Thank you for your words of support UnderVerse
I know it is a long hard game - with HARD being the operative word
Honestly this process of applying for jobs is the hardest bit of the PhD yet - the rest has been a doddle compared to this!

I'm due to submit my thesis within the next three months and have been looking for jobs for the last month. I am looking to go into academia (lecturing or RA in a relevant area) and this is the sole reason why I have done a PhD - to go into academia

When I started this hunt I went to careers for some advice and was told to expect to be unemployed - helpful

My sup has looked over my CV, but not sure what else he could do anyway

I have applied for 16 jobs so far and have heard nothing - well except for 2 rejections

I feel completely despondent about the whole situation - several of the jobs i have applied for I have heard have lined up internal candidates and have had hundreds of applicants.

I feel I have wasted the last 4 years of my life.

I feel like there is no point my finishing my thesis as there is little hope of my getting a job.

I am feeling really angry that academia is not giving new post-docs a chance - we are willing and able to do the job, are incredilby keen, are cheap to hire and are carrying out cutting edge research and academia isn't interested.

This isn't just me - I have spent some time today talking with a friend who is in a similar situation which is probably why I am so down about the whole thing.

At the moment I'm mostly p*ssed off that PhD students seem to be supported through the PhD, then afterwards/during the job hunt - nothing.... no support.... no help....
In business there are internships/starting positions/training schemes for those entering that field - for us = nothing

I am seriously facing the prospect of having a PhD and going back to stocking shelves.... what a waste

Anyone else in a similar situation?

Hey,

So i'm due to submit in the summer and have had no obvious choice for my external. Now it is nearing the time I think I have narrowed it down to 2 options and wanted to see what you think....

Choice 1
My supervisor's top choice I think. Prof. X is a good friend of his and is in the same discipline. However, his not work is not directly related to mine - i.e. I haven't cited him in my thesis. I know he would be an 'easy' choice. He is interested in my work and is very unlikely to fail me.

Choice 2
My top choice I think. My thesis is basically based on Prof. Y's work. I have met him at a conference and he seemed like a really nice guy and was very interested in my research. My supervisor hasn't met him though. He also does not work in my discipline, but fits nonetheless as he is the 'expert'

So...... I am personally favouring Prof. Y as I think it would be a valuable (and challenging in a good way) viva. However, I feel like this is a big decision for me to make without my supervior having met him before - I could be completely wrong about him being a nice guy after all!!

BUT - and it's a BIG BUT - with Prof. X I am basically guaranteed a PhD, but feel like I might be cheating myself.... does that make sense?

My supervosor is not the type to enforce his opinion so I think it is pretty much up to me. We have had so many conversations about this over the alst 3 years, but are still no closer to reaching a decision.

Any advice would be very welcome! Has anyone faced a similar choice?

Just thought I'd share that I have just 'lost' 2 tomatoes as the internet crashed :-( boo!

Just out of interest what did you reply?
I find it hard to come up with an appropriate response (i.e. one with no swearing in it)

Thank you for your suggestions! Will start looking!

Thanks sneaks - I'm looking more for a lectureship if I can rather than a research post. I belong to the BPS too so will have a look there - thank you!

Hey guys,

I'm tentatively beginning the job hunt and have signed up to jobs.ac.uk for weekly job alerts and wondered if there was anywhere else I should be looking?

Any advice would be welcome! Thank you!

:-)

hey all,

Just thought I'd update.... I've been sticking the the tomato technique and it's proving efficient so I'm pretty pleased with that. I had Monday off which was heavenly! I haven't had a day off in ages and spend it doing nothing at all :-) My laptop didn't even get switched on! I have decided to have a day like this every 6-8 weeks to recharge my batteries :-)

I had some good feedback from my sup too today. I had given him a chapter of my analysis and (whille it needs a few changes, but don't they all?!) it is up to submission standard and "very good." This now means I have a standard to work against - I have drafted abnother 5 analysis chapters so just need to bring them up to scratch. So things are going pretty well here :-)

How is everyone else getting on?

I'm just packing up for the day and i will definitely be using the tomato timer in future! 11 tomatoes and nearly 3000 words - feeling very pleased with myself!! :-) Not sure how this compares to most people but I'm pleased! Tomorrow will aim for 12!
I too will be recommeending it and also thought I was productive before! Why did nobody tell me about this technique in my first year?! I get easily distracted and go off on tangents so felt much more focused today as I had to work in short bursts
The light at the end of the tunnel is defintely more than a pin prick! It has been sunny here this afternoon so it feels like spring is defintely on the way too - a very positive day all round!
Hope you've all had good days too - I'm now off to treat my other half to a pint as he's had a bad day
xx

hey,
haven't posted in a while on this thread so though i would update
i've had a hard the time the last couple of weeks - feeling anxious about the whole submission process - from finishing it, to the quality of the writing, to the dreaded viva! this week has been a turning pooint though and am feeling like i can tame the beast! i'm going to start the tomato timer technique as some people have been raving about it and i'm finding myself lacking focus... will update later as to how many tomoatoes i managed!
i also realised yesterday that i am 70% of the way there with my thesis write up and that really helped - on the home run!!
i'm determined to get this thesis done on time... speaking of which i should crack on!

Hi Bilbo

Thank you for your reply! Now the job of checking over 80 footnotes over 270 pages - doh!!

Just a quick one: Should footnotes be placed at the relevant section in a sentence or at the end of the sentence?

e.g. In the case of X blah blah blah

Should the footnote giving further detail on X be placed at "X" or at the end of "blah blah blah"? I'm all confused!!

Good luck!! Let us know how you get on

Thanks guys! I'll go with Prof. Smith :-)

The PhD comics are good - it didn't offend Louise don't worry! The rest of the email was fine, it's just those first words I get hung up on!

Thanks for your help!