QUOTE(KingsleyThen @ Apr 21 2023, 11:09 PM)
I have finished my bachelor's degree in chemical engineering lately. Due to my high grades, my uni offers me a fast track PhD program. The semester will starts somewhen in October if I accept the offer. But, there is one thing I am very concern or worried about.
Is it really difficult to find a job after getting a PhD degree? Because my lecturer told me that most of the companies will look for fresh graduates with bachelor's degree rather than PhD graduates. Im also dont have any working experience. I heard the main reason they dont wanna hire PhD graduates is because of the minimum salary is higher under Akta Kerja (or Akta Buruh, Im not sure)? And they cant give lower salary as the minimum salary is fixed too under that Akta?
Btw, let's say I studied for PhD. Can I just find a job using my bachelor degree with its payscale without using my PhD degree? Or I cant because of that Akta?
If you think objectively, why would an employer rather hire a B.eng than a PHD? The answer is because PHD is overqualified for that specific role. Not all but most. If you think about it, companies will need to invest time and money to train the Fresh PHD staff and since he/she is overqualified, they are easily sway to another direction, thus wasting the time for the company to train them or even pay them. Also ultimately an employee gets paid however much an employer can afford or think that employee is worth. If there’s a mismatch, one side will give way. For an example, if the employer thinks that investing in a B.eng is more worthwhile in the long term compared to a phd holder even if they both accept the same pay. This is why many PHD holder got stuck and end up in research.
So who would hired a PhD grade? My guess is that specific industries to the PHD and in your case perhaps the likes of mnc like shell, slumberj or even Petronas. Why not? They too like PHD holders among them. They value expertise and knowledge.
Now why would you want a PHD? It does carry value. For an example if you’re competing with someone else whether in a company or two private companies competing, if you are the customer side, would you be more confident with a report that has a doctorate signatory at bottom or just a regular person with all other things considered. It does carry weight. Whether it’s worth the extra 5 years of lost working experience and income (and possibly expenses) worth the sacrifice or not. Worst case is the 5 years did not yield a phd for a variety of reasons.