Read more: 鈥�Graduate Special 2013鈥�
Feel as though you鈥檙e not ready to give up studying? 鈥淭here are two particularly good reasons to go and do a PhD,鈥� says Ball. 鈥淔irst, you want to. Second, you feel it is necessary to further your career.鈥�
Whatever you do, he says, don鈥檛 do a PhD because you can鈥檛 think of anything else to do. Sophie Robinson, qualifications and skills officer at the in London, agrees. 鈥淵ou have to be very committed to research to be able to actually go on and do a PhD, because it is three years or more of your life, and it鈥檚 tough,鈥� she says. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to really love the subject.鈥�
Advertisement
Think a PhD will add a zero to your pay cheque as well as some letters to your title? Well, don鈥檛. 鈥淚f you want to get rich, a PhD is a pretty inefficient way to go about it,鈥� says Ball. Those entering a business career after earning a doctorate may not command a premium, and you will end up alongside those with only undergraduate degrees.
Essentially, you will need a PhD for a career in R&D or academia. Otherwise, it鈥檚 not necessary, and might not even earn you any brownie points with employers. Definitely not a decision to be taken lightly.