Reply to what should I do after a phd and staying at home for two years? Advice needed.

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[quote=Anonymous]Those are all options -- but their availability may be greatly limited by you taking 2 years off.

1. Law school: It probably will NOT hurt your application if you haven't worked in two years. But based on the details you've provided, my guess is you will hate being a laywer. It involves consistent hard work, long hours, research, etc. If you don't like the job prospects after your phD, I'm guessing this is a bad path for you.

2. Public Health in an NGO like WHO.  My understanding is that these jobs are insanely competitive. It takes years of applying to get in, and even then, it's a crap shoot who actually gets the jobs. If you take 2 years off working, my suspicion is that you will be dead in the water before applying. (that said, it's possible that your genetics background makes you a highly sought after candidate with limited competition? in which case, maybe this isn't true).

3. Healthcare consulting. This is broad. Maybe these jobs exist, but if you're looking for part time on your own schedule, it seems like there'd be a zillion people competing against you -- who hadn't been out of the market for two years.

4. Masters in accounting?  This is so random to jump into.  See above re: comments on law.

In sum, this city is filled with people with graduate degrees from top schools. My friends who have dropped out of the workforce for a couple years from the professional track have found it very very difficult to re-enter. That's not to say it doesn't happen, but those people already had successful careers and contacts in this city when they stopped working. They strategized a lot during their time off to keep doors open, worked part time, did consulting, etc. I think it would be near impossible to graduate, take two years off, and then find a job here.

I also think your new career paths (law, CPA) seem to be the ultimate "safe" job path, but these require a lot of hard work and focus - you shouldn't just see them as an easy back up plan to your failed phd route.  [/quote]

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