Had lunch with a friend today, and he's thinking of going back to school for a PhD. It sounded like a completely insane idea, given that he already has an MBA and is an engineer by profession. He has no interest in academia, insisting that he just wants to get a doctorate for fun, and is planning to go back to work for a corporation once he's done. I tried to be polite, but I'm wondering if this guy sounds as insane to you as he does to me? Would this credential provide any benefit to him whatsoever?
Getting a PhD
- Thread starter Closer68
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Your friend sounds a lot like me. I went back to university in my early forties for my PhD. I had no illusions of this being of any benefit to me in the world of business, and that is almost how it worked out. I work for a multinational with the head office in Europe. There seems to be quite a cachet to the honorific part of a PhD when I am (rarely) over there, but here in the Canadian operation not really. In my business life I attach no great importance to it at all. I did this purely for myself and in that respect it meant a lot to me. When I retire I am thinking of studying for a degree in a totally unrelated field, but not taking it to Phd level. I have not met anyone else that left a business career to do this, so good for your friend if it is important to him.
Interesting. How do PhD programs work in Canada? In the States, it takes 3-5 years and they typically pay a small stipend while you teach undergrad classes. Same deal in Canada?
Sounds like my ex.
She was a P.Eng, Phd, and a MBA. She seemed to think that it would lead to career greatness. While no doubt it helped, it was not a ticket and her personality of being a dictator and thinking that she was so much smarter than everyone else got her fired from numerous jobs - multi-degrees or not.
I know in my field - it's all about what you can do with your degree. You can be a Phd and still not have a clue as to the reality of the business world or how things actually go together in order to get it done and, therefore, you don't succeed. I have worked with a couple of Eastern European Phds that I'm thinking about and they figured once we landed a job, if it went over budget it was simply a case of "c'est la vie", that somehow worrying about money was beneath them.
From what I have seen, in my field, to be successful you need to be able to:
1. Bring in work
2. Know how to manage clients in order to keep the budget in the black
3. Know how to manage those who work for you.
In that order.
Just being good at production? That's what we pay you for.
She was a P.Eng, Phd, and a MBA. She seemed to think that it would lead to career greatness. While no doubt it helped, it was not a ticket and her personality of being a dictator and thinking that she was so much smarter than everyone else got her fired from numerous jobs - multi-degrees or not.
I know in my field - it's all about what you can do with your degree. You can be a Phd and still not have a clue as to the reality of the business world or how things actually go together in order to get it done and, therefore, you don't succeed. I have worked with a couple of Eastern European Phds that I'm thinking about and they figured once we landed a job, if it went over budget it was simply a case of "c'est la vie", that somehow worrying about money was beneath them.
From what I have seen, in my field, to be successful you need to be able to:
1. Bring in work
2. Know how to manage clients in order to keep the budget in the black
3. Know how to manage those who work for you.
In that order.
Just being good at production? That's what we pay you for.
My boss has an MBA from an American Ivy League University (went there on a hockey scholarship). He said his best education was learned on the mean streets of Parkdale where he grew up.
I think escorts also get an education from meeting so many clients. They quickly learned who are the bullshitters and who are the real deal. An invaluable skill in the business world.
Closer, obtained mine in the US. It was the third of four times when I have lived in the US.
Enormous impact in most of the world, not so much in Canada. In US more impact than Canada, less than Europe or Asia
In Europe "Doctor so and so" or even better "Professor so and so" even gets you a reservation in a crowded restaurant. And the title is almost always used.
In Europe "Doctor so and so" or even better "Professor so and so" even gets you a reservation in a crowded restaurant. And the title is almost always used.
This is so unfair, what about those folks who can't or won't produce because --- and/or---and/or---and/or, etc., etc.? Shouldn't companies have an affirmative action program for those who won't or can't? Don't employers have a social and moral obligation to take care of those who can't or won't? (Damn, where is the sarcastic smilie.)
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