I have recently completed my PhD (2 months ago) and had a meeting with my supervisors the other day to discuss my career options. They informed me that I was not intelligent enough to be an academic, and was ill prepared due my lack of preparation (i.e. too few publications, and not currently doing a post-doc) and that I should look into 'other' types of careers.They further went on to say that planning for an academic career should have begun before I even started my PhD.

Prior to my PhD, I was a clinician with no opportunities to participate in research. I also had a rough time of things at the beginning of my program, where I had to take some type of due to my disability acting up. When I returned to my studies, I was blacklisted and thrown off research projects that I was previously involved with (and performed competently). I approached my supervisors at various junctures to see if they would like put together some publications with me. Over and over, they expressed a lack of interest and lack of time, and told me to focus on my dissertation. Meanwhile they were grooming other students for academia.

I feel ripped off! I feel like my career options were pre-determined by them. Meanwhile, I put in all this time, money, and hard work and put together an amazing dissertation, and will probably not get an references from them in the end.

I am starting to think this PhD was a complete waste and a scam! What the heck do I do next?!

Hi, Well done on completing your PhD. Is your PhD connected to your previous role as a clinician? Something medical related. It sounds to me like you have lots of good experience which would be valued.

Have you been networking within your university, such going to seminars and conferences held at your university?
I went to one yesterday at my uni and met up with a few academics who do slightly similar research to me. I had not known of their work before yesterday. So there is overlap in our research area at my uni which is good to know and I wonder if this might be the case at your university?
I'm not sure I would write a publication with my supervisor.

Hi PHDiva, did you have a plan B during your candidature as well as the academia plan? Many people with PhD's don't go on to become academics at Colleges and Universities, but they do use their knowledge, ability to research, present and write in their professional careers.

As a clinician, you had few opportunities to research. Now with your qualification, are there areas of professional practice that interest you, which you could research, even as you continue work as a clinician (perhaps in a part time capacity). Professional conferences often want practitioner presentations and publications and professional journals likewise.

You do not need your supervisors permission to go ahead and carve out a niche for yourself as a practitioner researcher nor to publish. You now are licenced to go ahead and do this yourself. Creating a blog or website or applying to sit on the boards or act in some capacity in professional associations of your field might also be of interest.

Best wishes P

I don't believe the not intelligent enough part, although I've never met you (you're obviously intelligent enough or you wouldn't have got on or got through the PhD). It could be that they don't think you demonstrate traits that equip you well for an academic career. I still find it a bit odd though - since you've clearly demonstrated the main ones (perseverence, resilience, ability) through completion of your PhD.

It really sucks that you've been left in this position. I would still say go for it, whatever it is you want to do. It will be harder without their strong support in things like references. But do you have any other mentors in your field of interest, who might be able to encourage/support/advise/write references for you?

And by the way congratulations. No way was this a waste of time. No one can take away from you what you have achieved.

Your supervisors seem to be trying to thwart your way forward for some reason. Just see it as a roadblock that in 5 years time you will look back and think, "wow, I got over that", rather than seeing it as wasted years and years and years. It really isn't that. You've come so far and it is unlikely that they are going to be able to wreck your career ultimately.

What is the relationship between you and them now? Is it too late to start writing papers? It may be that they are thinking of publishing your data themselves (if that is the nature of your reserch) once you're out of the picture.