It would seem that my dream as a researcher extraordinaire is on ice. I got told today that there really is nothing at my university for me, and little prospect of it. I'm not even getting responses to my half-arsed applications for any jobs I'm doing to keep my jobcentre happy. So, I've just applied for a job as a research officer/facilitator. It's sort of my area of research and the money isn't too bad. The problem is that it doesn't fit into any long term career strategy and I'm not sure that it'll look very good on my CV. I told my supervisor and she was a bit dismissive, saying that it won't really use my brain or help me keep my hand in academia. But, I can't try and keep my hand in academia, research and publish for free. She then argued that I should apply for some fellowship funding, but I can't do that until next year anyway. Therefore, I think that this is the only way forward. The job market really is horrible and I'll be lucky to have employment. Hopefully I can pick up some new skills, network and seek new opportunities. Who knows?

It is far better to have something than nothing and it is far better to be employed than unemployed in the eyes of future employers. I really hope you get it and then you can use it as a stepping stone towards what you want, if necessary. You did the right thing in applying.

Best of luck!

your supervisor sounds exactly like mine - living in some kind of dream world where accomodation, food etc is free (or at least she somehow assumes that my husband will 'keep' me - pah!)

It is very worrying isn't it - do you get a job that might lead you off the academic path? I worry that if I don't get publications out very soon then that's it for me. Applying for funding seems to take months and months, my sup has mentioned this too, but a) what am I supposed to do during those months for money? and b) what happens if I'm like the other 99% of people who don't get the funding? - we can't assume I'll be successful!

I'm looking at a job in a private uni this month and as its largely teaching, then I worry about my career, but then at the moment keeping a roof over my head is better than not, plus an academic job anywhere is better than a shop job/waitressing etc. which is what I'm looking at otherwise (Not that I'm even qualified for that!)

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Your supv is advising you from her position as a very well paid academic. While the job might not be totally in your field, it does keep you in the academic milieu. 'Not using your brain' - that's typical academic superiority on the part of your supv of anything less than lecturing/100% research work. How does she think her dept. runs, how does she get paid etc, etc - one of my pet peeves :-s.


I think you did the right thing applying (up)

Yes, agree, supervisors don't always seem to be aware of what it's like out there for people who don't already have the permanent academic job! Anyway, who knows, this job might lead you off in interesting new directions that might never have occurred to you. I think more and more people are having careers that don't follow a simple straightforward line - that was the case before the current economic situation, and I think it's only going to be more true when people are so desperate for employment. So, go for it - anything research-related is a bonus these days I think! Good luck.

Or in many places those who do have a permanent academic job. My (work) department is losing 3 FTE out of 6.5 - when you take the head of department out of the equation as we have been told he is safe, 5.5 FTE are going to be chasing 2.5 jobs. For me it it may mean the end of my PhD as if I am not working we won't be able to afford the fees and if I manage to get a job unless it is in another university I will not be able to have the time to do my research (certainly 25 days a year annual leave doesn't go far when you need to do overseas fieldwork even if I were prepared to spend every day of my holiday on PhD - which with two children who I hardly see as it is I am not prepared to do).

There are so few jobs aorund that I would say it's better to stay in the university environment than go an work in a shop or call centre.

[quote]Quote From sneaks:

I'm looking at a job in a private uni this month and as its largely teaching, then I worry about my career [quote]


What is a private university? I've never heard of one.