Anyone know what the average post-doc salary in engineering is? Just wanted to get a grasp of what the buy-in for people with a Doctoral qualification is.

I really don't see what the big issue with employers finding out MistaG, perhaps you can enlighten me? It isn't anything to be embarassed about. Some of us are lucky and just breeze through life. Others aren't. Surely it is better to show you are pro-active rather than sitting at home starving to death because you think it might damage your career?

As it is at the moment I am going to get my national insurance contributions paid. I really don't see what is morally wrong with it?

> Also, I don't think many PhD students have entered their studies with the mindset of trying to 'exploit' the system (by that I mean, I don't think their intentions would be "if I don't finish in my 3 year time period, I'll just sign on for extra cash").

Well I can tell you I certainly didn't. If I had someone offering me a full time job in my field right now I would snap their hand off. I am just about to send off another application this evening and have chased another up which I went for an interview with last week. I have to be sucessful at some point

Continued....(apparently message was too big for one post)

Then I don't think you would a good tax accountant...Loopholes are there to be taken advantage of myself.

At the moment I can still work full time on my PhD and I am still actively seeking work. Waiting to hear about a very promising position

If I am entitled to something is there any reason to stop me applying? Why would it send the wrong message to a future employer?

Thankyou for your useful advice there MistaG. Are you normally so helpful?

Just been for an interview with them. They won't give me any money but will pay my contributions because I live with someone. So looks like I will still be on the breadline.

I am in mixed minds whether it is worth the hassle to sign on every two weeks for that (after all I damn sure I don't intend to rely on the state pension when I am 60?)

What do you reckon is there more to contributions than pension?

Grrr I need a job and to finish this PhD.

I posted a while ago that my writing up had been to transferred to part-time thus making it eligible for me to claim jobseekers allowance (ever little helps when you haven't had any money since March).

However it has reminded me of a letter I had from the inland revenue a couple of years ago informing me of a shortfall in my national insurance contributions (At the time I had assumed due to myself being in education I wouldn't have a shortfall). Anyway I decided to file it away and forget about as what ever pension will be left when I am 60 will be minimal, plus if the shortfall is only 3/4 years I will be able to pay it at a later date when I am earning significantly more than a bursary.

I have just dragged it out however looking for my national insurance number, etc in preparation for the claim interview.

I was just wondering what others have done? Have you done the same as me and forget about it or pay the £350 or whatever it is for the year?

Sounds good, I will get myself down there. As I don't see the point in not claiming when I am eligible now. It will certainly help with the bills.

Yes haven't had any money since March so pretty skint, I thought I should be able to declare it as it is part time? (I am not too good at lying)

To the person who said "you have to be acitively seeking work"...Of course I am, don't intend to be unemployed for the rest of my life =;O)

I have just got an extension on my PhD for three months, as a part time registered student. So I am guessing that now means I can claim jobseekers allowance (because I am not a registered full time student anymore)?

Has anyone got any advice, or in the same situation?

Lets just hope the University will give me an extension and not time me out.

Thanks for the posts it has made me feel a little bit better.

I need to make myself feel better. Is there anyone else out there who is still writing and started in Oct 2002? I just feel like a failure right now, I have so much to do and no time to do it in =:O(

Well I haven't started working yet, started browsing around a little. I admire you for juggling both at the same time. Although I may have to soon as the money is running out.

I am about 75% written now but I haven't really had anyone to read it and critisce it yet. I just hope it is good enough, as it really has been a bumpy ride for me.

Today has been a bit of a downer, I have done abour 1hr 30mins, then just wasted the rest of the day surfing the internet. I know I shouldn't but looking at the PhD just gets me down.

We split everything 50/50 bills related from mortagage, water, gas, elec, and car insurance, etc. However we live more as common law partners rather than boyfriend/girlfriend. I suppose it all depends on how you see your relationship?

The only bill I don't contribute to is council tax. Although I did offer.

Anything like going out, petrol we don't keep account off. However to be fair he normally ends up footing most of the bill.

(Take 2: With punctuation)

Supervisors are normally particularly vague, and then when you ask for clarification you are in the wrong. Apparently you should already know.

Or perhaps that is just my supervisor?