I would add that luck also plays a role in job hunting as in many other things. But if you can keep your spirits high, and keep making an effort you are likely to end up with something good at the end. I would also add that, in case of an academic jobs, when writing a cover letter, do relate your research with that of the current professors at the university where you are applying. I hope you have already done that.

I don't know for sure about here in UK, but I suspect that some jobs are sometimes not advertised and the hiring committee or persons usually end up finding someone they already know or are in touch with. So, networking is definitely important.

I wish you all luck with finding good jobs.

Quote From UKPhDStudent:
... But if you can keep your spirits high, and keep making an effort you are likely to end up with something good at the end.

I know that you are right, although it is easier said than done - I cried for 48 hours non-stop when I got the rejection e-mail! However, I don't surrender. I am starting an internship next week, and I keep my fingers crossed that it will lead to something more stable.

Thank you for your kind words - every little helps!

Dear ub40.

I find your statement "academia doesn't want people with dirty real world experience" quote curious. I would request some elaboration on that conclusion that you have arrived at. Loads of new knowledge and work experience you gain in the industry can better be applied in academics as well. I bet you have never worked in the industry! Forgive me, if I am wrong. I am only human to make mistakes in my judgement.

As far as I have seen at my current university here in the UK, people with blend of experience from industry and academics fare quite good and sometimes even far better. I have seen such people holding positions of responsibility at my institution and they have broad and practical view point towards solving real life problems, if that is what research is about.

Thank You!

I haven't been job hunting for as long as most contributors to this thread, though I'm already feeling quite demoralised.

A while back I sent a full thesis draft on to my supervisors, who are currently reading the document and will no doubt ask for at least minor revisions pre-submission.

In the meantime, my funding has ended and I'm less than a month away from being destitute.

Finding a job of any description is proving incredibly difficult, despite having spent more than a decade in industry before returning to education.

Part of the difficulty lies with looking for temporary work. I've registered with agencies, uploaded my CV to recruitment websites, applied for jobs that I'd argue are within my capabilities, and so far I've heard nothing. I've also spoken with the agencies in question, been met with little more than a shrug, and advised to keep checking their website(s).

Trying to make my CV fit employers' requirements is also extremely difficult. I haven't worked in the "real world" for seven years, and the highly specialised experience demanded in the average job description renders my qualifications little more than an abstraction.

I can't even take on teaching work at the university, because the limited number of hours on offer don't total the equivalent of a basic salary, while accepting such a role precludes finding work elsewhere.

I'm curious, how are other people surviving? Family members are not financially able to see me through this tricky period. I'm therefore starting to worry.

Nick1, you should be eligible for benefits, have you considered signing on? It's not ideal, but might go some way to helping you out?

Also, are you looking for a specific type of job or just any job to cover the bills?

I'll be in this position in December, and I'm really hoping it's not going to be this way for me as by then my saving will have run out and I also do not have any family members able to assist me.

Tree of Life, our circumstances sound remarkably similar, only I'm slightly further down the line.

The last thing I want is to demoralise you, however. You may find that things work out for you and that opportunities present themselves before you've finished writing up.

I applied for JSA and housing benefit today. I'll see what happens here and keep plugging away looking for work. At the moment I'm really only searching for something as a stop-gap solution. JSA & HB combined may not cover my living costs, despite my frugal existence, so finding a job, any job, is my priority.

It's so hard to predict what will happen as like you said, something may come up, but then again it may not... I wish you luck in finding a job and at least you have signed on so that's something.

I worked at a number of companies in industry before starting a PhD at age 27.

Your university is wise then, that's not the case at my (ex)university. Working in the "real world" doesn't produce papers. They're not going to hire a senior researcher or professor who hasn't been producing papers.

And the typical funding calls for postdocs allow you to apply up to 2-4 years after your PhD has been completed. So if you go work for a company for a few years after your PhD, and then decided to apply for postdoc funding, you no longer qualify. You can always apply for young researcher funding, but you won't get that unless... you've been producing papers.

The situation might be different in the UK, but I doubt it.

I wonder if I should now change my title to 8 months and still no job. Other students doing a PhD in my office are now lecturers. I've got papers and a patent and over 15 rejections where I didn't even make it to the interview stage of a postdoc interview. I'm really starting to lose motivation now.

Have you talked to them about how they found their jobs? Are there any features of their CVs that made them stand out? Could you ask them to read your applications for you and make suggestions?

This is normal. Many people facing this problem. We all face the struggling period. Just stay positive, keep your resume up-to-date and of quality. Keep applying throughout the year. You'll land a job :)

I have been looking for a job for 4 years and counting....... I got a rejection today for a PhD I really wanted to get onto as I am familiar with the work and have some herbalism as well as it is isolating herbal constituents for neurological applications.

I feel like I want to cry, in the last week I have had 2 interviews - one although may seem basic to a lot of you, will be tricky for me to do. And the other one, I forgot the stuff in the interview but knew it on the bus going home. I really don't know what I can do. There is a maternity job at the James Hutton institute and I am debating whether to apply for it as I don't have the experience in the molecular biology techniques, but they train you.

Yeah, we are all dumbasses on here; I wouldn't waste your time conversing with us if I were you. We are all losers that know only theory and have no experience. Hey, why don't we all pack up and quit our PhDs now?!

It's a funny kind of person who seeks out a forum and registers on it to post a single message contemptuous of the community.

Oh yeah, I think there's a name for it:
bit.ly/18g42cI

Normal service can resume.

consider what skills you developed that are not specific to just your field of study, and then look for jobs where you can use those skills. These can indeed be diverse (science writing.e.g).

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