In 2020, A. Rasberry (38 years old) graduated with a PhD in Business Administration from Saint Leo University, Florida (USA). The female PhD holder stated that for the past four years, she had struggled to find a job in her field of study. According to Business Insider , Rasberry was both unemployed and burdened with $250,000 in student loan debt (approximately 6.2 billion VND).

Since earning her PhD, Rasberry has applied for numerous positions without success. To make ends meet, the PhD holder had to lower her standards to broaden her job search. Eventually, Rasberry found a job in nursing.

"I thought education was the path to financial freedom, but I was wrong," the 38-year-old PhD holder confided. After receiving her PhD, Rasberry was invited to be a visiting lecturer. However, after a conversation with someone in the field, she decided to decline the opportunity.

"I realized that even with a PhD, I still needed to take additional pedagogical skills courses, accumulate expertise related to teaching, and hone my experience in order to advance," Rasberry said.

Having rejected a good opportunity, Rasberry continued her desperate search for a job in her field of study. Besides qualifications, most businesses required candidates to have experience and skills for the job. Realizing the situation was hopeless, Rasberry applied for jobs in accounting, auditing, tutoring, and human resources management, but none were successful.

The reason stemmed from the female PhD's lack of experience. During her studies, Rasberry gained experience in banking, human resources, and accounting, but this was still insufficient for employers. "I qualified for the entry-level position but lacked the skills for a management or leadership role. At that point, I realized that while my degree offered opportunities, it was also a failure," Rasberry said helplessly.

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A. Raspberry - a female PhD in Business Administration from Saint Leo University (USA). Image source: Business Insider.

Based on her own experience, the female doctor advises those pursuing degrees to spend more time researching job opportunities and seeking internships before starting their studies. She emphasizes the importance of expanding social networks, improving soft skills, and career planning.

Besides working as a nurse, Rasberry currently takes on several part-time jobs to supplement her income. In her free time, the doctor also studies to further her knowledge in the field, aiming to take advantage of every opportunity in the current circumstances.

Leaving stable jobs, young people spend billions of yuan on master's degrees: Some find employment, others remain unemployed . In a period of career stagnation, young Chinese people are abandoning high-paying, stable jobs and taking the risk of pursuing master's degrees in the hope of finding a new direction.