I know it is a COMPLETELY different field but I remember my English teacher mentioning that he purposely did not go for a PhD simply because he wouldn’t be able to work in high-schools if he did so.
I was wondering if there was anything like this in computer science. For example, what if I wanted to work on a startup or a low profile software team at a major tech company? Would having a graduate limit me from doing so? I understand I would be underpaid for my “value” due to my graduate degree but shouldn’t I still be able to do the job if that is what I would love to do?
I guess the main question is what options/flexibility would I close off by getting a graduate degree in computer science?
Anytime, someone applies for a job they’re vastly overqualified for, it raises lots of flags. If a Phd is applying for a job that would normally go to someone with a BS, it may raise multiple flags with a hiring manager. They may assume you won’t want to work for BS pay or you may not be satisfied with BS work or that you’re only taking it as a temp job until something better comes along, or and this is harder to explain: that you’ve been in academia too long. Early stage startups mostly hire through friends, connections, and personal recommendations.
Back when I saw resumes for software engineers (mostly people we were going to interview), most had only a BSc but there were quite a few with a Masters. Some got their BSc at a less-expensive university outside of the US and a Masters in the US. I do work with a few people who have PhD’s. It may be that PhD’s are much less common just because there is no need to get one.
Once you have worked for a couple of years it seems to come down mostly to what you have done and what you can do and who you know.
“Early stage startups mostly hire through friends, connections, and personal recommendations.”
There is a lot of this in later stage startups and established companies also.