Yes, it is. But why is true academia far worse?The real world is a harsh place, although true academia (tenure track) is far worse.
Massive competition for a very tiny slice of financial pie. 90% of postdocs end up with shattered careers and no tenure. At 31, I make more than I ever would as a prof. Saner work hours. Better building. More talented co-workers. No mandatory global migration. Need I go on?Yes, it is. But why is true academia far worse?
That's not really a PhD thing, it's more of a personality thing, to an extent. You either have some streetsmarts, or you don't.When I interview people who have their PhDs but no real world experience I get a lot of blank stares.
Why, what did you ask them?When I interview people who have their PhDs but no real world experience I get a lot of blank stares. [...] I only have my masters and I might go back but only after I see a real need which so far I haven't.
Oh yes, that's true. Physicists earn waaaay more in the real world than in academia. But streetsmart is imho more experience than talent. A rough neighborhood will make you streetsmart sooner or later.At 31, I make more than I ever would as a prof. [...] That's not really a PhD thing, it's more of a personality thing, to an extent. You either have some streetsmarts, or you don't.
I'm in trading, not in physics. For me, the 2008 crisis made me streetsmart.Trading financials in it was... interestingOh yes, that's true. Physicists earn waaaay more in the real world than in academia. But streetsmart is imho more experience than talent. A rough neighborhood will make you streetsmart sooner or later.