Ha! Still works.

I cannot leave the whole PhD thing out of an application - how else do I explain what I have been doing for the past 5 years? If I just say "student" and not "PhD student", I think the first thing they ask will be "what have you been studying at uni?". I don't agree with concealing information in an application any more than I do with lying in one.

LittleMe, I sympathise with your situation. I wouldn't want to go on the dole either and I can't anyway because they will look at my partners income. I am not underqualified for the jobs I apply for, but sometimes I know they want someone with more experience in certain areas and I still apply.

I have never tried anything artistic. Have always assumed I will be terrible at it - my sister is the artistic one. Chances are I will be crap, but dammit, I am signing up for an arty course at the local community education centre.

Learning a 2nd language is on the list of things to do when I finish uni. Not sure Swedish is going to be very useful. Was thinking of Farsi maybe. Or I could be really predictable and learn Spanish or French - probably more likely to use either of those in travel.

Now don't laugh at this, but I have always liked the idea of cake-decorating - all those amazing flowers made of icing on wedding cakes - wonder if there are classes for that.

Ta for all the suggestions!

Sleepy head! Now I am going to bed. Goodnight, 404.

Well done. I know that feeling - I had lunch with my boyfriend to celebrate that day. It feels good to give the whole thing to your supervisors, even though you know you are going to get it back with some more corrections to work through.

Enjoy your donut and that great feeling!

Confession: I have never played Nintendo, Gameboy, XBox or any of those game thingys. Last one I played was PacMan in about 1984.

Probably differs for each uni, but mine has the thesis specifications (margins, fonts, figure/table heading requirements etc.) listed on the uni website. Perhaps you could search your uni website to see if they provide the same info somewhere?

Wow, you girls are great! Thanks.

Hmmm...I mountain bike a bit, but haven't for a while so should pump up my tyres and get back on my bike.
I LOVE baking, but have the same problem as some of you of eating what I cook (my boyf called my bottom "an amorphous mass not dissimilar to a stress ball" the other day).
A friend taught me to knit last year and I would love try again, so that is a great idea.
Book club I thought would be great to meet new people because we are still new to our city and it gets a bit lonely here.
Never tried cross stitching, but used to go out with a guy who did it when he was stressed. When it was exam time, boy, did his cross stitch kit get a working out! For Christmas that year I got a framed cross-stitch of a mouse with "Merry Christmouse" written under it. I had to vow I would never tell his friends he did it!

Keep the ideas coming.

And your last sentence makes me regret saying you are sweet at all. Chicky babes? What, are your friends 15 years old? Stand in stilettos for you? What, are you a pimp?

The sweetie comment was in reference to your willingness to discuss my current predicament with me. It was meant as a compliment, but I know that many guys do not take it as such. Seems you are just another one of those!

The whole retail thing is just clutching at straws for a job. I have some retail experience (admittedly not the type I applied for a job in the other week) so I thought I would do it for a while and hope a "real" job comes up later. Anything that gives me money each week and a reason to get out of bed in the morning, other than my boyfriend asking me to iron a shirt for him!

You are a sweetie, aren't you, Rogue? A chauvinist, but a sweetie!

I am assuming the "transferability" is the problem. I have never actually got to the interview stage with any of my applications, so have not had the chance to be told that by any employers. Problem is I have no choice but to "transfer" out of my field now.

I understand that people change subject areas all the time - which is why I am willing to try it. I only have to look as far as my own supervisors and friends for examples of that. I suspect the problem is that if any other candidate has slightly more relevant experience than me, my application gets put on the scrap heap straight away.

I know I will get a job one day. I can't be unemployed until retirement, can I? I was just so naive that it never occurred to me this could happen and that now it is, I am not coping. Pathetic, but true.

Finishing my thesis and not working has made me realise I have very few "hobbies". Not arty or crafty, never learnt another language (except Mandarin and Indonesian at school), and don't play sport because very uncoordinated. I am pretty much a boring sod and have only gotten away with it until now because I always had the student/PhD excuse. Any suggestions?

Tee hee. Go to bed, 404. Crazy woman!