who cares?

Maybe my response was a bit harsh, but it's true that he should be proud of his achievement and not care what other people in a bloody temp agency think about a PhD. It's the highest academic degree in the UK and it is definitely somehting to be VERY proud of, in particular given the obstacles we are all facing in obtaining this degree.

Concerning the 'note-taking', maybe I wasn't clear on this, it's not a crap job per se, but it's a crap job if you have a PhD and want to be a lecturer, isn't it. Short-term, maybe, but not longer than for a month, otherwise your future employers won't be very happy if you put it on your CV.

To summarise, what I'm saying is that he should be self-confident and not care about some recruiters who might not even know how to spell PhD!

Apart from that, I'm not that snobbish to think that low-paid jobs are all crap. As I mentioned above I have been working in McDonalds for a substantial period myself.

However, there is a time in everybody's life where you got to fight for your rights and get what you deserve instead of selling yourself short or aiming for the minimum, if you get what I mean.

P.S.: Otto is a very rude person, so please don't be offended and take it as an excuse to ignore what I'm actually trying to say.

Good luck BadHaircut - I hope you know that I wasn't for one minute suggesting after three years of hard work you turn away from wanting to be a lecturer so that you can take up a note-taking career instead! Just understand the frustrating process of being rejected from temping when you just really need money to get by and can't face another temping agency. Good luck with all the job applications.

PS Otto - after your heartfelt plea I forgive your rudeness...

Yes, good luck BadHaircut.

And in my opinion it's a shame that PhD graduates even have to enter a temp agency after so many years of study and after being ususally the best of class (first class, distinctions) in previous degrees.

~Something's wrong with the system

Thank you Sassy, I'm honoured and flattered.

Now now - behave...

The truth is I am getting panicky as I will be homeless after the end of next month (last of my savings, cards maxed out etc), so I need something fast. I have written on spec (i.e. unsolicited) to almost 50 universities with a psychology department only to get very polite "Sorry but..." letters. As I may have mentioned before I have applied to nearly 40 post doc jobs, but although am shortlisted, just mentioning my supervisors name just seems to elicit sharp breaths and head shaking.

Have approached my own uni, but apart from a little work in the UCAS clearing period in the summer, they have been able to offer very little.

I think the worst thing is the expectations of others. All of my (non-academic) friends and family are saying "You are a doctor now, so surely you are in demand/ shouldnt have any problems finding work?". I think that makes it ten times worse. If I was say a struggling actor or writer, I would feel better because everyone knows actors that wait on tables, because of the nature of the system. However, if I do get a temping job/ or McDonalds /whatever I will have to lie to them because I think the shame will be too much to bear.

I am just so angry, and am worried that this bitterness may be unconsciously coming across to others. My usually ever patient girlfriend is getting tired (she appreciates what I am going through, but I realise that even she has some limits). Others have taken my recent fortune as a way of vindicating their own insecurities ("Oh, Badhaircut went to a top uni, got a first,got a PhD scholarship, but he still ended up as a loser. Ha ha")

I don't know if this will be any comfort to you, but most people I know have spent at least a couple of years after finishing their PhD (admittedly they've all done English: mock all you like) teaching on short-term contracts in multiple institutions at once, working minimum wage part time, and trying to write for publication in their spare time. You're not a loser or a failure. I agree with Otto to a certain extent; if a post-doc isn't appearing maybe you should look for some teaching work, because at least you'll be affiliated with an institution and you'll be getting relevant work experience.

Badhaircut ... can't you get part-time teaching at the uni you did your PhD at (or any other uni)???

Also ... if you approach other uni's there should be some type of temp work they have available.

Blimey, the uni I work at (which isn't where I'm registered for my PhD) chucks so much work at me that I have to say no.

Not come across this (not many of my research team taught undergrads).I am going to have to try this! Thanks folks!