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Job vs Phd

E

if you had a choice what would you choose? Phd full time (3 yrs) and part time work or Full time work and part time phd (6 yrs) ? nyone had this choice? and what did you do?

D

In this climate, if the job was a full-time permanent position that would get priority for me but only if the job was permanent and it was something I enjoyed.

C

I don't work part time but I chose full-time PhD. I did my MA part time while I worked full time and that was hard enough, so I didn't want to do the same with a PhD which would be a lot less structured.

I moved back with my parents and am pretty much financially poor, but I decided I didn't want part time work to be distracting me from getting the work done. I've got the option to pick up bits of work round the Uni now and then so that ticks me over.

It really depends on how you cope with focussing on one or more things at a time, whether the job is related to your PhD or not (either way has advantages and disadvantages), and what you want to do at the end of it.

E

the problem is this is a position i want .. i dont have any work experience and when i saw the ad for this position i applied and apperently im in a great chance of getting it. If i accept it id have to put my phd in part time although it is being financed i have to finish within 3 yrs otherwise i have to give back all the money i spent on my phd. currently im not sure if i wud b finished in 3 yrs. Im closing in my 1st yr and i feel so lost and at times unmotivated and helpless. im not sure if its just a phase or im really sucking at being a phd student. hence, this job offer its like wow i get to have wat i was looking for after i finished my MSc. and get paid without being financially poor.

im just confused :-(

Quote From ecas0002:

the problem is this is a position i want .. i dont have any work experience and when i saw the ad for this position i applied and apperently im in a great chance of getting it. If i accept it id have to put my phd in part time although it is being financed i have to finish within 3 yrs otherwise i have to give back all the money i spent on my phd. currently im not sure if i wud b finished in 3 yrs. Im closing in my 1st yr and i feel so lost and at times unmotivated and helpless. im not sure if its just a phase or im really sucking at being a phd student. hence, this job offer its like wow i get to have wat i was looking for after i finished my MSc. and get paid without being financially poor.

im just confused :-(


I think you've answered your own question. Go for the job.

I normally am not a fan of PhD plus work, however, if this is your dream job then don't let the chance slip by. The wow factor is certainly there in your post and you'll regret it if you don;t go for it now. If you can manage the PhD part time then do so, however, it sounds like the PhD isn't the most important thing to you.

That being the case, call it a day on the PhD and get that much needed works experience. You're only a year in and the debts incurred won't be that great (pay off with loan over a few years). If you feel ready to do a PhD a few years down the road, then revisit that option then. You'll then at least have some solid works experience and an employment history to fall back on.

R

I would agree that the job is the way to go. Easy to say now that I'm near the end of my PhD but I have been looking around for a while and already have been made feel that my PhD is a barrier to where I want to go. If you have managed to get a great job that you want without the PhD I would snap it up. Good luck with your decision.

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