8 ms·

Any advice for someone who is about to finish a PhD in CS? Like pro/cons of doing a postdoc vs. going straight to the industry, or best way to migrate to the in

• analog31 12y ago
  I studied physics, not CS, but my experience was that it boiled down to weighing the specific job offers that you get in each sector. A possible reason to do a post-doc is if a full blown industry job search would detract from finishing your PhD. Nothing is worth delaying your PhD. On the other hand, at least in my field, a post doc was not a step towards industry.
• seanmcdirmid 12y ago
  Postdocs are fun if you like your research. Finding a job that allows you to continue what you like working on is essential and could take awhile.
• freyr 12y ago
  I did a ten month stint as a postdoc while I wrapped up some research and looked for a job. This was common for people in my program at the time, i.e. graduating from a top 20 school (but not top 10) in a weak job market. That was a few years back, but in a recent job interview the interviewer spotted the post-doc on my CV, raised an eyebrow, and asked "What's this all about? Why couldn't you land a job after graduating?" Kind of jerky. I don't know if it was a serious question or she was just looking for a reaction.