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Hey All,

So as the months go by and I approach month 4 I'm still not getting into the PhD lifestyle and slowly realising that this is not for me (well 90% sure, maybe 85%). As such, I am applying for 3 or 4 graduate campaigns with companies I'd love to work for. I'm just wondering if you guys think I should put my current job down as a PhD researcher. I've done it on one application, and thing is that I'm not ashamed to say I gave it a shot and didn't succeed. In fact I'm still proud of the fact that a panel of 6 academics thought I was smart enough to fund me for 4 years :p

Its just I did so well in my masters (top of class b*&%*s!! lol) that all the talk of PhD's made me forget why I even did my masters...and it was so I could kick ass in the business world and make top dawg someday! So now my heart longs to be back in the business world.

Anyhow I'm just wondering how you guys would recommend accounting for my 4 months as a PhD student and how I should address it in interviews. Some personal friends have suggested I pretend like it never happened, but I don't want to do that!

Hello Roro. You have two options. You could state that you tried doing a PhD but that it wasn't consistent with what you later identified to be your career aspirations (or something like that). Alternatively, you could pretend that it never happened. I would do that latter as, given the short length of time you have been doing your PhD, you can't really claim any kind of credit for it. If anything, however untrue, they could conclude that you have little stamina and drive - even though you were a brilliant masters student and a panel of 6 experts thought you were bright enough to fund for four years. Good luck whatever you decide to do.

At only 3 months in I would just leave it off. Since you are applying for grad. jobs with only a short employment gap (presumably September after your MA) that won't look odd in this economy, you could leave it off. This would leave them to concentrate on your excellent MA and other skills, rather then wonder what made you leave your PhD and what this might "mean" for your "sticking power" etc etc. besides, without any actual research or papers in 4 months (I assume, no offence) you can hardly claim anything...

good luck! :)

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If you have learned much in your 4 months you can add 1 year experience, as many people do.
http://www.cvtemplate.net/cv/accounting-cv
http://www.resumeformat.org/Resume/accounting-resume/

Don't put it on your CV- four months is nothing when searching for work. However, you can mention it in interviews and be completely honest. Your reasons for both starting it and deciding it's not for you are perfectly valid. In fact, your explanation of trying academia (because you're really that bright-why wouldn't you? Many people would expect it of you...) and then your reasons for deciding its not for you, earmark you as a mature person who makes considered decisions.

Most people in the work world, who are not in academia, have a respect for the ability and motivation to obtain a Phd, but generally don't really rate them terribly much outside of this, unless it is a specific research field, etc, where such a qualification is a necessity. So for them-its nice to know you're really smart and could do one- most professional employers value intelligence. However they also would value the knowledge that in your opinion, this is not for you at present and the opportunities that they (company you apply for) offer are much more exciting. Good luck with applications.

Just realised how old the original post is...just ignore post!:$ Too early in the morning for me...