I'm a Meta data scientist. My Ph.D sets me apart in Big Tech — but I wouldn't recommend my path to everyone.

Ramanathan said his Ph.D taught him to value skepticism and verification. Courtesy of Anand Ramanathan Anand Ramanthan ignored advice to major in computer science, and instead studied physics to Ph.D level. He pivoted to data science and said the skills he gained during his Ph.D serve him in Big Tech. But it can be hard to explain how Ph.D skills translate to a corporate job, Ramanathan said. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Anand Ramanathan, who works at Meta and live...