when you're hiring, how important is a MS/Ph.D?
timwiseman: First, it clearly depends on the position and organization.  Some (especially when dealing with the government or large organization) will require it.With that said, for the mid-level developpers I have personally been involved in interviewing, I find it to be a positive mark but hardly decisive.  I have personally always given an interview to someone with a master's degree on their resume.Of course, more than one of those people with masters did poorly in the interview, while I have also seen people with no degree at all do very well.So in short, I think that a master's will normally help you get an interview, but rarely play much of a role in actually getting the job.