Are you able to see a counsellor at uni? They might be able to help you talk through and come to a decision.

It depends on your relationship with them - do what you feel most comfortable with.

But before you do anything, have you taken a little break / time out? Sometimes that helps clarify things and there are fewer regrets later.

The thing is, if you do leave, it doesn't mean it is the end of the world - if you decide to pursue a PhD later then that option is still there. Or if on the other hand you think you want to persevere for a little longer and see if things improve, there will be other job opportunities that will come up. This isn't the be all and end all. If you don't feel ready to make this decision right now then you don't have to. The world (and the NHS) is full of opportunities and you can wait till you are more ready.

If you do decide to hang around a bit longer though and see how it goes, I would set a time period (e.g., 1 month or 3 months), after which time I would stop and take inventory - Have things improved? Do I now want to continue? Do I want to leave?

H Eng, what are you doing now? Just wondered (and sorry if you have already shared it in another thread).

By the way, what is it that is holding you back from taking the job?

I think that your supervisors will understand that you have to do what seems right for you at the time. You don't have to feel guilty. Supervisors being good to you even when you're ill is how it should be anyway - if they're decent human beings.

From what you've shared it sounds like you should take the job. Defo a good idea to leave sooner rather than later (less time wasted) and as you say you can do a PhD later (if that is your desire still) in the area you desire to do it in. Seems like that is definitely the way to go to me!

Is this what you did in the end ToL?

I had no idea we could get emoticons on here!!!

Yup, will do. Cheers all!

Hey Mattfabb thanks for sharing (and congrats). In my situation though, the postdoc doesn't actually exist yet as far as I know... (much less have I been offered one!)

As some of you may remember me mentioning, I was fortunate to get to go abroad for just over a month this Summer and work in the lab of a very good researcher who is also a great mentor. We are still working together now as we write up the paper from the work I did when I was there. The thing is... I want to somehow continue working with her. But (as described in other threads on here...) I haven't been feeling as confident as usual or that I have got what I wanted from my PhD (in terms of academic socialisation mainly but also development of skills), and the PhD students in her lab are great (nevermind the postdocs), and these things are kind of holding me back from asking her about a doing a postdoc with her. Can anyone offer advice / share their story?

The bottom line is - I guess have nothing to lose by asking. And the funny thing about this forum is - I only have to write a post and I already feel like I can see things more clearly even before anyone replies! :D

Sounds like it then. I guess the main thing is that you feel enough information is there for them to make a judgment about the quality of the research. Brevity is a good thing.

I think I'd be looking to make it longer. I recently had to do a 600 word one and could easily have done it in 200 or 300. But I guessed that b/c they were stipulating max 600 words they had an expectation that it should be more detailed than usual. I'd bump it up by 100 (at least). Not just fluffy words but more specific and technical detail so that they can make a more informed review about whether to accept it or not.

Aha, OK! Thanks!

Hi all,

Quite a few job ads I see say things like, "The funds for this post are available until 30 September 2019 in the first instance". What's this mean? That there is a possibility of extending the role, i.e they might apply for more funding/have the grant extended?

Cheers