good luck - my first one was rejected, but later ones were not. You never can tell!

let's be honest - the best bit is finishing it.

I am not actually talking about me in particular, all candidates I have been with have been treated in the same way at these interview days. It must be very nice for you to be in such demand!

just recently I have had to start looking for employment as my second short term contract is ending. I was wondering if anyone else has had the bad experiences I have had. I have been treated very shabbily, after travelling 4 or 5 hrs I have been thrown straight into a presentation without being allowed to even get a glass of water, then told I could leave without even being shown where the exit was! I have had to carry a suitcase into a presentation, been told to take two days off work so I can give a 10 minute presentation on one day and then a 30 minute interview the next day. What is going on? Are there so many of us after every job that they can treat us like cattle? What have your experiences been?

As for post PhD, there is little or no information about career opportunities. Teaching posts are now dependant on a PhD which after all is a training in research only. This was not always the case, many longer serving staff do not have PhD's. I attended a meeting recently where one item for discussion was PhD student dissatisfaction and drop out. One person said they should realise that the PhD experience was more about character building than anything else, going through self doubt, bullying etc. This is the position that used to be taken with regard to high school bullying, a position now seen as ridiculous!

Good luck QT

I hope you get plenty of replies QT, though I suspect many will be very nervous of this. My supervision was great, but I have experienced bullying from others. I believe that the dominance of the RAE is one of the biggest problems, academia does not reward good teaching or supervision, staff are recruited based on decisions unrelated to their ability to teach or mentor. The RAE focus is counterproductive. No-one seems to care about the PhD experience outside of PhD students.

Juno, I think that comment was very unfair, I don't think that QT was comparing her experience with that of Sarah Payne's parents, but using their response to their situation as an example. Reminiscent of tabloid journalism to misread like that.

also, yes I'm still on my soap box, teaching and supervision is not highly regarded or rewarded. Its research and publication. I have been involved in the interview process and they look for publications ONLY. Its the RAE first, second and third. If parents of UG students knew how poorly their kids were supervised they'd go bananas.

This is why bullying is so damaging, it can stop publications and end a career. Things need to change. You go for it QTPie.

QTPie - I fully support what you are saying, the only thing stopping anyone forming this kind of group, ironically, is the bullying they fear. I have my PhD and believe me the bullying does not stop, early career researchers and teaching staff get a really poor deal too. My problem wasn't even with my suervisor - who was great- its with other more senior academics who like to feel really important and powerful. I truly believe that academia has been privileged in monitoring itself. There is no universal structure to the PhD and the viva itself is truly opaque and woolly. Career prospects are awful - but they don't tell you this when you begin. I raised this at a meeting recently and was treated as if I were an ungrateful agitator! What I do know for a FACT is, despite their professed PC attitude - your social class matters greatly in this profession and can attract bullying. I have observed and experienced this time and time again.

Hi Eddi, I went through (still go through!) this. My supervisor said to me one day 'For God's sake remember this is only a PhD, you're not going for the Nobel prize! Just remember that, it helped me to get it all in perspective

Hi Oz I still feel like this too. I know more experienced academics who feel this way also. Its just the way it is. Some of it is power games, some of it is personal confidence. It will get better though.

I thought I was the only one. I didn't even actually upset anyone overtly - this academic just didn't like me. She has, I'm afraid blocked publications and had really stinging anonymous peer reviews sent to me via email. I am actuallly now frightened to send articles for review. I wish I could be completely anonymous. I think that academia is the worst profession for bullying I've never experienced anything like it. Everything - including the PhD process - is too opaque and students (and junior staff) are horribly unprotected.

Hi Mokey. I too have a journalistic style - which apparently is the biggest insult going in academia! I am trying to avoid this but unfortunately I like to make my writing too colourful. Try to avoid at all costs - and don't believe journals who claim to want submissions in alternative styles

there is a great chapter on Foucauldian discourse analysis by Jean Carabine in a book called discourse as data (by Wetherall et al.)

I agree with you blueberry but lets look at the reality. Universities are run to succeed with the RAE. Teaching is not rewarded or given any kind of priority. There is no choice for academics to find success as either an educator or a researcher - you have to be a researcher first, second and third. Of course postgrad students are picking up the slack. Since when did training in research prepare you to be a gifted and inspirational educator?