The PhD Trap
Three years after completing my PhD in chemical engineering at ETH Zurich, I found myself working in strategy consulting, where my doctoral title is often viewed with curiosity rather than seen as an asset.
The issue isn’t the degree itself, but the mindset it encourages.
Academic training emphasizes caution, precision, and exhaustive analysis, whereas many sectors outside academia value decisiveness, speed, and "good enough" solutions.
Author's summary: A PhD can be a trap, preparing you for academia but not the outside world.