the subject is control engineering, at least the Masters was on control systems. That's a swiss speciality, highly practical, and well paid, so I'd say a PhD is much less risky than in some other subjects.
I guess, assuming that you're good enough , that it will be relatively easy to get into industry after a PhD. ETH is world class in this area, which makes the option even more appealing. So, I'd say "Go for it!"
Check "Quadrocopter ball juggling" on Youtube, if you want to see just how good...
Are you non-EU? If so, the problem you're having finding a job may be that no-one want's to apply for a work visa for you. If you're suspecting that you may run into visa troubles, it's much easier to stay here if you're a PhD student; you're still on a student visa, but you're paid, typically. Also, it may be easier for companies to claim there are no other qualified candidates if you're a PhD.
Wow! A PhD program where you get paid?!? That's luxury! Wish I had had that.
Anyway, do you know what kind of position you want, eventually? Then look into the educational background of people who already hold such a position. Granted, the job market changes, but if they all have a PhD or if none of them do, things may become clearer.
Yes, I am non-EU. However after graduation from a Swiss University the work permit is not so difficult to get. The company doesn't have to proof that there is no any other EU that can fill the position.
That's what exactly I was thinking, I am still young (23 years old), and it is worthy to invest some years doing PhD. I am currently contacting professors to see the available positions. However my main objective is to join R&D department in industry, I don't see myself in academia as professor
I will repeat what others have said before me. Only do a Ph.D. if you really want to (for the research, the subject matter), and not for the perceived benefits of having done one.
Even shorter, European-style, Ph.D.s can be grueling. At some point, everyone hits a snag in their research and you need to love it enough and be tough enough mentally to withstand that time.
And, in some fields, it is actually a disadvantage to have a Ph.D. instead of a master's if you want to get a certain kind of industry job. I have no idea what your field is like.