23, BE India → MSc UK in Robotics, no work experience — is it worth doing a PhD now or should I get industry experience first?
Hello,
I'm 23 and just finished my MSc in Robotics in the UK straight after my bachelor's in India. No gap, no work experience at all.
I'm planning to apply for a PhD abroad with a stipend. The funding covers living expenses so money isn't the immediate issue.
But I keep second guessing myself because I have zero industry experience. Everyone around me is getting jobs and I sometimes feel like I'm just hiding in academia without ever facing the real world.
At the same time, I have a robotics startup idea that I've been sitting on. I keep telling myself I'll pursue it "when I'm financially stable" — but deep down I know that day might never come if I keep waiting.
So my questions to people who've been through this:
- Does the lack of work experience actually hurt you when you come out of a PhD?
- Is it naive to think a PhD stipend and university resources could be a launchpad for a startup idea?
- Or should I just get a job for 2-3 years, save money, and then decide?
I'm not looking for validation — I want honest brutal answers from people who've actually been through this or seen others go through it.