Ask HN: Continue in Industry or Go Back to Academia

2 points by KingKunta 5 years ago | 9 comments

I have a Software Engineering Bachelor's degree, I was lucky enough to get an internship position at a not-so-big-but-well-paying tech company (AI) and over time I have come to love what I do.

4 months later, they seem to like me and are giving me a fulltime offer.

I initially wanted to go to grad school (MSc) but I am not sure if I should anymore, given the pandemic and what's happening in the world right now.

Should I continue to build my skills at this company or go to grad school.

Would not having a Masters/PhD hinder my career growth somewhere? Should I stay for the money?

brsg 5 years ago |

Speaking anecdotally, going back to school for an MSc allowed me to pivot from an engineering career in the transportation industry to the data/software field. It would've been more difficult to get interviews for entry level roles without the shiny new degree from a school that was - quite frankly - more prestigious than my undergrad, however I can't say for sure that it's benefited me materially beyond that initial "start". Experience is much more important once you're in the field you want.

I also continued working full-time while pursuing the degree half-time, which alleviated the risk of leaving a stable job. MSc degrees are much less likely to be fully funded than PhDs, and some companies will even reimburse your tuition as well.

elonmollusc 5 years ago |

I worked for a few years and then went back to a Ph.D. program.

It's now possible to do an M.S. while you're working. There are now a number of good online programs, with Georgia Tech's OMSCS at the top of the pile. You might want to take a year or so in your current position and then evaluate whether an M.S. would be a career enhancer. The culture of Master's programs nationally is shifting towards working professionals doing their degrees online, so the case for quitting your job to go back to a full-time residential program is going to get weaker and weaker in the coming years.

Ph.D. is a totally different game and a bigger conversation. Short answer: unless you really, really want to work in academia it's not going to be worth the opportunity cost.

lnwlebjel 5 years ago |

How about a software career in Academia? Figure out what you're interested in while doing software engineering and applying AI to ocean problems:

https://recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF01941

A job like this would provide many connections within academia and would allow you to know something about the Profs and their groups before you sign up.

jokethrowaway 5 years ago |

If you're doing to get better job prospects in the future, have a better CV, just go to work.

If you want to pursue further education because you enjoy it, do it, likely it won't be too harmful for your career / savings.

giantg2 5 years ago |

Many companies will pay your tuition for night school. I got my masters that way.

It seems that experience is valued more than degrees, from what I've seen. I would say pursue the job and then worry about a masters.

superbcarrot 5 years ago |

Do you want to work in research? If yes, get a PhD. If no, stay at the current job. A master's degree doesn't seem worth it regardless of the direction you want to go.

speedgoose 5 years ago | |

In Europe it's better to have a master degree.

jokethrowaway 5 years ago | | |

It's quite irrelevant, even in Europe.

I still have to meet someone that cares (from small companies to fang / fortune 500) a part from the one doing the master.

Just because your degree is paid with your future taxes and won't be a life debt like in the US/UK, it doesn't mean that N years of your life don't have value.

Once you have a bachelor's you pass the screening "has a degree" and then it's up to your skills during the interview. I've met several accomplished CTO / VP (in large companies) without a degree (albeit the wouldn't have qualified for joining a fang).

I decided to play it safe, to keep doors open and got a bachelor's degree in EU (for "free" aka less than 10k) while working - and I still felt it was mostly wasted time / money / stress.

superbcarrot 5 years ago | | |

Yes and I think that's true everywhere, not just in Europe. My point is that if you already have a relevant bachelor's degree and are employed, the marginal benefit from the MSc isn't worth it.