======= Date Modified 16 Dec 2010 17:24:02 =======
Hi, I was recently offered a chance to take a PhD by one of my MSc tutors. To cut a long story short our funding application was accepted and I'm due to start my Health Economics PhD in April. However, my current employer is now tempting me with possible promotions etc in the near future. The PhD will be a pay-cut, but it will allow me to specialise and hopefully earn more money in the future. I enjoy my current job, but I want to be able to provide for my family in the long-run, so I want to make the right decision about moving on or moving up. Any suggestions or advice? Please see below for a more detailed explanation of my situation-

I'm 24, I graduated with a 2.1 in Psychology, I then trained as a Pharmacy Technician to get NHS/healthcare experience. After qualifying I took a job as a Band 5 (£22000) Research Officer for an NHS/government organisation that provides free support to commercial/academic healthcare research projects. Within this role I was funded to undertake an MSc in Public Health/Health Promotion. During this course I took 2 Health Economics modules and also worked for my tutor as a Research Officer. My grades were very good and thus my tutor decided to approach me regarding the PhD. I am currently half way through my MSc (part-time), which is now on hiatus while I make a decision on the PhD.

Pros to staying where I currently work-
Complete MSc
Possible promotion
Incremental pay increase
More money
More stability
Possible PhD in the future

Cons to staying where I currently work-
Boredom
False promises of promotion
Frustration at working on other researchers work
Less room for development in the future
No speciality

I have a passion for Health Economics and can see my self in this field in the long-run, I also would like to specialise my skills as I am currently fairly generic in my skill set. I do enjoy my current job but I would like to have more control and more prospects. on the other hand, I'm married and have a mortgage and thus I need to be able to provide for my family. The £14000 PhD bursary will be a pay cut, but not enough to have a drastic impact on our lifestyle. I want to take the PhD if it offers me a better future, with more prospects and of course a higher salary. I also want to do it to specialise my skills and capitalise on a field that I enjoy and excel at. My question is how do you make a decision on which path to take, and how do you know what the right decision is? I know everyone must eventually reach such a decision on their own, but any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Sorry for rambling!

Hi

I think that PhD is a good investment of time and efforts. If you look at just monetary perspective then its not worth doing a PhD. But do remember that any high profile job will ask for research and Publications etc etc and PhD will give you that added advantage. Also it comes down to your personal life, if you have family or committment then you have to effectively choose between extra funds to take home or nominal funds but the exposure you get for yourself. I think a PhD is often a bit selfish but its a selfishness which we need and our loved ones would just have to deal with. I mean for example for my family they'd rather be happy seeing me in a permanent 9-5 job than to find me burning the night lamp and stressed out. But, I have been hunting for a PhD since a couple of months now and I am sure thats what I want to do even if it means that I'd have to be a bit selfish or wake up early morning and go to bed late nights. (which i normally do anyway ;P)

BTW Health Economics is an existing but also upcoming field. I know this because my field is Health systems/Public Health and Health technology Assessment (HTA). So, I know something about the field you are in. I can already tell you that you have achieved a lot in this field. It requires brain to do modelling and cost-effectiveness etc etc and you have managed to master all that. I mean I could personally never do well in it cos I dont have a math brain. So, you have to do something for yourself like a PhD. Once you get that under your belt, you can apply for a wide range of jobs in the HTA agencies, NHS, Pharma or wherever and your CV would be much more credible.

Hope this helps!

Good luck

Hello

I just started my PhD around 3 months ago and am also 24. I had been working for 2 years (whilst doing my MSc part time). I was in a similar situation. I was given notions of being able to move up at work (but no definite how and when and nothing set in stone). Starting a PhD meant moving away from my family and bf and getting used to a whole other country (although not a pay cut in actual terms, due to different standards of living in the countries it means much more money going out). I liked my job, but it got a bit boring after some time...although really interesting it does get boring a bit since I did not get to explore what I wanted to explore, just the company's issues and how to solve them in the immediate future.

I think that doing a Phd for the money is not the actual way to go. If you want money better to stay at work (I was in a junior management position at work, so it was quite stressful, but not as all consuming as a PhD, where the project is yours and you are constantly thinking about it). However certainly do a PhD if you like the area of research, you actually like doing research and you are interested in learning more about the subject.

I do not know if the PhD will end up giving me a better job at the end (but I certainly hope and believe it will do), As you say, the decision is ultimately yours. I kept having doubts until I caught the plane, with wanting to quit before even coming out. But till now I am still enjoying it (maybe cos I am still in the honeymoon period, but would like to believe I will be like those people writing in the thread a little way back about enjoying their PhD).

It is your decision but I am sure you will do the best one. Whatever you decide stick with it and work hard at it :). You will be a success whatever path you choose.

Thanks very much for both of your insight. I appreciate that this is a major choice that I have to make and thus I need to review both options thoroughly. My gut feeling is that if I turn it down I may live to regret passing-up such a brilliant opportunity, and I will only strengthen my employability with a PhD. Of course, I could be promoted in my job, but I'm aware that this could be 2 or 3 years away and with a ceiling salary matching that of initial post-doc employment. Also, if I turn the PhD down it may have major ramifications on my reputation within the University, and thus may hinder my chances of securing another PhD.

Writing this is demonstrating that I keep focusing on the negatives of not taking the PhD, which is telling me something about what I really want to do. I think I do know what I want but I'm naturally getting cold feet as it's such a big change.

Thanks again for the advice, and good luck to you both in your future studies!

Hey

I think you know what you want to do, but you are finding it difficult to say a yes or no (I know it happens to all of us I guess). Maybe talk to some people who know you closely who can give you insight on your particular situation.

Good luck with whatever your choice