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by dr_throwaway 2233 days ago
I've got the math PhD, and the job that requires a mix of math & programming. Living the dream, right? Except, my employer kinda stinks (and it's a startup, so our future is far from certain), so I've always got an eye on job listings. Only, I'm not in ML so the only real openings that I see that I'm "generically" qualified for are in quantitative finance. I don't like cocaine, so that one's out too (sorry for the broad brush, quants, but I've met a few too many coked-up brogrammers in your field). If all I had was a bachelors, maybe I'd go for actuarial work, but that would mean ditching my programming skills.

I'm older, and stuck living in an expensive metropolitan area due to family stuff. I feel stuck in a job that I'm not satisfied with. I expected that having a PhD would be a boon, but what I'm finding is that it's hard to find a good job that actually depends on the PhD -- it feels like an albatross, but I can't exactly hide it because that would be a decade-wide hole in my employment record.
2 comments
ta46290193 2233 days ago
The number of technical jobs that actually require a math PhD must be relatively small. I'm on the other end of it, trying to avoid the situation where the degree type is meaningless, because this means that, as far as credentials go, you're competing with anyone with a college degree. I suspect in your case you have more room to maneuver than you think, but what do I know? Good luck to you.
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dr_throwaway 2231 days ago
> The number of technical jobs that actually require a math PhD must be relatively small.

Yeah, that's my point: if you're looking for a boost to your credentials, my experience is that a PhD in math won't really open that many doors. By all means, pursue a higher degree for the sake of your personal enrichment! But a word of caution does seem necessary if this is a career-oriented choice.

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CyberFonic 2233 days ago
I know several very successful actuaries who also write a fair bit of advanced code. Insurance companies are always looking for quantitative improvements and it is far more expedient when the actuary doesn't have to explain (in excruciating detail) the requirements to a programmer without the same math chops.
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