hi TheReal
welcome to the Forum :-)

hi incognito
congratulations
this is good news at least, even if it may be temporary at first :-)

love satchi

hi izad (and your profile image is lovely!)
here are some suggestions:
1. you can use Google Scholar, just type in "e-commerce" and see what comes up.
2. use a search database such as Sciencedirect, Scopus, Web of Knowledge etc
3. go and see your librarian (there should be one for Business school students) and ask for help

love satchi

hi bongoboy,
Yes I agree with the Engineer if the PGCE could be done on a part-time basis.

Don't be so hard on yourself. I agree with you that it can be depressing. But the good news is-- that you landed a job--and that is so hard to come by. So many, many congratulations for this!

If you took the postdoc position, at least your family would have less hardship financially, and at the end of the tenure, you would have 2 years' experience added to your CV. If it were me, I would take the postdoc position, set aside money to pay for the PGCE because the PGCE can still be done in future. We never know what will happen. During the course of the postdoc, you may come across more job opportunities and your network may expand.

Whichever decision you make, choose the one that feels right for you.

love satchi

hi wasabi
I used to be a night owl because I love the peace and stillness in the night. But after my funding ended, I started living with my bf and then I had to adjust because he sleeps early, goes to work early, comes back early. At that time we lived in a bedsit so if I got up in the night, it would wake him up (light sleeper!!!) and I have to admit it was very difficult for me to shift my working hours.

But eventually his sleeping hours had priority (since he's the one earning the crust) and I gradually adapted. Being a night owl, I have found that my best daytime working hours start from 11am to about 3pm.

Yes you are right, lighting is important. One day we received a flyer about some kind of effective reading lights, I don't remember what brand--apparently recommended by opticians but then the bf checked out the price online and they were really expensive!!!

I tried the pomodoro technique but it didn't work on me I was simply not disciplined enough. I also take coffee in the mornings and a cup of tea in the afternoon :-)

Thanks for sharing and all the best :-)
love satchi

hi dotdottung
I'm sure you did very well in the interview!

did you ask them if the MPhil could be "extended/expanded" into a phd? If it comes with a monthly stipend, it is a good opportunity and who knows--you might enjoy it and excel in it. On the other hand there is a time factor to consider, would you be prepared to spend this time doing another Masters instead of a phd?

love satchi

hi tulip
I have been in your position and still the same today. I couldn't find any work, I kept asking my university -- nothing. I have not been on JSA and am actually supported by my bf.

I can tell you that it's not as bad as it looks, and when it gets difficult, believe me it will get better. There were months when we only had £415 (and sometimes even less after paying bills) between us. We didn't go anywhere, I didn't buy anything (and anything means dresses or little treats for myself) and stuff just happened --- like the car turbo blowing up -- that money had to be spent and the bf's spent months paying off his credit card bill!

Whatever it is, your mindset is very important.You need to think positive; if your parents can help out in some ways (buying groceries etc.) that would be helpful. If you worry now, you'll get more stressed. Take it easy and thanks for sharing.

love satchi

hi onegirlfaraway,
So sorry to hear that you did not get the postdoc position. I really don't think your supervisor sabotaged your opportunity on purpose. Besides his comments, the people selecting postdocs often have many, many outstanding applicants (and you are one of them) and it so happened that unfortunately the position was not given to you.

It's at least good that your supervisor was honest with you about it -- and perhaps you could tell him that getting a postdoc position means a lot to you, and that even if you needed extra supervision, you would find a way yourself to get the support you need.

love satchi

hi dotdottung
sorry to hear about your application. Unfortunately this is how things sometimes go. I have been unemployed since finishing my thesis, viva etc. If I'm not looking at jobs.ac I'm either watching TV, doing my music or housework--and sometimes the bf comes home telling me about how his day at work went--and little bits about colleagues complaining about their jobs--and then I wonder--but they HAVE jobs, so why still complain.

I agree with you that it is depressing to get a rejection for your phd application. I'm sure there will be others to come--and who knows you may get accepted for more than ONE phd?!

Don't take it to heart, give yourself some time and move on
love satchi

hi BBoy1975
a) You can definitely continue with your phd research when you return home. First, take a break to adjust, and then start making a plan of what hours you want to spend on your phd -- assuming you may have to find some work to support yourself. Another idea is to get in touch with people who are pretty much doing the same thing (modelling?) because this will provide you some support. To initiate and maintain communications with your supervisor-- before you leave, schedule a meeting with him and ask him to "agree" with you on how frequently you will keep in touch -- whether it's once a month, or once a fortnight, and even ask him if he will agree to meet on Skype or any other way online so that you can discuss your research more effectively. Put a reminder on your calendar as well so that you will remember to email/update your supervisor frequently.

I know sometimes it's hard to work with our supervisor--but if you are near to finish your PhD, surely you can endure another 12 months or so, think of it in the long term -- you will have your phd.


b) If you want to stop, the best way (in my humble opinion) is to say you were not able to complete the phd due to various reasons. Don't worry about people sneering, they don't know what's happening, so do not be affected. Wherever we go in life and no matter how good we do, there will still be people who are quick to judge and criticise. When you are looking for a job, concentrate on enhancing what you do BEST in your cv, not your "incomplete" phd. Present your CV in a way that the employer sees all the good things you can do and all the good things you bring with you to the company as an employee. If family members ask, just tell them the truth -- couldn't finish on time and funding ran out. And leave it there.

c) I just think that you are at a moment of low confidence. It will pass. Only you can answer this question.

hope this helps
love satchi

hi again tulip
I agree with Pjlu :-)

love satchi

hi tulip
honestly, I don't think the PhD is the cause of your partner's unhappiness--
the most probable cause (feels to me) is his job and yes like you said, maybe it's also where you live at the moment. Sometimes we find that we are happier in different locations -- they do have an effect on us.

ranting is very good for us :-) do post back here, at least we will always be here for you

love satchi

Lovely blog!!! You study virus in elephants! Thats awesome! Is your phd mostly lab-based? do you get to work around elephants?

love satchi

hi wishful thinker
Thanks for sharing. One thing though, you need to recover from any "trauma" that you may have had from your previous phd experience. It's like a little scar but you can get past it.

Don't say that you carry the dreaded stigma on paper -- say that you've gone past it and there is NO failed phd stigma anymore. You CAN rise from your failed phd. From your previous experience, you will do even better, cope even better in a new phd project.

Ideally it would be nice (in my opinion) if you started a phd AND still have a career to fall back on. but I'm talking career because at the moment it is so hard for me to secure a job

but when I think back about me doing my phd -- which (unfortunately) does not guarantee a job -- yes I would have still done the phd anyway.

Life has been kind to me as I'm not in a struggle to find money (although I would love to have paid work using my PhD). I wanted to do the phd so I did it and it has given me a lot of good and cherishable experiences.

If it is your dream to do a PhD, go for it.

love satchi

Received another rejection letter today! I had attended interview for this :-(
Just too bad. I'm putting on a brave front but inside I feel sad.
I know I'll feel better tomorrow. I'm usually optimistic and positive.

love satchi