2022
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Pede3 2 points ago +2 / -0

I completely agree. You'll also have a ton of competition with foreign nationals, both seeking a job in the US and with substantial outsourcing.

What is your current line of work? I also face the issue that my STEM MS degree is basically useless outside the field, and employers expect a PhD. Being a lab jockey only lasts so long too before you are replaced for younger and cheaper.

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Scroon 2 points ago +2 / -0

I never liked biology, and I was half-ass in it because I was on the med school track. I eventually left science and tech for writing, and that's what I do now.

So I'm an example of someone who just walked away from all of it. My science background does help a lot though in both my writing and life in general. Kind of a tough decision because of the "sunk costs", but my one bit of advice is that it's your life. Live it how you want to live. You'll never have any regrets.

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Pede3 1 point ago +1 / -0

Thanks for your reply.

I understand the sunk costs issue, but I've seen that the shelf life for most BS/MS bench scientists is limited unless you are extremely lucky. The comparison to the Apple products is quite apt - few people in the real world care if you can purify some compound or run an analysis. Writing is a far more practical skill.

I've been doing temp work, but need to get my life together and find something more stable.