Seeing as quite a number of us are looking for jobs at the minute I thought I'd start up a thread to share tips for interviews - mainly because I'm rubbish at them and need all the help I can get.

The one that always gets me is when people ask what the hardest part of my PhD was. I never know what to say :$

I used the same as palafour, but I picked them up instead of getting them delivered because I live nearby. My uni also uses that company for their hard binding.

It's hard for anyone to know what you like spending your money on :-) It sounds like a good amount to me, I was on £12000 per year, but this was oop North :p

I'd say work out your estimates a bit more accurately - things like rent/utilities/food bills/travel you should be able to work out. Then see what's left over that you could save/spend on fun stuff :-)

I would be fine living off that kinda money, but you might have a thing for desinger clothing and fancy holidays, if you see what I mean :p

I'm with Chris on this :$

Life scientist here :-)

1. PhD students can start at any time really - in my group some of us have started in October or September, but some in January, April... It depends on the project and the supervisor.

2. A bit of both - in my group everyone is expected to work 9-5 (roughly), and it's university regulations that you get 25 days holiday a year. How much of you take is up to you, I think I took about 3-4 weeks in 3 years. But there are other people that seem to take several weeks a year. I do know someone who was advised when she started to not take any time off. I don't think you have to "fight" for it here, providing that you're getting your work done :-)
Teaching is not a requirement in my department, or the funding I had. I don't think I know anyone in my group who has done any teaching during their PhD. However, this may simply be because we're in the medical faculty and are not actually medics... I think you're expected to do at least some demonstrating if you're in biological science, for example.

I tend to use Dr because I can't be bothered to figure out whether to use Miss/Mrs/Ms. I am married, but I have not changed my name - so both Mrs Maidenname and Miss Maidenname seem wrong. Dr Maidenname I can cope with :p

Oops, sorry. I didn't mean to advertise. Naughty me :$

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*content removed - advertising* and about a gazillion different university websites ;-)

I'm applying for assistant jobs too - don't see the point in not applying for them. I've only been applying for jobs in this area so far, however as of last week I'm applying anywhere in the country.I'm not quite sure what my hubby thinks of that, but we'll see...

Yes, definitely dark humour :-)

It's not an easy question to answer. In my field (cell biology) you're looking at £24-30k for a postdoc. The industry jobs I've applied for have been around £17-20k. But of course it would be different for maths/engineering and other subjects.

I agree with Slizor, if you're eligible, that is. I'm earning 0 at the moment :$

It'll depend on the university/department. For my uni it's:

- the paper based TOEFL with a score of 550 (with 4.0 on the Test of Written English TWE), or

- the internet based TOEFL (iBT) with 83 overall (with not less than 18 in listening, 20 in reading, 20 in speaking and 21 in writing).

For all the academic posts I've been interviewed for so far they contacted my referees pretty much at the same time as they contacted me about the interview (apart from one where they only asked for references after the interview). I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask....

Sorry, I didn't see your other post before I posed my 2nd post. Must be quite irritating having everyone go "Do voluntary work!" at you when it's not an option. My apologies.

Oh, and I agree with the voluntary work thing. Even if it doesn't lead to anything, it's experience and it makes you look keen :-) I've stayed on in the same research group where I did my PhD, and I've learned new techniques and it's quite enjoyable. And much better than sitting at home :-)