Hello... I have also been suffering from a dilemma for the last one month. After clearing first Semester course work of my phd, i was offered a job with good salary and i decided to start the job. I took leave from my supervisor and school for one semester and started the job, I have yet not informed my supervisor and my school about the job, but now i am confused whether starting the job was the right step or not. My supervisor is very kind and helpful. He has supported me throughout the semester and once told me he would make sure i finish my phd in four years. I can still quit my job and join the school, but i am getting mixed advice rom different people. Some are saying it is hard to find a kind supervisor and a good research team, i should finish this phd and then find the job, while some are encouraging me to stay in job ,as phd is a long and hard journey. I think it is sometimes very difficult to choose between two options, as the results come with time.

Hi athar, you sound very torn between the two options. As others have told you ,doing a PhD is difficult and demoralising but that shouldn't stop you from doing it. I always think you should do a PhD if actually enjoy the work/project or research. If you enjoy the research the long hours, awful pay and mental anguish can sometimes be worth it because you like the underlying project. I feel that you should only do a PhD because you want to do the work and if you heart isn't in it now, it is going to be a tough 3 years. I am not going to say either way but if you do chose the PhD, make sure that you are doing it for the right reasons and not because you think that you should.