PhD graduate can't find work

[f2wohf]

Not really, it has a bunch of BA graduates who majored in useless degrees like African studies or humanities. Hardly a skill that drives emlployment these days.

They have jobs: managing a political movement.

Malema: Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and African languages
Shivambu: Bachelor’s degree from the University of the Witwatersrand and an Honours Degree in Political Studies and International Relations / Master’s degree ,with a distinction, in political studies at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2014
Gardee: Higher National Diploma in Accounting and Auditing
Hlophe: National Diploma in Human Resources Management
Moonsamy: LLB degree from the University of Durban-Westville, Admitted attorney
Mpofu: BProc Wits, LLB Wits, advocate
Ndlozi: PhD Political Sciences, Wits

Over 7 people:
- 2 have LLBs (bull**** degree not leading to any job) and are admitted advocate and attorney
- 1 PhD in political sciences (irrelevant when you are a politician I guess)
- 1 Master in political studies.
- 1 BA in communications (irrelevant, political parties don't communicate)
- 2 diplomas.

7 have higher education degrees, 5 of the 7 have 3+ years of tertiary studies.

Let's go to the DA:
Maimane: BA Psychology, Masters in Public Administration and Masters in Theology (2 of them are useless in politics)
Trollip: Diploma in Agricultural Management at University of Natal (that's useful in politics)
Van der Walt: Klerksdorp Hoër Skool
Meyer: BA UWC, MA and PhD Public Administration Stellenbosch (that's proper education)
Ntsekhe: None
Cassim: Bcom Accounting
Selfe: BA

Over 7 people, 1 PhD, 1 with masters, 2 with bachelors, 1 diploma and 2 with only high school.

Not going to do the ANC, we all know degrees is not their strongest point...

 

[Moosedrool]

With that attitude he'll struggle till he's 40. Then find a lower paying job cause he realises being a entitled prick gets you nowhere in life.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Research assistant at UCT in the same field 2+ years, teaching assistant at CPUT, etc.

So basically zero real world experience outside of academia.... therefore he is an intern level but should be able to progress beyond it quickly

 

[ForceFate]

So basically zero real world experience outside of academia.... therefore he is an intern level but should be able to progress beyond it quickly

Analytics and applied research oppportunities in industry. Setup not that different from where he comes from. No?

 

[RyanPCMR]

Experience counts

Qualification does still mean something but job experience makes employers salivate at the very thought of having you do their bidding. Happened to me when the employer said they cannot pay me enough to match my qualification but that they would love to have me as part of their team of technicians. I accepted without any reserve and was just happy to get my foot in the door at that time. That opportunity allowed me to network my skills to other employers for a better position. People with a PhD are just "professional students" IMO.

 

[vigras rojara]

Qualification does still mean something but job experience makes employers salivate at the very thought of having you do their bidding. Happened to me when the employer said they cannot pay me enough to match my qualification but that they would love to have me as part of their team of technicians. I accepted without any reserve and was just happy to get my foot in the door at that time. That opportunity allowed me to network my skills to other employers for a better position. People with a PhD are just "professional students" IMO.

Some yes, but not others. A good friend of mine and my brother are both PhD's, and they make a crap load of money. Both self employed though.

 

[f2wohf]

Some yes, but not others. A good friend of mine and my brother are both PhD's, and they make a crap load of money. Both self employed though.

It depends a lot on the industry, your PhD, even the country.

A doctor of law won’t make more money than a guy with a LLM.

A scientist with a PhD will most likely make more money than the same one with only masters.

For the country example, the same PhD holder will make much more money in Germany than in France.

Plenty of factors basically.

 

[CataclysmZA]

I hope this piece of filth never gets a job.

Username checks out. You're a real piece of work.

More than a few people here not in an academic line of work seems to hate PhD students/graduates as well. Who kicked you out of the wrong side of bed this morning? Show me here on this brain where your lecturer hurt your feelings.

Academics are highly useful people.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Analytics and applied research oppportunities in industry. Setup not that different from where he comes from. No?

Setups are very very different in the corporate world.. esp at the sharp end of analytics and applied research

 

[Eti1]

A doctor of law won’t make more money than a guy with a LLM.

Unless he is in academia. PhD/LLD opens doors to senior posts and is really a minimum to be a professional academic. That or a bunch of publications. No offense if you have it, but an LLM is a baby postgraduate degree.

 

[f2wohf]

Unless he is in academia. PhD/LLD opens doors to senior posts and is really a minimum to be a professional academic. That or a bunch of publications. No offense if you have it, but an LLM is a baby postgraduate degree.

You won’t be in academia with a LLM, at least not in reputable universities, I was speaking of the corporate world.

You’ll find extremely little guys with a doctorate of law in the corporate world.

 

[Eti1]

You won’t be in academia with a LLM, at least not in reputable universities, I was speaking of the corporate world.

You’ll find extremely little guys with a doctorate of law in the corporate world.

Ah, I see. Can't argue too much with that. Obviously there will be exceptions though.

But back to this guy. His tactics are all wrong. I still don't really understand why he wouldn't continue his academic journey by taking a lecturing post instead of making a spectacle and demanding to be accepted into the real world. The nerve.

But once he had, surely he should take what scraps were on offer and work his way up?

 

[Vrotappel]

Username checks out. You're a real piece of work.

More than a few people here not in an academic line of work seems to hate PhD students/graduates as well. Who kicked you out of the wrong side of bed this morning? Show me here on this brain where your lecturer hurt your feelings.

Academics are highly useful people.

His attitude. I don't have problems with academics.

 

[TooFastTim]

But back to this guy. His tactics are all wrong. I still don't really understand why he wouldn't continue his academic journey by taking a lecturing post instead of making a spectacle and demanding to be accepted into the real world.

A few years in industry post-doc can do your future career in academia a world of good. Nothing wrong with wanting a job in industry.

 

[silkenphoenixx]

A few years in industry post-doc can do your future career in academia a world of good. Nothing wrong with wanting a job in industry.

In fact (depending on the subject of course) I'd struggle to trust an academic who doesn't have any industry experience. Staying too long in the ivory tower detaches you from the real world in a sense.

A scientist with a PhD will most likely make more money than the same one with only masters.

Most places where you could get a job and call yourself a scientist won't employ you unless you have a PhD, and with it some not insignificant research output.

 

[cguy]

Qualification does still mean something but job experience makes employers salivate at the very thought of having you do their bidding. Happened to me when the employer said they cannot pay me enough to match my qualification but that they would love to have me as part of their team of technicians. I accepted without any reserve and was just happy to get my foot in the door at that time. That opportunity allowed me to network my skills to other employers for a better position. People with a PhD are just "professional students" IMO.

The vast majority of senior academics have PhDs, but the vast majority of PhDs are not academic - labeling them as "professional students" is silly. There aren't enough academic positions available, and for most STEM work, industry is a more interesting and lucrative place to be than academia anyway.

 

[TooFastTim]

Most places where you could get a job and call yourself a scientist won't employ you unless you have a PhD, and with it some not insignificant research output.

Quite a few academics of my acquaintance regurgitate the same paper with a slightly different slant ad nauseum. So a "not insignificant research output" is subjective.

 

[diesel]

Had enough money to study for 10 years and now hes complaining after a few months of not finding a job. maybe he should have worked more part time jobs during his studies to get some experience and references.

DA giving him a job just a publicity stunt.

 

[ForceFate]

Had enough money to study for 10 years and now hes complaining after a few months of not finding a job. maybe he should have worked more part time jobs during his studies to get some experience and references.

DA giving him a job just a publicity stunt.

He worked as a research assistant at UCT for over 2 years according to his CV

 

[RyanPCMR]

The vast majority of senior academics have PhDs, but the vast majority of PhDs are not academic - labeling them as "professional students" is silly. There aren't enough academic positions available, and for most STEM work, industry is a more interesting and lucrative place to be than academia anyway.

They are Professional Students and that is not silly at all but just a fact.