What comes after doctoral study

if it's not teaching?

https://www.chronicle.com/specialreport/From-Doctoral-Study-to-/206

 

For science, I've seen many jobs in research; a lot don't pay well considering that they require a doctorate.

Many PhDs are researchers for think tanks, and having a PhD can qualify you for a GS-11 job with the federal government. If you have a health or science-related degree, USPHS occasionally has openings for scientists. With BAH and subsistence pay, you can make quite a bit.

 

Retirement!

 

...Food stamps?

https://www.npr.org/2012/05/15/152751116/why-so-many-ph-d-s-are-on-food-stamps
https://www.chronicle.com/article/From-Graduate-School-to/131795
http://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2012/05/09/phds_on_food_stamps



...and a few more.

 

Sure, why not?

(To the tune of "O Tannenbaum")

"The working class can kiss my a**,
I've got my Ph.D. at last."

 

My goal is to have the completion of my doctorate with the start of my Canadian pension plan. However, plans never go as planned. I now moved from the high arctic to the lower arctic in the Yukon (below the arctic circle). I can see Fairbanks from my backyard (not really) but it is due west. I now have a garden so I am ahead of my retirement plans.

 

One of my goals is to hold the record for collecting Canada Pension payments. I started at 61* and have been collecting it for 14 years now. I'm hoping to collect until I'm 140 - when I will be even with the Federal Government. I am fortunate that I have managed to save quite a bit of it. It's OK to be old - and OK to be poor - but not both together. I realize it's just me, but I will not be spending money on a Doctorate. I have ambitions - including learning ambitions - but a Doctorate is not one of them. I'll remain a Mr. - and a mystery - till I die, I guess.

* As Phdtobe doubtless knows, Canada Pension (mandatory pay-through-work) can be started at 60 or any age thereafter up to 70. What you get depends on what you put in (to a maximum) and how soon / late you start collecting. I elected to start Canada Pension at 61. An accountant told me that although you get higher payments, it takes years to catch up if you wait. Federal Old Age Pension is separate. It starts at 65 (being raised to 67?) and not before. I've had that for 10 years, so far. Hoping for 65 more!

 

Or is that perhaps "a Mr. - and a misery?" (Semi)-seriously, perhaps I'd rather spend it on an Alfa Romeo 4C Spider and entertaining a girlfriend who's an Eva Longoria look-alike. Don't have the car or the girlfriend right now - but you never can tell!

 

You had a smart accountant. I will also be going early for my pension if that time ever comes. I have done well over the years but had too many small private pensions. But that was the trade-off for having a very mobile work life. I would not change that for anything. Anyway, I am wishing that something highter than working for a living will be in my future.

 

Yes. Very smart indeed. He's a now-retired CGA - exactly my age. He's also my younger son's father-in-law. And as I see it, anything is higher than working for a living! I had work I mostly hated for about 30 years, then retired at 50, hoping the money would last till I was 65. Inflation - it only lasted until I was nearly 64. So, I got a job for a year or so (who says they're hard to get?) and quit as soon as Old Age pension started at 65. For a guy who was broke at 64, I'm recovering quite nicely, now.

I recommend not working. As long as you can eat, I think it's good for health. For sanity - not so much, but still a bit better than work.

 

After a doctoral degree, you may study further or a postdoctoral research.

 

Start studying a different subject. Or two.

 

Ouch! I was going to say "celebrate" but I'll amend it and instead say "Baby Step 1."

 

Getting a job that you actually enjoy? I thought the purpose of spending so much time and money on an education was so you can work in the field that interests you?

 

Well, that's the theory. Now, the hard part. You're all set -- where's the job?

 

PhDs from a reputable school can make you competitive enough for consulting careers at places like KPMG, PWC, Deloitte, EY among others. It doesn't matter the field you are in, if you are smart you can get a consulting gig.

Adjunct teaching can be good as extra money but not something that I advise for a full time career given the low pay and little job security.

Tenure track positions are very competitive and you have little time after graduation to get one. Normally, you have about 5 years after graduation to get one, after this most schools would prefer more recent graduates over someone with an old PhD.

Some also open their own firms and do things from tutoring, coaching to math modeling.
There is no reason to be on food stamps, if you earned a PhD you should be creative and motivated enough to do something with this.

 

I think that if I had a newly minted PhD I'd be playing with the idea of writing a book.

 

Good thought but writing books is normally not very lucrative. For an academic career, it is better to publish articles in peer reviewed journals as this qualifies you to teach graduate classes at more research based institutions. Book writing can be good if you are more interested in a public speaking or coaching career. With so many self publishing options, it is becoming less impressive to see people with published books as many just self publish.

 

You're probably right but money is not the only motivator. As for an academic career, the entire article is about "what if I don't teach?"