I spent my 4th year from just before Christmas until the end of September, so 9 months writing up. I struggled quite a bit with the process, got v slow feedback and had to learn all the things my supervisor said I shouldn't bother learning to get on top of it.

My friend retook her 2nd undergrad year after serious illness and got on a masters and PhD. I worked in admin for 6 months after my degree, then did work experience before starting a PhD a year after my degree (nowhere near the same but shows that small gaps are fine). I struggled to get on a PhD as I did a computer project in my final year, but once in the university I was able to negotiate more work experience and a PhD.
I also know someone who is in her 40s and has started a PhD after many years as a lab technician. I think using the work experience to make personal contacts is key, a lot of people I know do PhDs in the lab where they have already done a project.

It is attenuating circumstances, rather than you just did nothing for 3 years so should be fine.
I have also seen people "fall" into a PhD without much foresight/dedication or who change discipline and have NO experience and/or language problems and who STILL get offered a PhD.

The work experience is good, you should be prepared to discuss what you are doing (to show knowledge/that you can discuss it). If you are using laboratory skills you would use on the PhD point out how you already have some experience and how you are currently at the right standard due to this recent work. I think their concern (rightly or wrongly) would be that you would need to put more work in to get to the standard you were at 3 years ago. You can use the work experience to counter that.

In a similar vein, is there a FORUM (NOT chatroom) for post-docs or PhDs waiting for their viva or PhDs waiting to officially be called "Dr."
Is the section "PhD life" designed to encompass people who are not quite finished but who have left their department?
I'm not trying to cause trouble, I'm just asking (I caused a riot on another forum for merely discussing adding a section)!!!

BTW if they can't inform you of a course in advance, imagine the hassle for the admin staff of actually changing course/institution. I'm not sure it is possible and sounds like a more difficult option to take. You would have to justify why you had done that with future employers. I'm sure there would be IP issues too.

It's unfortunate, but I think you're just going to have to do the course in order to submit. You should check officially and start chasing people up. There must be someone who you can phone now or later who will give you notice about the course given your situation-maybe the actual person running the course. Try and bypass the admin people and find the directly relevent person, or tackle with your supervisor and get them to add weight to your arguement? Friday is not enough notice if you are working, and it is unlikely you can financially cope with losing your job just to go on a week's course.
It may be that you can still submit but just not graduate without the course. Even library fines can stop you graduating at a university....

Interestingly after a mini-rant to the nice man at the agency he has somehow got me an interview even though they said I was overqualified and would leave straight away. I pointed out I was temping on not much above the minimum wage and it's my choice
I am confused as they only want a HND (or HNC?) but it is a graduate-level salary and a very thorough interview with about 5 parts. I would see it as something to get initial experience so I could move up the company/get a job where they asked for "experience."

And I am still working for Office bloody angels...

I have an interview there this week

Biochemistry (enzymes/NMR/protein expression)

Thanks for your replies
I'll try my careers service again.

Does anyone have an experience of getting PhD level jobs in industry? How did you manage it? I don't have any industry experience so I either get told I need experience or I am "overqualified" and I will be bored and leave so they won't take me on. Is there anyway of countering this, or is it just trying more and more companies until someone will take me on?
I am limiting myself by location to stay with my partner which I may have to reconsider in a few months. I feel very down as I am currently working as a temporary receptionist on an extremely low wage.

I'm not sure you can anticipate questions...it is all about confidence,and there is some advice on the other thread. I've felt exactly like you, I have lost a lot of self confidence on my PhD and still feel I'm not good enough-even after finishing it! I've decided academia isn't for me, but talks are something that takes practice.
Do you talk to your lab? You could do with a number of people asking you questions in a safer situation as they will all have different perspectives and knowledge.

Good luck. My interview suit is my viva outfit so no shopping for me I guess!

I've had some dreadful talks. Once when my confidence was really low my advisor ripped my work to pieces and people approached me afterwards to say how that was really uncalled for. Another time my supervisor took over my questions (more on someone else's project) and spoke with his departmental buddies into coffee completely ignoring me so I ended up just leaving when it was officially over.

I would agree with what badhaircut said. I was stay away from saying you thought it went badly and pretend to be positive if it is a professional relationship you have with your supervisor. If he/she is more of a mentor then maybe share all your feelings. I would approach it by saying you would like some help on improving your presentation skills and/or pick specific areas/slides to look at. It could be uncomfortable to discuss you doing badly-especially if they were being polite, and they may start associating you with the "bad" talk. Academics tend to be quite thick-skinned about this sort of thing and you're expected to sort it out, use some initiative and get on with it! You could possibly try getting an opinion from someone else in the talk as it may have come across better than you thought, and you might be being overly critical.