Orchid XP v8 wrote:
>> Not true. If you're going for a technical position, even if it's 
>> unrelated to your field of study, the fact that you are capable of 
>> completing a PhD says a lot. It says you stick with the job, have a 
>> capacity and interest for learning, have experience in 
>> communication/dissemination, etc... and that's ignoring the 
>> field-specific skills.
> 
> Yes, but... having a BSc already says all those things. I spent 4 years 
> of my life studying for it, I learned all sorts of stuff, and in the end 
> I did actually get my BSc. And yet, nobody gives a **** about that. How 
> is a PhD different?

A *good* BSc says you have a capacity for learning. I'm not convinced it 
says anything more than that. My first degree certainly didn't equip me 
with the ability to communicate effectively with my professional(!) 
peers. If anything, it made me want to avoid giving presentations and so 
forth even more! The experiences gained in a PhD are as valuable, and 
real, as actual work experience. They're the same thing. For all intents 
and purposes, you can regard a PhD project as a proper job.

That said, be proud of the BSc, it's still a valuable achievement and 
puts you firmly in a higher category than most. But just think: you hold 
the thought of a PhD in very high esteem - why shouldn't others too?

>> Speculative queries
> [snip]
> 
> Well, maybe it's worth a giggle. ;-)

Absolutely. Worked for me. And I wasn't even looking for it with the 
deliberation that you (hopefully) will be!

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