I have done a post-doc for 2 years and I haven't applied for post-doc positions as there are no grants on my specialist topic area. I have a PhD and am a receptionist in Mayfair! I feel so ashamed- I know I am not better than anyone else inthe office- but surely I can do better. I am earning not even enough to survive, lucky my partner and I both share the bills 50-50.
Is it time I was less picky or should I now think about permanently leaving? I have applied for jobs over 6 months, and no management consultancy firm is even offering me an interview!
I am 28 and thinking of settling down soon with my partner. Should I get a stable job where I might be able to afford a morgagae and kids etc or should I take the safer option and make some compromises within academia? If I were to eventually secure a lectureship position, I would need to maintain 3-4 publications a year and how is that possible with children? Any advice out there? Help!

Hello!

I am only in the first year of my PhD so am not sure how qualified I am to give advice... However, I have been in similar situations - overqualified and in admin jobs so know how you feel. What is important is to ask yourself what you really want from life. If it is academia then it is important to realise that you aren't being arrogant or too picky - you are a specialist and have worked incredibly hard to get as qualified as you are. Don't worry about what wil happen when you ahev children as you can't predict that! have you tried to broaden your horizons a bit with the jobs you are applying for? Doing a bit of networking is always good too - conferences, ringing old mates/supervisors - touting yourself about... Generally though, you must do what would make you happy in the long-term, not quick fix solutions, as when you do have a family they will want a happy mum!

Best, Jayney

i would say try applying for other jobs related to your field apart from consulting. the main issue here is financial security. that is a dilemma that i am currently in myself. am considering leaving academia after my phd to get a non-academic job which pays well for about 5 years. when i attain financial stability, i'll return to academia. before that, i don't see academia as being a viable option for the kind of life i want for me and my family. hope that helps.

ps: no need to be ashamed. you are working and earning a salary! the most important thing is to prioritise what makes you happier - financial stability regardless of job type in the immediate future and a happy family in the near future, with the sacrifice of academic interests for a while, OR pursuing academic interests now and not being able to provide for a family - living on dire straits and only being able to provide in the long-term. i have personally chosen the former.

Thanks Jayney and Jojo for all of yoru advice. I do love my specialist area. It is a bit of a problem though, I need time to write up all 15 papers but at the moment earning a living takes over that and applying for jobs! So catch 22 situation here and can't go into academia again if I wanted to without proving that I have some papers to show for it after my two years postdoc work.
Jojo- can I ask you a question? Do you know how viable it is to actually go back into academia once you have had another career? I mean I hear that it is more difficult later on as you haven't kept up with the publishing and reading the literature? Can you advise me on how you will be doing this? And what kind of jobs are you going for after your PhD? What else could I do with a Psychology PhD do you think? Thanks x

Hmm, I understand the dilemma, will be in the same position soon (finishing PhD this summer then want to start family as will be 35, so debating options). I know for me, I need to do a job I enjoy - so for now I see no other option than trying the academic route, but no idea how it's going to work out. If I find that I can't balance family & academia, maybe then I'll reconsider - but for now, I have to give it a shot. Not having a family it's difficult to say what the best option is until we're in the situation. I don't see anything wrong with having a non-academic job if you enjoy it, and it gives you the financial security to take off the pressure while having a family. On the other hand, I think it's probably best to do something you're happy doing anyway, as you don't know what your success in having a family will be, and to escape to when you need a break from family life. Swings and roundabouts. In the end it's what will make you happy... financially or intellectually.

15 papers?!!!! FIFTEEN!!! Wow!
...but yes, it seems to me that publishing is the key, which when you've run out of funding is difficult to cram in - but if you want to stay in academia, they have to be crammed in somehow (an hour a day in the evenings?). Not that I'm any good on advice here - not having any papers myself yet. But seen it with my partner, who is struggling to get his backlog of papers out, but needs them to keep going in academia. For him it takes a lot of momentum to get going - so needs to take a week out to write a paper, others can squeeze it in evenings. What about taking a few weekends off to concentrate on writing them? Give yourself some deadlines. It's easier to write them if you make the decision to give academia a go, less so if you don't (from my partners experience!). Hmmm, something to look forward to... no rest!

may I just ask in which area you got a PhD in?
If it is business-related, going into management consultancies shouldn't be a problem at all. What's your experience with the big consultancies, McKinsey et al.?

If it remains a problem you may consider adding an MBA to your portfolio?

Seabird- that's exactly right! Hard to get started, I also think you have unlocked something here. I subconsciously think I don't want to find a job in anything outside of academia at least until I have written up these papers.....!!!! WOW!!!
I think I had better apply for some teaching or admin jobs in academia- they are easier than doing research and spares up time during the day to write papers- infact they positively enfoce it. That should give me a good kick up the backside to get them done. I mean - like you say- I have FIFTEEN in the pipeline- !!!!Then why am I so scared? Maybe cause I think should I send them off and they are not accepted - Heah I think I may be running away....You know what- I have always thought I would make alot of money like my family...I think that knowing I won't in academia kind of scares me- like they will think I am a loser or something....Seabird- thought of being a therapist!!!

Hi O'Stoll. Did Experimental Psychology. I am currently doing work experience with a small consultancy firm part-time for about 3 months. No experience with big companies though. Have applied to McKinsey- they are one of the only few who actually state that they welcome PhD's. Can't afford to do a MBA after having fnuded my own 3 year PhD!!!

Don't give up just yet.
If you try really hard to get into management consultancies, then you suddenly earn 90k or more, so it's sure worth all the time it takes, insecurity, doubts etc.

Thanks you all X I am so glad I have this forum. Especially Jojo and O'Stoll big KISSES X

I think I will attempt to get a university admin / teaching job where I can write papers, and then apply for consultancy positions...and then as Jojo says, in a few years once I have had the family and bought the house, can decide again.... X I am so excited I have a plan!

am so happy for you! decision making can be a nightmare. re - your questions: 'how viable is it to actually go back into academia once you have had another career?' - a lot of people join academia from industry or different jobs, so this one is not a big hurdle. if you need to catch up all you need to do is apply for a visiting scholar position for about 6 months prior to your academic post. you can publish new articles and keep up with the reading then. 'Can you advise me on how you will be doing this?' -

i plan to get a job - any job - thats gonna pay me well for 5 years while i have my kids and build a home - then i'll apply for a visiting scholar/post doc position and then join academia or a research job then. at that point money / starting a family won't be my biggest worry and i'll be able to do what i enjoy and have a lovely family and take a holiday when i want. my phd is in business and law, so anything in a lawfirm, business consultancy, auditing - believe it or not - at least they don't care what degree you did. they train you. working for a non-governmental organisation. anything really. am open minded. 'What else could I do with a Psychology PhD do you think?' Anything! your degree area doesn't mean you're stuck in that field. you could try business jobs. most business organisations would consider your application. degree specification is never important there. I plan to keep up with developments in my field in my spare time. evenings and weekends when i can.