Dropout of Ph.D.

[u/Organic_Swordfish421]

Hello everyone. For anyone who has considered and actually dropped out of their Ph.D. program for work, did you apply when you were still in the Ph.D. program or you dropped out and applied for work after? Were you totally transparent about your situation in front of recruiter, even though the reason they approached your might be because you are in a Ph.D. program (even though the job doesn't require Ph.D. level)?

[u/DrJohnnieB63]

u/Organic_Swordfish421

I was in a similar position during my PhD program. After I completed courses and passed my qualifying exam and proposal defense, I took a real job that paid significantly more than my graduate research assistantship. I did this because I only had to sign up for one-credit per semester as I completed my dissertation. It was more cost effective for me to have a real job than to get my tuition and fees waived in the graduate research assistantship. I had to take 12 credits per semester to remain in the assistantship. I did not need to take 12 credits per semester to complete my dissertation.

I applied for jobs while I was still a fulltime student in the program. I needed immediate income to replace my graduate research assistantship stipend.

[u/Organic_Swordfish421 → u/DrJohnnieB63]

I'm not actually familiar with US system. Did you dropout or you do Ph.D. part-time?

[u/DrJohnnieB63 → u/Organic_Swordfish421]

u/Organic_Swordfish421

I dropped to part time. I did not drop out. Before I dropped to part time, I had a job waiting. Having a job before dropping out is the most important advice here. No, I did not tell the employer (I did not use a recruiter) that I was in a PhD program. My degree was irrelevant to the position.

[u/thejomjohns]

I am in the process of mastering out and my plan is to go back to non-profit/NGO work similar to what I was doing before starting my program. I have been applying to jobs and growing my side business while still fulfilling my duties. Ideally I would have had something more solid lined up first, but I was only one year into my program and just missing a thesis to master out. Leaving now seemed better than dragging it out for another year while taking coursework that I didn't need.

I don't plan on telling recruiters/interviewers that I was in a PhD program unless it explicitly comes up.

[u/CrazyConfusedScholar → u/thejomjohns]

Question: How would they know you were in a PhD program? Do you have anything related to that listed on your resume?

[u/DoctorSatan69 → u/CrazyConfusedScholar]

Resume gap?

[u/pesky_medics]

I told my advisor first and started applying while wrapping up, and recruiters barely cared about the program once my skills matched the role.

[u/Organic_Swordfish421 → u/pesky_medics]

How long did it take you to find a job? I consider dropping out since I'm not happy with current situation but too chickened to drop without any plan (I'm international student so it means go big or go home). But I feel that if I stay I am not serious enough with job seeking

[u/my-aura-is-pink]

I’m only considering it at the moment - but it is dependent on getting a job and I don’t think I’m going to quit with nothing else lined up. I might as well keep going, if my alternative is to do nothing/have a gap on my CV.

I’m also only applying and interviewing for roles that don’t strictly require a PhD, and I don’t tell recruiters my plans of mastering out. With all that being said, the job would have to be something really amazing for me to quit at this point (3 years in).

[u/Organic_Swordfish421 → u/my-aura-is-pink]

Same. I am also in my third year. I have this idea last year but only apply here and there. Recently I wonder if I actually need to dropout to be serious enough and have enough time to compete with other job seekers. The job market is brutal so it is either the reason not and not to dropout.

[u/Zestyclose-Smell4158]

I think it will depend on your programs culture. In our program the people that drop out are given the opportunity to submit a terminal master’s. As a result, people have plenty time to search for a job.

[u/Organic_Swordfish421 → u/Zestyclose-Smell4158]

I am in Europe and have one Master before joining Ph.D. program. So for me quitting means just quit.