How are your soft skills? If you’re suitable, in those 5 years you can easily climb to the next level at FAANG, which is way more prestigious than a PhD, and includes all that money you mentioned. Very clear mistake to do the PhD.
Ask HN: Senior FAANG engineer, going back to school for PhD. Is it a bad idea?
41–45 of 45 posts
Re: Ask HN: Senior FAANG engineer, going back to school for PhD. Is it a bad idea?
#42Do it...you can easily switch back to industry if you're not enjoying the phd. It'll be an opportunity to hang out with a whole set of new people.
Re: Ask HN: Senior FAANG engineer, going back to school for PhD. Is it a bad idea?
#43I'm actually very surprised FAANG doesn't sponsor the PhD, and I'd be surprised if they don't take you back after quitting. Talent is clearly valuable to tech companies.
In my experience universities seek industry-academia collaborations. You appear to be in a good position to create such a collaborative project which would be a mutual win-win for all involved, including yourself.
Re: Ask HN: Senior FAANG engineer, going back to school for PhD. Is it a bad idea?
#44Earlier quoted context omitted.
I had a friend in grad school who entered the Ph.D. program after spending four years in industry. He was very passionate about his research area, persistent, a fountain of ideas, and wonderful to talk with. He ended up winning the ACM doctoral dissertation award for his thesis, did research and teaching at a university, and has since returned to industry. This may be the exception that proves the rule. However I jus…
That proves the point he was only mid-twenties so still young
Agreed. Just trying to help OP, who also appears to be young ("I graduated with a CS bachelors degree a few years ago").
Re: Ask HN: Senior FAANG engineer, going back to school for PhD. Is it a bad idea?
#45I attempted something similar and I lasted about a day before it dawned upon me that an MS was really what I was after. A PhD is really a young person's game. Just as you don't attend conservatory later in life to become a performance musician, you don't "catch up" on a PhD to become a research scientist -- that boat has sailed. I know it's not what you want to hear, especially since you're already nontrivially inves…
I had a friend in grad school who entered the Ph.D. program after spending four years in industry. He was very passionate about his research area, persistent, a fountain of ideas, and wonderful to talk with. He ended up winning the ACM doctoral dissertation award for his thesis, did research and teaching at a university, and has since returned to industry. This may be the exception that proves the rule. However I jus…
I noticed my colleagues that started the PhD with industry experience were often more focused with their goals.