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No.
That said, I have told my boss, but only after I had a comfortable relationship with him, and was pretty sure of myself and my value.
I loaned him my copy of Aspergers On The Job, which I recommend you read.
A large part of dealing with aspergers is finding coping mechanisms that work for you, as well as finding understanding from those around you.
Good luck and keep a positive outlook!
Sure. I left three years into my Ph.D. program, between my second qualifying paper and quals proper, circa 2012. (I reenrolled for a hot second in 2013 to brush off my QP, turn it into a masters' thesis, and defend.)
I had some research-related disagreements with my advisor which were the actual flashpoint, but it was really more a matter of weighing my options: looking at just what I would have to do, and what I might be missing out on, over the next 3-5 years just to have that X% chance at a tenure-track job. I'm also really big on work-life balance, and though academia has been making some improvements there very recently, in most areas it's still got a long way to go.
On the whole, it worked out pretty well: I went into science communication, took a few different jobs, and now I'm working for one of the leaders in the field. I'd definitely set the groundwork for a non-academic career, though, long before I actually left -- volunteering for non-profits, keeping in touch with industry connections, etc -- and I was also fairly successful at turning my academic background into an advantage rather than an irrelevancy: highlighting the interplay between linguistics and communications, bringing quantitative analysis to a field that doesn't always know what to do with metrics, working for organizations which handle scientific research and academic affairs, etc.
So I'd definitely recommend anyone considering a non-academic career (which, frankly, based on the numbers, should be most of us) think about those same things; when I was first starting off, I found Versatile Ph.D and <u>So What Are You Going To Do With That?</u> to be the most useful, but there could be other resources that have popped up since then. No matter which path you take, though, best wishes making it happen!
A PhD is Not Enough! A Guide to Survival in Science by Peter J. Feibelman Amazon link
Make Your Mark in Science: Creativity, Presenting, Publishing, and Patents, A Guide for Young Scientists by Claus Ascheron and Angela Kikuth Amazon link
If you're in academia and thinking about getting out and need help reevaluating your skills, check out this book:
I read this about a year into grad school (previous version). It's got some good general advice on how to think about your time and what to do with it to succeed.
https://www.amazon.com/PhD-Not-Enough-Survival-Science/dp/0465022227
Friends of mine who have made such a transition tell me it's all about networking and reaching out to random people. Some of them praise LinkedIn to the heavens for this.
Lauren Rivera has written a number of papers[1][2] (and a book [3]) about social status and how "elite" consulting firms (not necessarily McKinsey, but typically the next lower tier in size) recruit new candidates. Basically, they look for "people just like themselves" and look for high status extra-curricular activities like lacrosse, sailing and polo. Since those "white shoe" consulting firms tend to prey on companies run by "old school money" they want candidates that are as similar to those owners & executives as possible.
Notes:
1. Hiring as cultural matching: The case of elite professional service firms, LA Rivera - American sociological review, 2012.
2. Ivies, extracurriculars, and exclusion: Elite employers’ use of educational credentials, LA Rivera - Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, 2011.
3. Pedigree: How Elite Students Get Elite Jobs, 2016.
Thanks for writing up this guide! It’s a nice overview.
I would be interested in your assessment of how informational interviewing might (not) fit into the competitive hiring process. By informational interviewing I mean pre-application candidates meeting with individuals at prospective employers to learn about the field and the worker’s experience and also to build relationships that may lead to referrals for future employment, as discussed in the book The 2-Hour Job Search by Steve Dalton.
What are your thoughts on this?
Sorry that your experience at Harvard has not worked out yet. I say “yet”, because you are just starting out. I would highly recommend that you use the famous Harvard network and reach out to alumni who may have a similar background to yours. There are many successful first-generation Harvard grads who can help. Also, I suggest you read this book:
Pedigree: How Elite Students Get Elite Jobs https://www.amazon.com/dp/0691169276/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_KZ1AJKYJF4J6HRSE4S4K
Academic side of academia? Not sure what that means, but it sounds like an unhealthy reason to do a PhD, FWIW.
If you're serious about finding your way in academia, I recommend the book <em>A PhD Is Not Enough!</em>
It's the title of a book.
It really emphasizes the idea of making a list of companies your interested in, reaching out to employees that work there, and using them as referrals – (This is the really really really over-simplified version).
Effectively, referrals are better than blind applications, because they help get your resume seen.
Check out the book <em>Business Model You</em>, it helped me out a lot when I was in a similar position to what you're describing.
Thanks! I will say, my grades were by far the worst part of my profile since I had good work experience/undergrad/journal/etc. But as far as actual interviewing goes---I found this book extremely insightful and thought it tracked with my experience in OCI as well as recruiting for jobs during undergrad. Would recommend a read for anyone before they go through OCI!
>Every evening after work I fill a couple of applications and the next day (or day after next usually) I get a rejection even without any interviews.
You can buy a practice book off amazon for about £9.45, it's really good I managed to pass using this book. And It has all the different topics you would get in the actual test. Here is the link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/RAF-Airman-Tests-questions-Testing/dp/1909229911/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=raf+airman+test+book+2021&qid=1626299003&sprefix=raf+air&sr=8-1
In addition to the other comments, read A PhD is not Enough!.
If it's not too late I'd have recommended you get a practice test book if you're at all concerned and want the best prep.
82% is decent, as long as you scare above what you need for the role.
RAF Airman Tests: Sample test questions for the RAF Airman Test: 1 (Testing Series) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1909229911/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_VDX1V0YHAK0EW4AER3S1
If you’re unfamiliar with stuff like mechanical and electrical or just want a refresher on maths etc grid book will help you. It helped me
Lots of stuff in communications, marketing, and UI/UX. Roostervane and From PhD to Life are other good online communities. Grad Grid on LinkedIn is awesome.
He can also check out this book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/069120019X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_NJq.Fb296N8SG
I had the very same fear and decided to learn about my options. This book is hands-down the best overall primer in how to safely make the most of a stocks and shares ISA. It explains everything in layperson terms and shares the background thinking for the approach the author suggests. (In short, protect your wealth by investing regularly and for the long term in a diverse portfolio of ETFs or funds, plus precious commodities).
How to Own the World: A Plain English Guide to Thinking Globally and Investing Wisely: The new edition of the life-changing personal finance bestseller https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1473695309/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_3aN5FbX5HAB46?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Thanks ☺️
I agree most people don't take it into account. And a lot of people think of rent as dead money as well which is sometimes wrong, especially in the case when people are over leveraged.
I would recommend to everyone on this subreddit have a read of "How to Own the World" by Andrew Craig - he deals with how to view personal property ownership very well in this book (as well as many other things). https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1473695309/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fab_XSQHFbDT1JNH8
Read this book: https://www.amazon.com/Pedigree-How-Elite-Students-Jobs/dp/0691169276
Your major doesn't matter as much as you think. What matters are your extra-curriculars, awards and achievements, and most importantly, your ability to network.
Finance firms look for “culture fits”; in other words, students with high levels of cultural capital who would be able to work “on brand” with the firm. The goal is not to recruit talent based upon merit, but to recruit employees who can maintain a reputable, luxurious, and elite picture of the firm that they represent.
After reading the other posters, I have a couple more thoughts:
- An engineering degree does come with a unique reward, that is, you become a registered Professional Engineer.
- When considering which program to go into, consider funding. Cosmology may interest you more than biology, but programs related to biology might actually have funding.
- CircinusSt's pessimism is real, but perhaps a little exaggerated. If you have perfect grades with internships, every door in the world will be open to you. For example, one of my classmates was awarded a 60k/year position in a research lab with only his B.S. (they offered to pay and assist with his PhD while he worked there). However, this student really did have perfect 4.0. He also spent time making connections with his professors, which led to the internships he needed.
- GPA cutoffs: 3.0 is a severe cutoff point for most all graduate programs, 3.3 is the advertised cutoff for most all competitive programs, 3.3 to 3.5 is ideal. A GPA above 3.5 is exceptional, you will be considered for any program.
- Perhaps trivial to say, but critically important: You need 3 letters of recommendation tailored to the type of job that you want to apply for.
- Be prepared to move. A lot.
- You need to read this book: A PhD Is Not Enough!: A Guide to Survival in Science.
I'm sure I have more tips, just ask if you'd like.
I highly recommend books A PhD is not enough, and PhD grind, they answer a lot of questions and I wish I've read it before starting my PhD.
Depending on your field, it might be the case that you would get a good position right after your defense, especially since you already have a lot of industry experience and willing to teach. Furthermore, a lot of universities practice 'equal opportunity' policies which forces them to not discriminate based on gender, age, or race. So this might be a good part that by your defense you would be in your early 40's.
It might be a good idea to find someone from your target field and talk to them about their path to their current position, how many postdocs they had to do and so on. Maybe you will find out that some of them don't even have a PhD degree, I don't know. A lot of these things depend on your field.
If I were you, though, I would consider other ways to scratch that teaching itch. Getting a PhD is a daunting and not that rewarding. But then again, it's a nice change of pace and might be your 3-5 years vacation.
I'm not sure I've lost every job I've ever had. The only employment I've been able to keep long term is being in the military. Though people on here have recommended a couple of books, both of which escape my memory at the moment.
Edit: I think these are them
https://www.amazon.ca/Aspergers-Job-Must-Have-Functioning-Employers/dp/1935274090
The terminal degree for physics is a PhD. Therefore a PhD is a minimum requirement for most jobs in physics research. However, I highly recommend the book A PhD Is Not Enough!: A Guide to Survival in Science for anyone considering a career in the sciences.
A bachelors degree in an ABET accredited CompSci program is usually enough to get hired in entry level positions. A masters degree is the highest degree recognized for career advancement. A PhD is only required for a career in academia or research, which account for a very small percentage of jobs in the software industry. A college degree isn't even required to get hired for programmers who know their stuff, have gained credible experience somehow, and have good references. There's also at least 20 time more jobs related to software development compared to physics. That doesn't necessarily make software a better career choice than physics, since that depend on how well the positions match your personality and skills.
There's also careers that require interdisciplinary skills. There are programmers who do need to know physics well, even though that's a small percentage of the overall market. Even 1% can result in 3,000 possible jobs when the overall market is 300,000 positions.