i haven't got it yet, but am not happy that people who matter are not happy for me and would rather i did what would be ideal despite the fact that no one is giving me the ideal job and those who are are paying me meagre wages. what would you do if you were me?

hi guys, today i got a response from one of the jobs that i've been applying to outside my field inviting me to the next step in the interview process. i was so excited, so i told my parents. they are so against changing fields. i have looked for a job in my field now for about 5 years with regrets all the way. i thought a postgrad degree would make things easier, but being an international student, firms in my field have been reluctant to offer me a job. my phd is interdisciplinary and as a result am able to understand other fields. now my parents think after spending 7 years on my subject i should get a job in that field - no matter what. am so discouraged. i was so happy and excited about this new job. returning home to work in my field would mean i was only paid around £100 a month for the first two years. this job offers £20000.

looks like some forum people are back.

are there any cheap editors out there who do phd editing? would like to hear more about this.

what is working for me right now is the prospect of someone else proof reading my work before i give it to my supervisor - for some reason, i feel motivated to give them something to read. hope that remains the case for a while.

thanks everyone for your tips - keep them coming - am definitely implementing your suggestions.

hey... i've started writing up and sometimes i can get a lot of work done and then i can go for a month and not do much. how do you keep at it - those who are writing up and those who've submitted their thesis?

am trying to finish this year (my third year). i've been procrastinating a bit and done my fair share of worrying about jobs. the thought of being a third year scares me, but i think its best just to keep going rather than to dwell on it. how about we keep each other posted on our progress? perhaps we start a new thread for pacing each other through the writing up process?

well done!

i did it as well. recovering now

alternatively take a few months and go and work from home. about three to six months would get you back on track emotionally - and you'll have the best of both worlds.

hi shani - am writing my second and chapter. i've written a paper for publication which i decided to make ch. 3. my thesis has five chapters. i hope to finish the first 3 by december/ january.

always writing is what happens when you're not so organised. i work best under pressure. without pressure i can't get myself to concentrate. am gonna be up for the better part of the night today. managed to write about 3/4 of it yesterday. today i'll focus on flow and fill in the gaps.

am also gonna be up for the better part of tonight. hope we can finish on time. later..

apologies for the typos - 'been' was supposed to be 'being.'

hi chris - am on 12 000 now, how is it going? i really need to work on my flow and my argument. that hasn't fallen into place yet.

Cyrogenics - thanks for your views, but I think it is important for you and everyone else to appreciate that am the one who knows the guy. with that in mind, i would agree with you in all other respects. this guy is not just 'helping me', he wants the credit for it and worse still, he fancies me and is using this as a way of getting 'close' to me.. so that when he asks, i'll feel like i owe something to him - which i don't- and accept him anyway. whilst everyone enjoys the chase, it's not great if you're been chased by someone you ain't interested in. there is nothing worse than that. any help within that context is just, for want of a better word, unhelpful.