Anonymous wrote:Taking a bachelor's level job after a PhD can be bad for your career (even if the salary difference is smaller--like a bachelor's level job vs. a postdoc) because it signals to an employer that you don't value the autonomy and potential for growth that comes with a PhD and that you are desperate. If you take the job in Redwood City, yes the COL is high, but you would be more able to move to another PhD-level job later on in another location than if you took a bachelor's level job. Also 150K, even in California, is good money and you will be fine, provided you have appropriate expectations for housing in a high COL area.

But what if it's temporary? For maybe 1-2 years to get job experience. We really like the city in Florida. It's a good place to raise a family.

I am a college career director. Take the CA job. No question. You have a child to support!

Taking a bachelor's level job after a PhD can be bad for your career (even if the salary difference is smaller--like a bachelor's level job vs. a postdoc) because it signals to an employer that you don't value the autonomy and potential for growth that comes with a PhD and that you are desperate. If you take the job in Redwood City, yes the COL is high, but you would be more able to move to another PhD-level job later on in another location than if you took a bachelor's level job. Also 150K, even in California, is good money and you will be fine, provided you have appropriate expectations for housing in a high COL area.

Anonymous wrote:
Not the OP, but I'm going to guess that there's not much growth for a Medicaid number cruncher. Maybe management? But then why get a PhD if you want to get in government management?

OP, where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?

There are a lot of reasons why one might do that. I have a STEM PhD and would love to still be at my Fed job...even though I make multiple times that at my current job.

OP, it really, really matters what you want to do with your life. The $150K offer in Redwood City is good money for someone fresh out of school, and your income will grow very quickly if you do well at your job. More concerning is that you come across rather clueless and not particularly self-aware. That sounds harsh and might be untrue; I'm just basing it on your posts as a way of pointing out how you are presenting yourself. That attitude is not going to garner you PhD wages, because employers expect that hiring a PhD comes with a certain amount of resourcefulness and maturity.

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Anonymous wrote:What's the offer in California?

150k. It's in Redwood city.

What's the job title? What were the educational qualifications?

PhD in statistics was required. Job title is Biostatistician. The job in Florida is for a Medicaid program.

You sound way over qualified for the FL job. Is there room to grow and get promoted? You might be bored, build resentment, get lazy given you're a PhD in a Bacherlor's level job.

Not the OP, but I'm going to guess that there's not much growth for a Medicaid number cruncher. Maybe management? But then why get a PhD if you want to get in government management?

OP, where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?

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Anonymous wrote:I would take the job. I worked factory and landscaping jobs after college. I have friends with PhDs and they make chump change. I would focus on experience now, which is what employer actually care about, not your degree.

Don't listen to this person. A PhD in statistics is very marketable.

+1

Your GF posted about your job search and tryals getting the PhD.

Which life would you like more?

Anonymous wrote:I would take the job. I worked factory and landscaping jobs after college. I have friends with PhDs and they make chump change. I would focus on experience now, which is what employer actually care about, not your degree.

Don't listen to this person. A PhD in statistics is very marketable.

I would take the job. I worked factory and landscaping jobs after college. I have friends with PhDs and they make chump change. I would focus on experience now, which is what employer actually care about, not your degree.

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Anonymous wrote:What's the offer in California?

150k. It's in Redwood city.

What's the job title? What were the educational qualifications?

PhD in statistics was required. Job title is Biostatistician. The job in Florida is for a Medicaid program.

You sound way over qualified for the FL job. Is there room to grow and get promoted? You might be bored, build resentment, get lazy given you're a PhD in a Bacherlor's level job.

Anonymous wrote:Seems like a question for your adviser, career center, etc - they would know what people coming out of your program can get better than we can.

You obviously don't know my adviser.

Seems like a question for your adviser, career center, etc - they would know what people coming out of your program can get better than we can.

Anonymous wrote:let me guess...gf lives in florida?

Take the redwood city job. No brainer

No. She lives with me and we have a child.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the offer in California?

150k. It's in Redwood city.

What's the job title? What were the educational qualifications?

PhD in statistics was required. Job title is Biostatistician. The job in Florida is for a Medicaid program.