For me I think this sorts of things depends on your family background. If let say I am a first class student being offered a good job with high salary. I would take it since I got to take of my parents and younger siblings. However if I came from quite stable family, high possibility I would complete studies up to Phd.

I still think education is num 1 most important criteria.
It can help you climb the ladder faster.

For me certification come first before working experience, nowadays all the listed company look into certificate before they look into your experience. it is true, they select employee for promotion based on certificate but not working experience

Not entirely true, I created my jobs in companies that never had my position before from my experience alone and I don't have any certification, why? Doing business is all about money.

depends what kind of certification. It boils down to the direction of your desired area and focus on studies.

For example if your doing a phd in pharmacology vs work experience. If you want to end up in a foreign leading pharmaceutical company you would need the phd.

Doing your phd doesnt stop you from getting work experience. But you have to remember it is difficult to go the other way from work experience to getting your phd.

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Added on November 4, 2011, 5:54 pmEndorsed doctorates i.e Doctor of Engineering and the prestigious Doctor of Science are classed slightly different. Essentially by having a declared area of study I assume for D.Eng are not exclusively awarded unlike the D.Sc. But similarities are you require substantial work experience to be entitled the opportunity to study.

DPhil the same as PhDs. Most former British colonies call them phds

DBa... throw a stone you will get someone with a DBa. Those are doctorates of business.

It does vary from country to country.

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Added on November 4, 2011, 6:02 pmI did my Masters of Applied Science in Auckland now I am a post doctorate.
Malaysian universities have a lot more resources, it is really your area of research and which university your going to. Pick a local university which is the best in your field of interest and study. Also you got to get to know your supervisor and you have to be compatible with the way he guides you towards your research goal, if not you will really struggle with your postgraduate study.

Malaysia has a ridiculous funding scheme for research provided your at the right university. So dont rule out local institutions immediately. I also recommend going to a university which has A grade english journal publications as a requirement for your phd.

This post has been edited by snackmonster: Nov 4 2011, 06:02 PM

Well said, that's what I keep telling myself despite most of my friends telling me that experience is more important and so on..

You can always earn your experience later. If you have the determination to continue post-grad studies, especially research base, which is known for its boring routine and years of mental torture, I don't see why you will have problem working in the industry and gaining the experience later on...

in malaysia la,

which company u can work for when u get your phd other than teach in public institution?

can give example of company instead of naming the industry?

its easy to give general answers like say pharmaceutical industry or research industry but when u really tink about it..

Example : degree in pharmacy

Either you study until PhD in pharmacology or you open drug store selling medicine.

One is academic, one is money...

That one I agree. But it's hard to prove our self when employers won't give us a chance due to lack of working experience.

I can't think of any...Never seen any company that list down phd as requirement, master also very rare.

too many senior managers, and top gov officials (> N48, 52) who currently doing Master told me to find a job first before continue PhD ... I've been attacked almost everyday ...

They jelly

A few examples:

The director (with a Dr. title) from First Solar came to my campus to give a talk on solar technologies weeks ago. He was a lecturer before he was appointed as the director of the company..

Intel sponsor their graduate trainee to further their studies in USM, which is what my senior doing now.

Motorola provides grant for students to apply for post-grad research in MMU.

So they got in with a bachelor degree right?

Seriously, it's really hurt inside when any opinion or cases study (despite it's relevant) rejected or looked down just because lack of experiences ... lucky only one month left ...

U doing mba? No wonder, cos many who do mba or by coursework are working people.

I did masters by research, so not much problem with this working experience issue. As long as i know how to conduct research, problem solved. Even those working seniors need me to help them in research methodology...

So your convo is this year eh?

I'm doing MM (IT), core MBA subjects with IT as electives. But still, I've to admit .. 97% of my classmates including MBA is working people. But, what is wrong of doing PhD without experience? Isn't that at worst, I can get a job as a lecturer if no one want me to be a researcher?

Still easy to get a job? No?

This is some opinions that I gathered from lecturers/ friends:

If you want to be a lecturer, just do PhD directly. For lecturer post, some uni look for qualification, while some requires teaching experience as well. Good if you can produce papers in journal/conference during your study. It can be an added advantage for lecturer position.

If you want to work in the industry, better get experience 1st and do part time phd if you want. Or do DBA, more value.

If you don't know what you want to be, then I'm not sure with path is best.

Yeah, more choice with post grad degree. Can work in academic line.

This post has been edited by Mr.Wang: Nov 8 2011, 12:24 AM

I am currently doing my PhD in UTM, having jumped from my bachelors. All I can say TS, is that I do not recommend it for the following reasons:

1. You're not interested in joining the education line. To me, this is the main reason most people do their PhDs, and if that's not your goal, there's no point in doing it. Given that by the time you complete your PhD and move into the working world, you will be drawing a salary similar to that if you had worked for the last 3 years. Which leads me to point number...

2. The 3 years PhD is a rarity, especially if you wish to jump from your bachelors. Can it be completed in 3 years? Of course, but I would doubt the quality of the work produced. In fact, most institutions do. Note that although direct-PhD programs are offered to all first class bachelors students, no university in Malaysia offers the same program to their tutors. The reason behind this is that they prefer those who have done their Masters by coursework, followed by their PhD by research. This was what I was told during my interview, and they even offered to sponsor my Masters if I agreed to quit my PhD. To top it all off, most of the good lecturers (who you would definitely want to supervise you), disagree with the direct PhD program, some of them insisting that you do a 5-year course (effectively a Masters + PhD, but the Masters dissertation is not required to be submitted).

3. In the industry, a PhD is only useful if results of your research can be utilized in the company you plan to work at. Without having worked before, how much can you possibly know about problems that the industry is facing? Literature can only get you so far. It's best to work a little while before jumping on the research bandwagon to ensure that you get a good sense of the type of project you have to work on during your study.


Be true to your heart, choose wisely, and have no regrets. I wish you the best of luck.

Most of the lectures I know are suggesting to any students to do direct PhD instead of doing Master. The reason, wasting time .

Mind telling me which uni you're at?

UPM