is phd counted as work experience

Does PhD Count As Work Experience? 

Sometimes, you may wonder if study experience, such as a PhD can translate into the professional world. Does PhD count as work experience?

PhD is often counted as work experience. PhD graduates are valued for their ability to be analytical, innovate, and work in teams. These skills are often honed during their days studying for their PhD.

In this post, we explore various perspectives, from academia to industry, shedding light on how a doctoral degree can be perceived by employers.

Short answer, yes, PhD is often counted as work experience. However, when you delve deeper into the question, there are times when a PhD is not considered for work experience.

Take Jane, a recent PhD graduate in computational biology, keen on making her mark in Silicon Valley’s R&D departments.

Jane’s LinkedIn profile sparkles with her publications and the experimental problems she’s solved, mirroring the responsibility and insight you’d expect from someone with years of work experience in industry.

Another example would be John, who spent 4 years completing his thesis in a lab, aiming to become a research scientist.

His CV is a testament to the rigorous work, akin to any industry job experience, with bullet points highlighting his ability to communicate complex scientific ideas and manage undergraduate students in the lab.

For both, the PhD experience is more than just an academic endeavor; it’s a job in itself. Employers, especially in science and tech fields, recognize this.

This is because the skills required to complete a PhD are usually transferable to industry roles, such as:

• problem-solving
• project management, and

However, not every industry values PhD experience the same. In more traditional fields, PhD may be considered as a ‘sabbatical’, which means the time spent studying is not considered for work experience. 

With such employers, you may need to orient your resume to highlight how their PhD research is relevant to the job opportunity they’re offering. This means portraying those years of dedication not just as academic pursuit but as job experience that has equipped them with a unique set of skills.

It’s about showing potential employers that you don’t just want to apply your knowledge exclusively with other PhDs, but are ready to enter and contribute to the broader job market.

Why Is A PhD Study Counts As Work Experience? 

PhD is increasingly recognized for the rigorous work experience it provides, especially by employers who appreciate such qualifications. Here’s why:

PhD Study Is A Full-Time Job, In Most Cases

PhD graduate has typically invested 4 to 6 years in specialized research, akin to a full-time job. This period is not just about expanding academic horizons but also about developing:

• a work ethic,
• resilience, and
• the ability to navigate complex problems. 

In labs and libraries, PhD students act much like project managers, overseeing experiments, managing data, and driving their research forward.

Developing Communication Skills

Communication is key in both academia and industry. Throughout their PhD journey, candidates must articulate their findings, often translating complex concepts for diverse audiences.

This skill is gold in any job, particularly when you need to explain intricate project details to stakeholders or clients. If you can communicate about abstract, complicated PhD-level study concepts to others, you should be able to communicate and explain things in many workplaces.

Working As A Team Player

Collaboration is another critical aspect. PhD students frequently work in teams, coordinating with other:

• researchers,
• undergraduates, and
• professors.

This experience is directly transferable to industry environments where teamwork and leadership are invaluable.

Ability To Research & Innovate

PhD work often leads to publications, a testament to the candidate’s ability to generate, execute, and communicate novel ideas.

This aspect is particularly appealing to R&D departments and innovative industries looking for fresh insights.

Strong Analytical Skills

The analytical skills honed during a PhD are unparalleled. From computational tasks to experimental designs, PhD graduates bring a level of critical thinking and problem-solving prowess that industries, especially in STEM fields, find indispensable.

So, when you spot a PhD on a resume or LinkedIn profile, know that it represents years of work experience packed with relevant skills, from project management to problem-solving, all crucial for a wide array of industry roles.

How To Best Include PhD In Your CV?

Incorporating your PhD into your CV can be a game-changer, especially when you’re eyeing positions that value deep expertise and research skills. However, you do not want to be too much of a show-off with it, as it can turn on potential employers. 

Here are five tips to help you showcase your PhD effectively in your CV:

Start with a strong headline that captures your PhD specialization and the value you bring to potential employers.

Consider something like this: “PhD in Computational Biology with 5+ Years of Research Experience in Genomic Analysis.”

Professional Experience, Not Just Academic Credential

Under your education section, detail your PhD not just as an academic credential but as a professional experience.

Highlight your dissertation topic and briefly describe your research’s significance and the skills it helped you hone, such as experimental design or data analysis.

What Did You Do And Learned When In PhD?

Bullet points are your friends when listing the responsibilities and achievements of your PhD years. Portray these experiences as job roles, emphasizing tasks that align with industry work. These could include:

• managing lab teams,
• leading projects, or
• developing new methodologies.

Mention Publications & Innovations

Don’t shy away from mentioning publications, especially if you’re aiming for R&D positions or roles in science and technology.

Each publication demonstrates your ability to generate new knowledge and communicate complex ideas, critical skills in many fields.

Translate Academic Skills Into Industry Language

Translate academic skills into industry language. For example, “supervised undergraduates in the lab” can be reframed as “managed cross-functional teams in high-stakes projects.”

This helps hiring managers understand the relevance of your PhD experience to the job opportunity.

By treating your PhD as both an educational achievement and a pivotal career experience, you can craft a CV that resonates with both academia and industry, making you a compelling candidate for a variety of roles.

Can You Use Your PhD Supervisor As A Reference In Your CV?

Using your PhD supervisor as a reference on your CV can be a strategic move, especially when you’re stepping into the job market.

Your supervisor, having closely monitored your progress over the years, can provide a detailed account of your capabilities, work ethic, and contributions to your field.

For PhD graduates eyeing roles in academia or research-intensive industries , a supervisor’s endorsement is invaluable. Just like a manager or a CEO, they can speak to your ability to: 

• conduct rigorous research,
• manage complex projects, and
• contribute novel insights.

In fields like science and technology, where the intricacies of your work might not be immediately apparent to those outside your specialization, having someone who can articulate your contributions clearly can set you apart.

Your supervisor can also attest to your ability to:

• work effectively within a team,
• lead projects, and
• mentor juniors.

This perspective can reassure employers that you possess not just technical expertise but also the soft skills necessary for success in dynamic work settings.

However, it’s essential to ensure your supervisor can provide a positive and comprehensive reference. A lukewarm endorsement might raise red flags for potential employers.

Thus, before listing them, have a candid conversation with your supervisor about your job aspirations and the qualities you’d like them to highlight.

This preparation ensures they are ready to portray you in the best light when contacted, making your transition from academia to industry smoother.

It Is A Strength To Be A PhD Graduate In Your CV

In most cases, a PhD does hold significant weight as work experience, especially in roles where specialized knowledge and research skills are paramount.

The journey of obtaining a PhD equips candidates with a unique blend of analytical, project management, and problem-solving skills, highly valued across various sectors.

Ultimately, how a PhD is perceived varies by industry, making it essential for graduates to articulate the transferable skills and experiences gained during their doctoral studies to potential employers effectively.

Dr. JW Ong holds academic degrees, including a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics from universities in New Zealand, Malaysia, and the UK. He started PhDPursuits.com as a way to share the experience he wish he would have had known before embarking on his PhD.

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Does Your Experience Counts As Work Experience (+ Examples)

Not all experience is created equal — but what counts as work experience and what doesn’t? This guide will explain what experience to include on your resume and why

3 years ago   •   13 min read

Entry level position … requires 3 years of experience.

If you've ever noticed a similar phrase on a job ad and seen red, you're not alone. Most jobs — even some entry-level positions — ask for at least some experience in a similar role. The problem is, it's increasingly hard to tell what counts as 'experience' and what doesn't. Is an internship work experience? Volunteering? Hobbies? The answer, unfortunately, is yes and no.

Here's exactly what counts as work experience for your resume, what doesn't, and how to tell the difference.

What counts as work experience (and what doesn’t)

Here’s a short list of things that can — but don’t necessarily — belong on your resume:

• Volunteering
• Internships
• Hobbies and extracurricular activities
• Personal projects
• Babysitting, fast food, and other side jobs
• University coursework

So, how do you work out what counts as work experience and whether to list it on your resume? Follow this simple rule of thumb: If it's the most relevant experience you have, include it on your resume. If you have enough other experience to fill up a one-page resume, leave it off.

How has the idea of traditional work experience changed in 2024?

As we make our way through 2024, we're seeing a shift in what's stamped as 'experience'. Sure, your classic job roles still snag that title, but there's a growing club of contenders.

The modern rise in remote work, the gig economy, and digital skills have redefined the definition of traditional work experience. Virtual roles are now as valued as in-office positions, and proficiency in digital tools and online platforms can greatly enhance a resume as much as paid experience. Post-pandemic employers value adaptability and independence, and modern recruiters are far more open to accepting personal projects, freelance work, and remote learning on your resume than in previous years.

Paid vs. unpaid experience

When deciding if your experience counts as work experience for your resume, paid positions often hold more weight with recruiters than unpaid experience, as these roles typically come with tangible responsibilities and expectations.

However, unpaid roles, like internships, personal projects, and volunteer work, can be just as impactful, especially if they're industry-relevant and showcase the right skills. In both cases, it's the skills acquired, projects undertaken, and accomplishments that stand out to employers.

Does volunteering count as work experience?

Volunteering is a pretty safe bet to include on your resume. Even though it’s not paid experience, most volunteer roles usually have similar requirements to traditional workplaces — things like requiring volunteers to be committed, on time, and perform their set tasks — which makes it one of the best things to include on your resume if you don’t have a lot of paid work experience.

Here's an example:

• When to include it: If you don’t have more relevant work experience.
• When to leave it off: If you have enough paid experience to fill at least one page on your resume.

Do internships count as work experience?

Not exactly — most companies won’t count internships toward the number of years’ required, but this can depend on the company. Regardless, internships are still a great way to demonstrate accomplishments in a professional setting, especially if they’re in the same industry as the jobs you’re applying for.

• When to include it: If the internship was in your field or you can use it to demonstrate transferable skills.
• When to leave it off: If it’s been a few years since the internship(s) and you’ve racked up more experience since then.

Does research count as work experience?

Post-graduate research definitely counts as work experience. If you held a graduate research assistant position, you can list that in your regular work experience section , including the employer, dates, and relevant accomplishments.

Undergraduate research doesn’t officially count as work experience, but you can still list in on your resume. Include your involvement in research projects in a projects, education, or publications section , depending on how you choose to format your resume.

Or here's an example of including a university project on your resume:

• When to include it: If you held a graduate research position or participated in significant undergraduate research.
• When to leave it off: If you were only marginally involved in the research and it doesn’t demonstrate relevant skills or experience.

Does college count as work experience?

No. While the education section is an important part of your resume — especially if you’re still in school or have only recently graduated — it’s not the same thing as work experience. Regardless of how relevant it is, it would look naïve and out of touch to include things like coursework as part of your work experience. List these in your education section instead — if this is your most relevant experience, it can still go at the top of your resume.

• When to include it: If you graduated recently and your degree is the most relevant experience you have.
• When to leave it off: If you graduated more than a few years ago, your coursework is less relevant than more recent work experience.

Do hobbies and activities count as work experience?

Generally, no — which doesn’t mean you can never list them on your resume. Private hobbies aren’t particularly relevant to most jobs, with some exceptions (for example, if you want to use your involvement in team sports to highlight your teamwork skills). More organized activities, like involvement in extracurricular clubs and organizations, are a better way to showcase accomplishments.

• When to include it: If you can demonstrate relevant accomplishment or transferable skills.
• When to leave it off: If it’s a personal hobby without any notable accomplishments, like reading or taking long walks.

Do personal projects count as work experience?

As Work experience? Not necessarily. But as a valuable addition to your resume? Yes! Personal or educational projects can be a great way of demonstrating how you've used your hard skills in action, which is far more persuasive than simply sticking them on a skills list at the end of your resume. If you can, link directly to a GitHub or portfolio so potential employers can judge your work for themselves.

Examples of relevant personal projects for resumes:

• Website design or development : If you've built a website from scratch or revamped an existing one, this can  showcases skills in coding, design, SEO, and more.
• Writing a book or blog : Demonstrates dedication, expertise in a particular area, and writing skills.
• Creating a mobile app : Shows programming skills and problem-solving abilities.
• Art projects : If you're applying for design or creative roles, personal art projects can display creativity and attention to detail.
• Community service projects : Organizing a community event or starting a neighborhood initiative can be great for roles requiring leadership or organizational skills.

• When to include it: If you want to demonstrate relevant hard skills that you haven’t used in a traditional work environment.
• When to leave it off: If it was more of a casual hobby or it’s still unfinished — completed projects make a better impression.

Does babysitting count as work experience?

Yes! Especially if you’re still in school, part-time gigs like babysitting, retail, or food service are a great way to show that you have a good work ethic and some kind of experience.

• When to include it: If you don’t have more relevant paid work experience in your field or industry.
• When to leave it off: If it was a once-off or very occasional thing.

Does fast food count as sales experience?

Yes, if you can demonstrate relevant accomplishments. Again, use common sense when talking about part-time jobs — if a job posting calls for 5+ years’ experience as an account manager and you spent a summer as an assistant manager at a restaurant, you’ll look a bit out of touch if you try to try to claim it’s the same thing.

But if the ad simply asks for “ sales experience ,” you can absolutely list appropriate accomplishments from a part-time job.

• When to include it: If you can include hard numbers or metrics to quantify your accomplishments .
• When to leave it off: If you only spend a few months in the job — especially if it wasn't particularly recent — you might be hard-pressed to list any real accomplishments from that position.

Do short-term jobs count as work experience?

Frequent short-term or contract positions can be challenging to present effectively on a resume. To ensure short-term positions reflect positively, group similar roles or list them under a common heading like "Contract Positions" or "Freelance Engagements". Emphasize transferable skills and notable achievements, even if they were gained in a short period. Using phrases like "accelerated project completion" or "quickly adapted to diverse roles" can underscore adaptability and value in brief employment stints.

What to do if you don’t have enough experience

It's the age-old conundrum: How do you get experience if you need experience just to get a job? Here's how to bridge the gap between your experiences and the requirements of the position and how to search for an entry-level role without any experience:

Get more experience

It might sound glib, but the best thing to do if you don't have any experience is to get some. Instead of waiting around for someone to hire you, why not take advantage of the gig economy and do it yourself?

Go freelance

Engaging in freelance and gig work not only offers experience for your resume but also provides a platform to showcase your skills to future employers. Create a freelance profile on sites like Upwork, Fiverr, or Reddit and advertise your services directly. It might not exactly be your dream job, but it'll get your foot in the door and allow you to list some actual work experience and gain industry-relevant skills.

Consider virtual and remote opportunities

In today's evolving job market, virtual internships are becoming more common, helping you acquire industry experience from any location. Remote projects also offer opportunities to showcase adaptability and digital proficiency and can significantly enhance your resume, especially for roles that value global perspective and competitive digital skills.

Contact recent startups

Recently funded startups are more likely to take a chance on less experienced hires, since they're an unknown quantity themselves. They often don't have strict hiring processes in place, which makes it easier to get your foot in the door. You can then use that experience as a springboard to bigger and better opportunities — or you might decide you enjoy helping to build something from the ground up.

It’s a cliché for a reason: Who you know really is more important than what you know. Reach out to people in your chosen industry on LinkedIn to ask for an informational interview , ask people you know if they have any job leads or if they can connect you with people who might, use your college’s alumni network, and reach out directly to second or even third-degree connections for advice.

Focus your search on graduate schemes

Plenty of employers offer dedicated graduate schemes to target promising entry-level candidates. If you’re in an industry where graduate schemes are common (think fields like finance, management, law, marketing, and even retail), it’s worth searching for these in addition to applying directly for jobs.

An entry-level resume template

Here’s a sample entry-level resume template that looks impressive — without including any paid work experience:

For more entry-level resume examples, check out our professional ATS resume templates .

How to write a resume with limited experience

Crafting a compelling resume with limited experience can feel daunting, but it can be done. Here are some key techniques to effectively showcase your achievements, skills, and potential, even without traditional paid experience.

List accomplishments in bullet points

No matter what you choose to include on your resume, always list at least 1-3 relevant accomplishments in bullet point format. You should start each bullet point with an action verb ( led , organized, revamped, etc.), clearly state what you did, and include the result or some sort of measurable success.

Tailor you resume to the job description

Customize your work experience for each application by:

• Analyzing the job description: Start by reading the job description thoroughly and highlighting the keywords, skills, and experience they're looking for.
• Sticking to relevant experience: If your experience a) isn't directly relevant to the job you're applying for, and b) doesn't showcase any relevant skills or accomplishments, it doesn't belong on your resume. Reorder your work experiences to showcase the most relevant positions at the top.
• Adjusting job titles (with caution): If a previous job title doesn't directly align with your application, consider tweaking the title. However, ensure that it remains truthful and is backed up by references or further details.
• Updating your resume summary: Tailor your summary to align with your intended position, and make sure to include the job title of the position you're applying for.

Highlight transferable skills

You don't need experience to highlight transferable skills that are relevant to the job you're applying for. Soft skills like teamwork, communication, time management , and attention to detail are in demand no matter the industry or role, so choose accomplishments that illustrate them.

Include the right keywords

To make it past modern ATS software, your resume needs to include keywords that align with the job description. As far as the ATS is concerned, it doesn't matter if those keywords reference volunteer work or paid experience, as long as they appear somewhere on your resume.

Upload your resume to the tool below to find out if you’ve included the right keywords and skills for your application. The tool also scans your resume for mistakes and gives you personalized suggestions on how to improvement.

List key technical skills

If you have hard skills — things like proficiency with specific software, programming languages, hardware, or certifications — list them directly in a skills or additional information section. To get a feel for what technical skills are required, scan the job description and browse our database of top industry-specific hard skills and keywords .

If you want to find technical skills relevant to the job you’re applying to, use our hard skills and keywords tool below — it’ll give you a list of skills to include in your skills section .

Create appropriate section titles

Listing other types of experience on your resume doesn’t mean hiding the fact that it wasn’t official work experience. Especially if you’re a recent graduate or applying for an entry-level position, hiring managers understand that you may not have a lot of paid work experience.

Instead of trying to be sneaky about it, be upfront about what kind of experience it really was and let your accomplishments speak for themselves. Some appropriate section titles to use on your resume include:

• Community Involvement
• Hobbies and Interests

Balancing honesty with a targeted resume

It's vital to find a balance between being honest about your work experience and framing it strategically to meet job requirements. Always ensure the skills and experience you claim are genuine. Over-exaggerating or stretching the truth too far can be seen as dishonest and will negatively affect your application rather than helping.

Frequently asked questions

Should i apply for a job if i don’t have the required experience.

Regardless of whether or not your experience is official work experience, Yes. Obviously, there's some common sense involved; if a senior or mid-level position is asking for 7-10 years of work experience and you have maybe one, don't apply. But if it's an entry-level position asking for 1-3 years, or a job asking for 5 years and you have a solid 3 or 4, go ahead!

Job ads often exaggerate how much experience is really needed or describe their ideal candidate when they aren’t realistically expecting to hire someone who ticks every single box. If you have a reasonable level of experience and meet most of the criteria in the job description, go ahead and apply — you won’t look silly or out of touch, and you might even land the job.

Why do job ads ask for more experience than they need?

You should think of the requirements in a job posting more as more of a wish list: In the best possible situation, this is what the ideal candidate would look like. But hiring managers understand that the perfect candidate isn’t always out there, so any reasonable recruiter is going to expect people to apply who don’t meet every single criteria. Just make sure you can tell the difference between a ‘nice to have’ and a true ‘must have,’ like basic qualifications or key skills.

How do I find out how much experience is really needed?

The job ad is the most obvious way, but it isn’t the only way. Search LinkedIn for people with the same job title and look up the company on Glassdoor. This should give you a good idea of how much experience people in that role realistically need and whether the company routinely hires candidates with fewer qualifications than they’re asking for.

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does grad school count as work experience?

By Guest Gnome Chomsky April 7, 2014 in Jobs

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Guest gnome chomsky.

I'm wrapping up undergrad and starting a master's program this upcoming Fall. Since I'm switching fields and diving into a rather rare field for grad school, I was curious about job opportunities. I started looking up job opportunities for my future degree (computational linguistics). Lots of the jobs I found required a "MS or PhD in Computer Science or Computational Linguistics and X number of years experience in Natural Language Processing or Artificial Intelligence (grad school counts)". Some of them included "grad school counts" as experience. I was wondering if this is common. I know a lot of people finish their PhD while they've never really not been in school. Meaning they went straight from high school to undergrad and undergrad to PhD. Technically, once these people get their PhD they have zero real-world work experience. So I would assume the work they did in grad school counts. I was just curious. A lot of people tell me I shouldn't pursue a PhD if I don't want to stay in academia, but if pursuing a PhD will help me gain "work experience" then it could still be useful to jumping into the job market. Anyway, so as I was saying, does grad school count as experience? 

TheGirlWhoLived

I would say it counts if you are a TA or RA. I mean, you are working for the school.. Some people choose to teach classes as well, which I would definitely think counts.

I imagine this varies by field and would also depend on what you do while you're in grad school.  In my field, a lot of people end up with industry experience through required internships etc. as part of their program, so you do end up with "real experience" in addition to the fancy degrees.

But hell, in general?  I'd say it counts.

Yeah, good points, both of you. See, I'm transitioning from a social science/liberal art to a hard science field so I have no non-school experience when it comes to this field. A year and a half ago, I had no programming experience and very little math background and just had a linguistics BA, before pursuing a computer science minor. Now, I'll be starting a one-year computational linguistics MS that is very programming-intensive. Most of the jobs in this field require a computational linguistics OR computer science background and a lot of programming experience. Since I've just made the transition, I obviously don't have work experience at any tech companies. My overall career goal is to do something not in academia, but I do really enjoy school and would be very interested in pursuing a PhD. A lot of people tell me a PhD isn't needed for a programming career, but if it'll help me gain experience and allow me to take classes in areas that I'm lacking in, I would much prefer to stay in academia for another 4 years. My MS has an option to continue on to the PhD. I'd love to do that instead of going right into the job market. I also feel like I wouldn't be qualified enough to go right into the job market since my MS is so short and I'm coming in as a newbie to the field. 

• 4 weeks later...

GandalfTheGrey

If employers are looking for experience in NLP, I would think that grad school would count if it gave you that experience and you can demonstrate sufficient competency in it. It seems silly to get a PhD just for "work experience" (but if it genuinely interests you, then go for it). You might even be able to convince employers that your different undergrad degree is a strength - maybe you gained writing experience or something else that would get your foot in the door in a related position while you gain more experience with NLP. You might also be able to take additional classes as a non-degree student to bolster your experience after you graduate. Does UW have a career office that would be able to help you with your questions?

And from one linguist to another, welcome to the dark side. =). Good luck!

From what I've seen in my field education can count as work experience if and only if you have a higher degree than the posting requires. So, if you have a MS and the posting wants a BS, you have 2-3 years of experience.

go for the phd if you are genuinely interested in getting it whether you plan on staying in academia or not. in my field, school counts towards work experience depending on how you present the skills you've gained whether though class projects or thesis. i labeled my experience section as research experience rather than work since i wasn't paid to do most of them and organized them by projects. if you do end up going for the phd, it's highly likely you'll be working on various research projects throughout your time so you should be able to put all that on paper. 

i suggest getting an internship or 2 (free/paid) while completing your masters, whether you're doing a thesis project or not. it could potentially help you decide whether you really want or need to go for the phd (in my case, i realized i need the doctorate to get where i want to be professionally after interning/working post-masters).

• 2 weeks later...

juilletmercredi

It depends on the job. Technically, grad school doesn't count as work experience - it's not the same.  However, some jobs will allow you to substitute education for experience.  I would say that unless the job says otherwise, graduate school doesn't actually count as years of experience. However, many people work during graduate school.  I don't count grad school as experience, but I DO count my research assistantship as experience.

I agree with juilletmercredi-- grad school isn't work experience. However, an assistantship probably is. While some jobs treat education and experience similarly, it's more common to see an allowance made for people without a degree than without experience, i.e. "Requirements: MS in Field Y, Field  X, or equivalent experience." This is often on top of stuff like "5 years experience with software Z and process A."

At least in my field, I often see advice to get some kind of office or clinical setting experience (depending where you'll be working), even if it's not otherwise relevant. This is basically to show that you know how to behave as an employee, i.e. familiarity with being reliable, email etiquette, and realizing that a certain amount of boring bullshit is not beneath you. You might be surprised how many new grads don't know this stuff, and how much it can help you.

The following is based upon my experiences working at the R&D lab of a multinational consumer/business electronics company and at a structural engineering consultancy.

• Graduate school can count as experience when those doing the hiring go through resumes and make the first or second cut.
• Graduate school can also count as experience when an applicant gets hired and those making the offer are trying to figure out an adequate level of compensation.
• Graduate school can also count as experience when management is figuring out potential career paths for a new hire.
• However, as has been noted, graduate school will probably not count as actual work experience when it comes to delegating a new hire authority to manage people, projects, and resources. 

Your experiences as a graduate student has the potential to work against you. Your employees and colleagues may well conclude that you have limited "real world" experience and take you less seriously than they otherwise might/should/could. On the other hand, they may assume that since you're very well educated, you should be able to do your job with a minimal amount of training.

A way you could potentially square the circle is to take courses that will help you in the workplace. For example, if your program requires you to do an outside field and UW has a business school, you might take classes in project management or technical writing.

IRT your goal of earning a Ph.D., I recommend patience. Wait until you have some work experience (gained during your time in your master's program or after) in your chosen field before making the decision. You may find that your industry has a counter-intuitive bias against people with doctorates, and the issues may be beyond your control once you have the doctorate in hand. You may find that there's a greater need in your industry for individuals with skills learned in a business school. You may find that you're simply exhausted and that you want to do some work and earn some money while taking a break from the Ivory Tower.

• hashslinger

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