Hi DrSeeker,

I just wanted to say don't lose hope. I applied for so many jobs that I eventually lost count... at least 20, probably more. Many I have still not heard from. I got direct rejections from about 7. But I've also had 4 interviews and 2 job offers (one of which I have now accepted). The key is perseverance. For my first few rejections, I made sure to email and get feedback on my applications. I found out I was unsuccessful because it didn't appear I had enough successful funding application experience. I did have that experience but it wasn't on the person spec for the jobs so I made sure with all others to highlight that I did have this experience. Then I started to get interviews. For my unsuccessful interviews I have also sought feedback (which in all honesty was completely not at all constructive... "you were great, no weaknesses, but we didn't chose you"...thanks). The thing to remember is that you can get careers advice from prospective employers that you apply to. They know what they're looking for and can tell you that which will only make future applications more successful. It's frustrating and time consuming and in all honesty, completely depressing, but you will get there! 

Keep applying, make sure you get feedback if you're unsuccessful, and build on making your applications stronger!

Good luck!

Good luck Chrisolinski... it'll be worth it in the end!! It's try that the more applications you do, the less time it takes to do them. My first few were a nightmare but after that it was just a matter of copying and pasting and changind the odd few words.

I hope you do well from this application though!! 8-)

I did 6 hour and a half focus groups (with 5 people in each), and then about 20 half hour interviews. Analysed them all thematically, and only the once. For qualitative research its the quality of the data, not how much of it you have. I've known PhDs to pass which were a case study of one person.

Well done Chrisolinski. The hardest part... actually putting the whole thesis together... is over! You'll have it in submittable form before you know it!! When you are ready to submit though, make sure you check it through thoroughly. I thought I had but am now finding little silly typo's! It's frustrating! Good luck with the next month!! :-)

I celebrated with friends last night and have decided I am far too old for celebrating. My head dislikes me this morning.

Thanks everyone for the well wishes though!! :-)

Nxsfan, I think you're right. My supervisor told me that he'd spotted some errors but his examiners didn't pick up on them so they passed him with no corrections.

I think it would obviously be great to pass without having to go back and change things, but I'd prefer a thorough examination. I've settled on the fact that I'll probably have minor corrections. If there's anything major though I might just cry.

Thanks guys!!

Everything is possible as long as you perservere!! 8-)

Can I be minister of education please? :-)

As the thread name suggests... I have finally been offered a job!!! :-) Yay!! I was worried I'd still be searching after my viva (which is soon), but my worries are over!

It's a research associate post at a really good university, so it looks like I'll be staying in academia for the foreseeable future which makes me happy!!

All I need now is to pass the viva and I'm sorted!

8-)

Wow... I'm amazed he had 35 friends to vote for him!

I stayed up till about 1am watching and then went to bed... but stayed up in bed watching results on my IPhone. Had a lie in this morning to make up for the lack of sleep last night though :-)

My supervisor passed his with no corrections... which kind of puts the pressure on me a little I think. No chance of me getting away scot free though!!

I've made a list of all the changes I've been making which I'm going to give to my examiners. Nothing major... just correcting the typo's really. Hopefully the examiners will appreciate that I've made the effort.

My viva countdown is beginning... viva is imminent... eeek!

Gee Gee ... I mean Garryck has my vote! haha

I'm busy going through my thesis as preparation for my viva, and I'm starting to worry about the number of typographical errors I've made!! The thesis was read by myself and 2 of my supervisors before submission and none of us picked up on these errors. They're not major... just silly mistakes, like putting experiences instead of experienced... general small scale typo's but they're doing my head in... arghhhh!!! :-s

If I correct all of these before my viva and let my examiners know I've done those corrections, would they still be counted in the corrections they give at the end of the viva? Like if they'd decided I'd passed with minor corrections which were the typo's I've corrected, will they just pass me with no corrections given that they'll already be done? Does that make sense?

I'm frustrated by my own sloppiness.