Can A PhD Boost My Career?

We often hear people say getting a doctorate degree can make your career soar high. I, for one, have heard this before -  “A Phd will give you a higher salary and higher chances of getting promoted.”

If you are a student or a working professional, It's possible that taking up a doctorate degree has already crossed your mind. To help you out with your decision of whether to go for a PhD or not, here are some of the things to consider:

What is a PhD?

The PhD or the Doctor of Philosophy is a postgraduate degree taken up in an institution, college or university. Some are lucky enough to be granted scholarships, while others spend thousands of dollars on their tuition. Completing this degree can take anywhere from three to five years, depending on the institution and amount of time invested. After successfully completing the doctorate degree, the recipient is bestowed the title, “Doctor”. 

So, can a PhD really boost your career?

Yes...If you are in a field that requires it.

 No...If your field does not require a doctorate degree.

Doctorate degrees are very common among people in the fields of science and education. Psychologists, program developers, biochemists, researchers, scientists, software developers are research-oriented professionals that can really benefit from pursuing their doctorate degrees on their specific subjects of interest. Those in the educational sector like college professors, instructors and high school teachers, also stand to gain a lot from pursuing a PhD. A doctorate degree in any of these fields can definitely raise your profile, reputation and salary.

So, if you work in a field that requires it, a PhD can be a plus. 

Let’s face it: a doctorate degree is not for everyone. Yes, some become obsessed with the idea of getting a PhD, possibly because their minds have been clouded with unfounded expectations of the benefits it will bring. Depending on your ambition, a PhD may not necessarily be the best (or the easiest) path to take to get to where you want to be.

While a PhD degree can boost the career of some, it might not make that much of a difference for others.

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