Hi everyone, I was doing a research council funded PhD for 2.5 years but then I was offered my 'dream' job. Of course I didn't want to turn it down so I took it...however I am finding it really hard to finish off my PhD plus work full time. I spend the best parts of my day (when I am more awake) doing my paid work, and my PhD is really dragging. I think I have 6 months left but my energy and motivation (not to mention social life) is barely existent. There is also the constant guilt when not working! Also I must get asked about 3 times a day if I've finished my thesis yet! I don't want to give up my job because I would just want to apply for it again when I submit! Does anyone have any similar experiences? Thanks

First year of my PhD I was working, not full time but around 75% plus it meant rravelling to another country. I gave it up because it was impossible to concentrate on PhD. And I think it is bettern to get PhD as soon as possible and than return to work because with PhD you can earn more than without it:))) (In some cases)

Interesting. I am doing a FT PhD at the mo & teaching PT & doing a little bit of frelance marketing / events here and there. But I am absolutely sick of being broke. I mean the lack of disposable income is getting me down, more than I can articulate really. I have been considering looking for more paid work... Perhaps some consultancy or similar, as although I am registered as FT, I rarely put in a full days work ( shouldn't admit to this but it's true!)
Before returning to academia when I was working I sometimes put in 10-12hr days at th office & still had time for relationships/ liesure etc. All truth be told, I get up about 9ish and start work about 10/11 and pack up for the day about 5ish. I am just scared that if I make the leap to finding a job, my PhD will take forever.

I am a FT research fellow and a PT PhD student but I am lucky enough that the work stops when the thesis starts for now. I don't think I could live without the cash flow and just do a PhD. It would stress me out to have to budget and work hard on a thesis!

What is the URL for the web-site? I'd like to see that!

Thanks Mia, a very interesting article. It is good to put things in perspective - if (or should I say when - positive thinking!) I manage to get a PhD it will be a great achievement even if it takes longer than I expected when I started out. Sometimes it feels like I should have finished ages ago and I forget what a feat it actually is!

Thanks for your responses everyone - glad to hear I'm not the only one juggling the paid work / PhD question.