Cathy,
Post by csdev[1] Other than research positions what other types of job profiles
are offered to entry level Ph.D.s in industries?
If a PhD isn't doing research, he or she is doing applied
CS, for example, developing proprietary software systems or
architectures for companies that need highly specialized
systems. They can develop specialized languages or
information technologies, or design programming tools,
knowledge-based systems, robots or even computer games. I
must say, though, a person with a master’s degree can
perform a lot of the work of a PhD.
The most respected authors and contributors to the computer
field, such as Grady Booch, one of the original developers
of Unified Modeling Language and the UML-based Rational Rose
development tools, don’t have PhDs, but do have Master’s.
I really don’t see many PhDs in my everyday work. In the 10
years I have been in the field, I have only come across one
PhD. But, the types of companies I contract for don’t need
PhDs. In my opinion, I believe that the CS field is still a
ways away from being mature and won’t really require many
PhDs, presently.
I only say this because I have worked in another field,
Mechanical Engineering (ME), where over 10 years ago, a
Master’s degree was becoming a standard. ME is a very mature
field and thus the job requirements have also matured.
Unlike CS, where you still (but is getting harder) can get
an entry-level job, without a degree, and still have a
fairly well paying and interesting job. You can’t do that in
the ME field.
Things are changing though. I see more and more job
requirements calling for four-year degrees, which was rare
only a few short years ago.
What I am getting at here is that you can find some really
rewarding and well paying jobs with a Master’s degree.
Again, in my opinion, unless you really know what you want
to do and the only way you can achieve it is by getting a
PhD, I would get a Master’s, work for a few years, then, if
I am unfulfilled, go for a PhD when I clearly see what it is
I want and where I can find it.
[2] What fields according to you are hot? What skills are
Post by csdevmost in demand?
Hot Fields:
software engineering, systems analysis, network
systems and data communications analysis
Hot Skills:
Web services, integration of Internet
technologies, electronic commerce, security, software
component development & integration
Does this help any? Hope so. Good luck.
Michael
--
Be more than an "everyday" programmer. Be a high paid contract programmer.
http://www.mwwcorp.com
"How to Study a Computer Science Book - the Hard-core way:
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Post by csdevHi Michael,
Thanks for your reply. It really gave me a different view of things.
[1] Other than research positions what other types of job profiles
are offered to entry level Ph.D.s in industries?
[2] What fields according to you are hot? What skills are
most in demand?
Thanks again for your input.
Regards,
Cathy.
Post by Michael NigohosianPost by csdevHi All,
I am really confused ..so please help me out. I am pursuing a Ph.D.
in Computer Science. According to this
(http://www.ics.uci.edu/~sumitg/essays/MSvsPhd.html) article, "PhD is
NOT only for people considering a career in academics or research
labs". What are my options besides going to research labs/academia?
Please help!!
Thanks,
Cathy.
Cathy,
PhDs are all over industry. The field is still maturing and
needs the type of skills a PhD has to offer.
You should go into a Doctorate program if you really love a
particular discipline and highly theoretical work, but NOT
simply for the money. There are a lot of ways to make good
money in CS. Case in point. I?ve been doing contract
programming for a number of years and have been making six
figures ever since I started.
PhDs work in the research departments of companies like IBM,
Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco and so on. It all depends on your
intellectual desires; the money will be there.
Even if you complete your PhD and later you decide you don?t
want the work geared for it, you?ll have the skills to do
many other things in the field, with a little training. I
mean you?ll need some training to go from doing research in
neural nets to designing robust, scalable, multiplatform,
distributed software that needs to be completed yesterday
and at half the budget necessary.
Starting a business, as in the article you referenced, is
very difficult, especially for highly technical people,
unless that business is a consulting business where you will
be doing the consulting. Don?t think starting a software
company, for example, is something that will be easy for a
PhD computer scientist. You?ll have to hire the business
people while you develop the software or technology.
A great option for you would be consulting. With consulting,
you can do the work you like AND get paid VERY BIG money,
with a PhD we?re talking $100/hr +, especially if your field
is hot. That?s what I would do ? or, basically, what I did.
I had started out in Mechanical Engineering and applied for
the Doctorate program, but soon on realized I didn?t want
all that. To make a long story short, I ended up with a
Masters in computer science and worked as a software
engineer/contract programmer (consultant) ever since.
Other things you can do include developing and licensing new
technologies and writing books based on your field of
expertise.
Remember, the higher your skill level, the higher your level
of enjoyment of your work and the greater autonomy you?ll have.
Does this help any?
Good luck.
Sincerely,
Michael Nigohosian,
"The Secret Path to Contract Programming Riches"
--
Be more than an "everyday" programmer.
http://www.mwwcorp.com
"How to Study a Computer Science Book - the Hard-core way:
http://www.mwwcorp.com/cgi-bin/getpage/getpage.cgi?link=www.mwwcorp.com/tutorials/studyskills/reg_studyskills.shtml&page=tutude