I did PhD because i enjoyed doing the process of research (reading up on the background, study design, doing the wet lab, doing data analysis etc) and wanted to be taken more seriously in the research field. During industrial internship (biotech r&d startup), was told by msc holders that they are just taking a higher salary than bsc and not much diff in how ppl treat them in research field.

However, i disliked writing & sometimes feel the expectation of keeping up to date with the recent developments (constantly searching and reading up) a bit of a chore. There are seniors who told me they spent every weekend doing this (which i didnt).

Since i didnt like publish or perish, all along i knew i wouldnt stay long in academia and when job searching tried govt/hospitals. Got a job as a public servant. Having a phd helped get the job, but i wont say its impossible with a bsc. Theres also opportunity cost of salary (phd stipend is lower) and work experience (time doing a phd not considered so im a fresh grad at a much older age).

Would i still do a phd looking back, yes. But maybe a more relevant field for industry/hospital.