Thanks both. Yes, they're putting me on a training course of some sort in which I hope will help. I know some of my colleagues Are doing or have done doctorates...but they've been there a long time. My big boss did a phd by publication and has hinted that's could be a route I could take. I guess it'll all become clear in time, I'm just worrying.

Hi (again)

Well, three years on from first posting on here asking ''how on earth do I get a job in a university', I've achieved that aim and from September will be a lecturer in a university education department. My main role is training teachers, however they also want me to research. The former I'm ok with, the latter...I don't know where to start. I don't have a doctorate, only a masters and have no publications to date. I'm on a fixed term contract for two years, so I need to get stuck into it. The head of my department has basically said to me already that it's what I make of it, and I so want to do well and turn this into a proper academic career. But I don't really feel like I know the rules of the game. It's all a bit intimidating because it's a Russel group uni and they're talking about research of national and international level. Obviously they think I'm capable of it, but I'm not so sure. What should my first steps be?

onion.

All gone through!

Thank you Tudor_Queen. I'm amazed myself. So happy. Although at the minute my stomach is in knots because I'm still sat waiting for my contract because their HR person is on holiday. I just hope they're going to offer a reasonable amount or be open to negotiation. I'm sure it'll all be fine though.

Thanks, yeah. I still need to confirm salary details etc but fingers crossed it's all going to go through ok, just waiting for the official offer now - delayed due to,the bank holiday,

I got interview number three. I had it yesterday. My heads spinning. . .Lecturer, fixed term for two years. I'm having collywobbles about it but think I'm going to accept.

Got it!!!

Just wanted to say thanks all for these tips. That part of my interview went really well, and I felt much more confident for having sounded it out here first. Still didn't get the job like, went to an internal candidate (not in a bad way, I'm sure they'll be better in the role than I would have) but was better than my other interview. So a step nearer, next one up in a few days time!

Thanks!

Im not an expert at all by any means but here's my thoughts, based on my limited experience.

I'm in the process of trying to get a job as a lecturer in education myself. My academic record is distinctly patchy, to put it politely.

Ive got a 2.1 (highly erratic...please, no one ever ask for my transcript which includes everything from firsts to thirds) from a mid-ranking (at best!) red brick, a pgce from a Russel group, and a Masters from a post 92' (although it is a distinction). All in different subjects. I work in an FE college (not a particulalry good one), and have done some Associate lecturing in a low, low ranking post 92 where I have a doctoral proposal on hold.

However...

So far I've applied for three lecturing jobs in education departments. By sheer coincidence, they all happen to be very prestigious Russel group institutions. And to my surprise, I've been shortlisted for all three.

Admittedly, the first interview was a disaster, and the other two are still to come. So its not like I'm speaking from a position of having a job in HE yet.

But if they are willing to interview someone like me, perhaps they aren't as sniffy as all that? If I don't get a job, I honestly don't think the unis I've been to will have much to do with it. Or even my grades. More how I do on the day, really.

So I'd say go for the phd at edge hill. Just my opinion though. Maybe I'm being naive, but that's my thoughts.

Thanks Tudor Queen. They're already doing some good stuff (a blog, open days etc) but I can see some gaps in what they've got too - not much in the way of video, social - so I think I should be able to do as you suggest. It's at the uni where I did my pgce, about half an hours blast up the motorway, so I want this job so much, was chuffed to bits to get an interview...although I've got another application in somewhere else as backup! Cheers. Onion.

Thanks also Piju. Definately I want to keep my number of PowerPoint slides quite minimal. I think broadly speaking I'm going to speak about: pr strategies with local media; web presence; building links with local employers; communication with prospective students through open days, email, social media etc. I think I can easily talk about each one of those for a couple of minutes.

I'm definately going to keep at it with the interviews and getting feedback. My first one was a bruising experience, but I did learn from it so I'm hoping this one might be better, but I'll see. I'm keeping positive. So far, I've had two interviews from three applications so that's not so bad. I'd have been daft to think I'd get the very first thing I applied for, so all I see going well really and I know I'll get there in the end.

Thanks pm133. Yes, the USP of the particular role I'm going for is that they are a Russel group uni which run part time courses (degrees and masters) for people already working in educational settings. So I know that communications will have to be very specifically aimed at local people fitting study in with work, not your typical student, but getting a prestigious qualification at the end. Everything I plan to propose would be very cost effective - pr aimed at local media, digital and targeted stakeholder communications at local employers etc.

Thanks hanginthere, that's a good suggestion. Cheers.

Quote like crazy from other sources. Everything you say, try and back it up. Having an impressive bibliography / appendixes is half the battle I,reckon. And include a range of sources - a mix of contemporaneous stuff like journal articles and websites alongside more seminal works in your field. A strong abstract is important too - look at some style models, and polish it until there's not a wasted word. A strong start and a strong finish covers a multitude of sins in the middle!