I've nearly finished my MSc and I've been job-hunting for a couple of months. I would like to do a PhD, had an interview in June and came very close judging by the email in response, but I did decide I wanted to do one rather late so missed a lot of funding deadlines.

I thought I would wait and try again next round but have some questions. I'm getting nowhere with research assistant-type jobs. I'm keeping it realistic and from the feedback I've had am not too far off but they have a LOT of applicants and interview few. I can see that even if I am a potentially good candidate I may miss out on every job as 'close but no cigar' because someone else is a better fit, even if I could do the job.

I'm a career-changer with a humanities undergrad degree and was worried about that affecting my chances, but so far good marks on the MSc and have been told I do have something to offer (the PhD interview was a boost even though I didn't get it in the end, just knowing it was possible, and a careers adviser was positive about my chances). SO:

-I'm looking at other possibilities, like medical writing which I think would be a good combo of science and writing/editing skills I have from before/freelancing during MSc (though I know it often requires a PhD; however I have got an interview with one company). I would really like a job that uses my MSc rather than just reverting to what I used to do; apart from anything else, I feel it would look better when I apply for my PhD that I haven't just done the masters on a whim and then gone back to my old career, but have been getting experience in a scientific field. [Continued]

-But will this put me at a disadvantage come PhD app time - will I look like someone who isn't committed to research, or can't get a job because they just aren't good enough? My feeling is that I need a job and a scientifically related job is a lot better than working in Tesco or doing what I used to do, in terms of relevance for a future scientific career, but I am worried about not looking committed.

-I'm not just applying for the medical writer type jobs on a whim or because I'll take anything. I am genuinely interested and if I did get into this field and enjoyed it I would definitely consider putting off the PhD, but this means putting in the effort and looking committed. I have been told that participating in discussions on LInkedIn is good. However, is this going to look dodgy if/when I do apply for a PhD ie not looking committed if my name is out there online as eg a medcomms jobseeker? Again, I feel that looking for scientific jobs which may not be research-focused is reasonable at this stage, rather than holding out for 'research at all costs' and limiting my search.

-Conversely: I assume RA type jobs available to those without a PhD expect you to have a PhD in mind, but commercial sector jobs may well worry about commitment/losing someone they hire to a PhD and therefore understandably might be wary of me?

I hope this makes sense and doesn't make me sound indecisive. I feel I can't be the only one in this position and I don't want to appear indecisive or uncommitted, but it is a tough job market out there and I would like to maximise my chances of building on my MSc to get a job which I really enjoy or is at least useful experience and not a step backwards - and I think that means not restricting my options and considering possibilties other than academic research jobs.

I really liked your article this week. Yes, as a career service professional, I usually tell people to avoid rescinding acceptance of a job offer, and the major reason was to protect their reputation.