Story of my life..

I'm in my final year of Biomedical Science at Uni. I'm good at it, and can easily get funded PhD research positions. But there's a catch: I don't really enjoy it. I do, however, love motorcycles and the idea of having a job where I can be more sociable and creative. Thus, here are my options:

1. Accept a PhD.
Pros: £16-17kpa quid tax-free each year. Will be "Dr." Allan Barnard at the end. May enjoy it. Get to stick with the student life for 3 more years. Unlikely to struggle finding a job. Salary seems to be ~£35-45kpa after a post-doc (so about 5 years from now) and gradually rises with experience and could be looking at the best part of 6-figures after 20 years (but of course this is not certain).
Cons: Don't particularly like science at the moment, so there is a risk I won't grow to enjoy research. Will spend 3 years doing something before possibly moving onto something else starting at square one again.

2. Switch paths and make bridges into the motorcycle industry (by getting a job in marketing/sales/advertising).
Pros: Will theoretically enjoy it and have more motivation. Opportunity to be creative. I think I'd be very good at it and will get to exercise my (highly acclaimed) social skills. Get to wear a suit. I'm drawn to the business world's pace.
Cons: Low starting salary, probably around £20kpa. No experience. Very popular career choice for graduates at the moment so competition will be large, but more importantly, it will be more difficult to stand out and climb the ladder. Likely that my first few years gaining experience would not be in the motorcycle industry. Risky- there's a chance I may not like it albeit less chance than with research.


I've thought "what's the real loss if I do a PhD, become a Dr and then make the switch?" But, it's 3 years I may really not enjoy, which is a loss, and 3 years I could be climbing the ranks of another career.


Of course, hints, tips, and general suggestions are greatly appreciated! If anybody actually has any affiliation with anybody in the motorbiking/marketing/sales/advertising sectors, I would seriously, deeply appreciate being put in contact so that I can learn more or get some brief experience to help make a decision. I can contact them any time and have C.V.s at the ready, so it will not be difficult to arrange. Any other career paths to consider which tick any creativity/motorcycles criteria, lemme know!

Here's me looking baddass in a suit so you know what I'd be like in the business sector:

[tigersaw]

I'd stay right there, sandwiched between those ladies.

I'd feck off on a round the world trip and take those two for company provided they promise not to talk too much.


Seriously, IMO, don't waste your life, if you know you won't stay in the profession you're doing now, then change, life's too short, be determined and you'll get what you want.

[BanannaMan]

Go for the phd.
Then you'll have the time and money to play with motorcycles and you'll enjoy it more as it won't be your work, rather your escape from it.

What I'd do, but ultimately you need to look at long term what's best for you.

+1 on the PHD. It'll open lots of doors later.

.. and if you still want to get into bikes later you can correctly call yourself a Bike Dr.!

[yorkie_chris]

Do the PhD.

[dizzyblonde]

Do the PHD.


Plenty more folk fishing in the same pond for the motorcycle work. Guaranteed you will drop the study and get nowhere, regretting making the decision. At least finishing the lot, you then have two choices



In life, you should always try and give yourself two choices. I think following the bike will close one door.

[MisterTommyH]

Just a couple of points to be careful about - dont just assume that as a Dr. You'll get a suitable job. One of my mates got a PHD in Chemistry a few years back, then struggled to get a job in the computational area he'd researched. Jobs - yes. Relevant, PHD level jobs - not so much.

On the other hand be careful about making your hobby into your job. It's always useful to have a job that you enjoy, but at some time it will become 'work' with all the stresses that brings with it.... And you won't have that escape at the weekend because you've been doing it all week and need a change.

Just a few things to consider.

[timwilky]

I work in an environment where many senior management hold PhD qualification. But are no longer active in that aspect of their careers that required the PhD in the first place. i.e they have moved on as their careers have progressed.

One friend with a PhD in noise and vibration relating to steam turbines is now a heath and safety director for a large construction company. Another with a PhD in artificial intelligence now runs an international consultancy. another with a maths PhD in some weird Steiner series stuff is a project portfolio director for the Dept of Transport

Do the PhD. It is an opportunity many of us in later life wish we had been able to do. We look back at our own careers and see wasted opportunities that would have taken us in different career paths.

A qualification does not limit you to a single career.

[Littlepeahead]

I agree on the being careful about making a hobby a job. I love my job, working as a photographer in cricket and going to matches on my bike while getting paid is the perfect combination. However, these days I rarely have the time or enthusiasm to pick up my camera just for fun, I end up taking holiday to watch cricket and inevitably end up talking work with whoever is there as they are still working.

Also advertising isn't really very creative unless you are actually the Creative Director or Copy Writer. To be that you should probably have done a degree in something arty. I was an Account Manager for a very creative multi-discipline agency but spent most of my time sitting in dull meetings with clients, many of whom didn't have a creative bone in their body. Most companies, including I suspect anything motorcycle related, will employ an agency to do their marketing, PR and advertising. This means that if you are lucky you will get to work on an account for a product you like, such as a motorcycle brand, but at the same time could be working on an account for nappies, soft drinks, a telecomms company and a stationery chain store. Agencies cannot specialise in say the motorcycle industry as they can only have one account of one type at a time usually.

I know that all sounds a bit negative, it isn't meant to, and sometimes you should go for what you enjoy rather than what pays the best.

(p.s. I'm not sure you should wear a cravat for interviews)