Zutterfly, sorry to hear that but well done for getting your draft in. I took a break from applying for jobs. I just needed a breather after the rejections. I'm actually enjoying this quiet time, though I'd probably enjoy it more once the thesis is submitted :)

I am glad that you are enjoying quiet time Hugh. I thought I would too but I have been really restless actually. I have made a list of about 7 positions to apply for over the next two weeks and I need to learn to get faster with applications as the previous ones took days and days. I have a meeting with a uni I am on zero hours contract with this week to see if they have anything I can do for now.

Did you manage to get good feedback in the end (on the job front?)

I felt like that with the most recent one 'you were very close', 'the other person was slightly more authoritative' and also 'you did nothing wrong in the interview'- most confusing of all haha.

I am finding the application process much faster today as I am able to recycle pieces of older applications thankfully! I will be making sure I take time to myself though amongst all of this, I just need to learn to relax. It is difficult when trying to stretch my savings though as I cannot do anything that requires money. Went for a nice walk yesterday though with a friend :)

Congrats on getting the draft in Zutterfly!

Things are going well on my end, after a really torturous weekend I sent the full thing off for proof-reading, so it is basically done and I'm not going to change anymore content. My supervisor has signed the forms, and I just booked my appointment to submit for next Friday.

I am so unhappy with my thesis but trying to tell myself that everyone feels that way, and I might be blowing things out of proportion. Either way, for a number of reasons, the best option is for me to submit, get feedback from examiners and spend time re-working things next year if need be, rather than trying to guess what needs changing now.

It's a strange feeling being almost done... I'm hoping it sinks in a bit after I actually submit!

Well done teegs!! You are just one week away, that's amazing.

I always thought I'd be over the moon when I submit but I think it happens in such gradual steps that by the time you get to submission you feel a bit deflated. I think I'll only truly celebrate until after I've been told I have passed.

That's amazing teegs!! Well done :D

I agree with you Hugh in that, it probably won't sink in until after a successful viva as the submission process is just stretched out so much. When I handed my draft in, students who are in their first and second year were all asking if I felt nervous for viva...well, no because I have no idea when it will be and also, I feel like finding work is more pressing at the moment- it won't feel real until I have that viva date set!

Thanks Zutterfly and Hugh! Yes, it's amazing how it doesn't feel like a big deal. Just six months ago I was so desperate for submission day and imagined how wonderful the day would be. Then every time I hit a milestone (like having a draft of all my chapters) there was still so much more to do so it didn't feel like a big deal.

Good luck to both of you in finding work, I feel very grateful I'm in a not pursuing academia and going into a less competitive field.

I wouldn't mind leaving academia, I just don't know what industry I could work in :/ I have been keeping an eye out for research jobs in the NHS and also work in charities but aside from that I am quite confused on where my skills would be applicable. I am even applying for admin jobs but there is the issue of not having much previous admin experience.

Everywhere seems to want someone who can do the job with no training at all :(

On the plus side, I secured some casual teaching work which starts after Christmas for a few months, so this should keep me going for a bit :)

Good news about the teaching, Zutterfly! I am also considering both academia and non-academia at the moment. I could go back into my previous line of work, but I do want to come out of this with something a bit more challenging and rewarding than I had before. I am looking at more senior posts than ones I had previously, but unsure whether I'll have a chance alongside people who have done management courses. It is hard to see how or where we'll fit in!

Good luck with submitting your thesis this week, teegs!

I'm also considering both academia and non-academia, but I am leaning strongly towards non-academia. Actually make that very strongly!

To those of you who have had a proof reader, did the proof reader just use track changes on Word to make corrections?

I have not used a proof reader for my thesis yet Hugh but I have used the one I will be using for this in the past for another piece of writing. She did just that- put any changes in MS word track changes leaving me to approve each amendment.

Hello all,

New to the final year support thread but I am about 2 months out from submission and feel so exhausted right now. Need some kind words of encouragement....