Jobs for PhD dropout in chemistry?

[tomyum]

Hello all,

 

I was a PhD student in a highly ranked institution (top 5). Since i was in a such a prestigious program, it was very hard for me to quit despite hating every day of my life at grad school. But finally I have made my mind and want to take a masters and leave. The thing that discouraged me from getting a PhD in physical chemistry was that most people who were graduating from my lab and other labs at my school were doing post-docs after post-docs to support themselves or getting really shitty jobs in industry. It does not seem like getting a PhD will advance my career in any way. My friends who I did undergrad with are earning much more money and have better job options than those that are graduating with a PhD. 

 

Money is not super importnat to me, but after all that hard work and sacrifice, I feel that I deserve better. I did chemistry and math as an undergraduate. I regret that I did not continue with my math career and went into some job that paid better. Has anyone made a transition form a science career to business or consulting or any job that pays well? If so, can you please give me some tips.

 

 

[groverj3]

I haven't done this. However, if your technical skills in the lab are good you can probably get a job just fine. You might actually have more options than someone with a PhD. You'll definitely have more options and better advancement than someone with a B.S. Most industry jobs say something along the lines of "MS with x years experience" "PhD with y years experience." You're going to have to look hard, but that's because the science job market sucks right now for everyone.

 

You just need to spin your leaving early in a positive way. "I was spending most of my time teaching and working on theoretical problems, rather than doing anything with practical applications" etc.

 

I work at a CRO (avoid contract research organizations if possible) and lots of management and scientist level people are MS-educated. They're a lot less concerned with whether you have a PhD in industry.

[St Andrews Lynx]

Looking at management figures in the American pharma company where I completed an internship, most of them entered the company as research scientists with an M.S or B.S. They then moved into support/management roles, often gaining business qualifications along the way.

 

I'd go as far as to say that it's easier to do that as an M.S. than a PhD (those with PhD & postdoc qualifications are almost expected to stick with research...) 

[groverj3]

Yeah, people with M.S.s usually do ok in industry. If you're fine with moving out of the lab eventually and into something management-related you might even end up managing several people with PhDs. I've seen it happen many times.

[Motylek]

Hi Tomyum, I tent to agree with you; after my Phd I went to healthcare consultancy and noticed that a PhD did not give me a heads up- they even recruited a BSc on my position! At the same time people who started 3 years ago (when I started my Phd) were now in senior roles which added to my frustration.

 

Job in consulting is very interesting, challenging and it pays well. I did a little bit of search, this website gives you a good idea how a typical day and salary looks like: www.aftermyphd.com  It also gives you ideas of alternative career options for PhD graduates. Hope this helps, let me know if you need further advice on consulting.

[tomyum]

Hello everyone! Thank you for your suggestions. I dropped out of my Phd program in May and since then I had not logged into grad cafe, so I just saw the posts. I left grad school and now I work as a computer programmer. I am so glad that I made the move. The work hours are manageable and I have time to pursue my other hobbies. The increase in salary has been drastic and my quality of life has been splendid. Going to grad school was the stupidest decision I have ever made in my life.