Physics PhD at 50, seeks non-traditional career options

[atyy]

http://discovermagazine.com/2011/apr/30-how-bad-luck-networking-cost-prasher-nobel
The discoverer of a gene for a glowing protein 
was driving a van for a car dealership in Huntsville, Alabama, when he learned that former colleagues 
had won science's greatest honor.

http://www.the-scientist.com/?artic...title/What-Ever-Happened-to-Douglas-Prasher-/
In fact, at the time the announcement was made that the GFP researchers were awarded the prize, the erstwhile biochemist Prasher was working as a courtesy shuttle driver at a Huntsville, Alabama, Toyota dealership.

 

[Locrian]

Also, what evidence is there that the US, as of 2015, has indeed more graduates and applicants than positions in every field?

Yea, it's almost like there's some context around what they wrote. Could it be?

 

[Almeisan]

Obviously when the job market works naturally, it would be the lower educated people that can't get jobs of have to do uneducated jobs. If there's more PhDs than positions, the PhDs take the MSc jobs, the MSc degrees take the BSc jobs, etc etc.

Doesn't make sense to make the PhD guy a taxi driver and have the BSc guy work the MSc job.

 

[symbolipoint]

Obviously when the job market works naturally, it would be the lower educated people that can't get jobs of have to do uneducated jobs. If there's more PhDs than positions, the PhDs take the MSc jobs, the MSc degrees take the BSc jobs, etc etc.

Doesn't make sense to make the PhD guy a taxi driver and have the BSc guy work the MSc job.

The like could still happen. The BSs guy might be a better talker, and the people-skills could be what gets him through into the job; OR impressive specific experience. Sometimes the luck of timing.

 

[Almeisan]

Besides the point. The quality of the PhD should be high enough that it should on average outperform any job experience at BSc or MSc level. If it doesn't then either something is wrong with the quality of the PhD or with the judgment of the empoyee.

What you say suggests PhD people lack in talking and people skills or impressive experience or luck. And if you really think that it swings both ways, then what are we even talking about? There's this thing called statistics and averages...

If when with a PhD you can only work at PhD level or at no level at all, something is wrong.

 

[ModusPwnd]

Besides the point. The quality of the PhD should be high enough that it should on average outperform any job experience at BSc or MSc level. If it doesn't then either something is wrong with the quality of the PhD or with the judgment of the empoyee.

I think the problem with this is that is presumes that a PhD experience is parallel to a BS or MSc, but its not. Its not orthogonal, but its not parallel either. PhD graduates have a wide variety of skill sets, strengths and deficencies. They do not as a rule overlap and surpass BS or MSc experiences. Sometimes they might, other times they dont.

 

[symbolipoint]

Besides the point. The quality of the PhD should be high enough that it should on average outperform any job experience at BSc or MSc level. If it doesn't then either something is wrong with the quality of the PhD or with the judgment of the empoyee.

What you say suggests PhD people lack in talking and people skills or impressive experience or luck. And if you really think that it swings both ways, then what are we even talking about? There's this thing called statistics and averages...

If when with a PhD you can only work at PhD level or at no level at all, something is wrong.

No. I don't suggest that. Too many things vary among people and jobs. Not all PhD people are the same.