It sounds as though you're being really proactive and so good on you as I know how disheartening it is. Most of the jobs I was in for I've heard back from and most of the emails I'm sending don't receive a response. Once I find out where I stand with the PhD I'll be able to better plan but my strong feeling is academia is not for me and although I'd jump at a research post very few are advertised and I wouldn't be prepared to move away for one. I don't like this but if I'm pushed to it I will start some proofreading and copy writing and I'll not care who is paying for me to write the copy.

Thanks Sneaks - I will. There's a possibility I lost out on a job because I don't 'officially' have a PhD and I'm starting to panic.

I was given minor corrections and 3 months to do them. Some of the analysis wasn't right, although when I checked with my supervisor many times before viva I was assured it was. Not overly impressed with my supervisors, basically because I don't think they read my thesis thereby passing on their job to the examiner.

...and not been awarded a PhD as a result.

I'm waiting on the corrections being approved and frankly I'm in pretty bad shape because of it. Waiting on the outcome is holding me up and I may have missed a job as a result of it. One of the panel said they really enoyed my interview but although I indicated I had passed subject to corrections she made the point that one of the deciding factors was the successful candidate had their PhD.

I'm starting to get very uptight because I feel had my supervisors done their job properly, the corrections would have amounted to typos and little else. I feel they clearly didn't read my thesis (I've always maintained that, even well before viva) and so the corrections process is taking longer as a result.

I feel very, very angry and frustrated.

Good for you. It was only towards the end I realised I could be digging myself into a hole and giving myself more work which is why I made it clear that I needed a timely finish but that I had done sufficient work in the three years available.

I must admit because I received no guidance about the viva process I was talking about things I'd like to have done (ideally with time permitting) but didn't do and I now look back and think they might have decided to ask me to do those things as part of the corrections (which just wouldn't have been doable without further funding). Do be careful about containing yourself and not saying well it would have been great to do this and this etc etc. I made it clear that I was funded and had to work within a time frame because of that and so for that reason I couldn't do these things as they required too much planning, further ethics, external co-operation from organisations etc etc.

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At the right side (I think you go to the home tab) it will say something like top posters if you browse this you'll see were you rank.

http://www.postgraduateforum.com/LeaderBoard.aspx

As expected, I didn't get the job. Their loss will be someone else's gain...eventually:p

Try to remember, the outcome has most likely already been decided and you know your work but yes the day before viva is a terrible day to put in.

(up)

Telling me my thesis was fine, I'd addressed everything (when I asked) and at a later date going into viva and coming out with a lot of unexpected corrections and him saying something like, "There's nothing I didn't expect". I was astounded...

I can so relate to that feeling. The day before is absolutely terrible but if you're anything like me you just want to get it done. Very best of luck with it and try to get a good sleep, if possible.

I'm finding this stage terrible and really feel like screaming:-s

Thanks Sneaks for that witty response! I wish, oh how I wish, someone would confirm my corrections - it's driving me mad. I'll not be convinced I've finished until I get the all clear.

Why have I only four stars? I've made it into the top 20 but how far can I climb this week? Back me or sack me... Use me or lose me...

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I'm not surprised you're shocked. That's really bad. £30 for a 2,500 word essay. Surely these sites should pay their writers more? It would probably be best sourcing your own clients.

How are things going on the job front? Better I hope.