Want to go for PhD - Never found job
Quote From HazyJane:
Age is not a barrier. Lack of experience may be, but can be rectified. TreeofLife's suggestion of doing an MSc is a good one. For one thing it would help you make connections and get your foot back in the door. For another it would help you get up to speed. Even 5 years is a long time in biosciences in terms of what changes, and bear in mind you will be competing with fresh graduates for PhD places.
You should, however, do some homework as to the likelihood of getting a job at the other end of a PhD. There is a shortage of postdoc jobs compared to the number of PhD graduates, and even fewer opportunities further on from that. It might be advisable to do an MSc in something where there is likely to be growing demand in the future such as bioinformatics etc. So although a PhD may pass the time, there is no guarantee it would improve your employment prospects. In some cases, an MSc alone may actually be a better bet.
Age is not a barrier. Lack of experience may be, but can be rectified. TreeofLife's suggestion of doing an MSc is a good one. For one thing it would help you make connections and get your foot back in the door. For another it would help you get up to speed. Even 5 years is a long time in biosciences in terms of what changes, and bear in mind you will be competing with fresh graduates for PhD places.
You should, however, do some homework as to the likelihood of getting a job at the other end of a PhD. There is a shortage of postdoc jobs compared to the number of PhD graduates, and even fewer opportunities further on from that. It might be advisable to do an MSc in something where there is likely to be growing demand in the future such as bioinformatics etc. So although a PhD may pass the time, there is no guarantee it would improve your employment prospects. In some cases, an MSc alone may actually be a better bet.
To add, I was told a good technical MSc was probably better for a real world job than a PhD. A PhD is another three years in Uni. and as I have found out, having "Uni., Uni. Uni." screaming at a potential employer from your CV can be off putting. I was seen as either too academic or likely to be off as soon as something better came along, resulting in me being unemployed for nearly a year after completing a PhD and two post-docs.
If you are considering an academic path then a PhD may be of more value. If you are considering a real world path, then be very sure how you may be perceived in your chosen field after graduation after completing either an MSc or PhD. If applying for a non-academic job, you may need to say move education to the second page with works experience on the first page if possible.
Ian (Mackem_Beefy)
