Molecular biology or gas fitting?
The Daily Telegraph ran a story last month about a molecular biologist in the UK who is quitting to earn more money fitting gas boilers.
“My plumber was fitting my boiler and said he assumed I had loads of money because I had a PhD,” Dr Gensberg said. “I happened to have my pay slip to hand, so I showed it to him and he was absolutely gobsmacked.
“He said he earned £33,000 and some of his colleagues took home £50,000. I just thought what am I doing? My work is a combination of zero career structure, contractual abuse and pathetic pay, which is a pretty poor package.”
The last straw, however:
Dr Gensberg claimed that when he told the university of his plans, they said they might offer him a job as a gas fitter.
