Hi all,

Some of you will remember me from previous posts; for others, this post will be the first of mine you've encountered. In that case, some context:


I've been a fully-funded PhD student on a 4 year (3+1) pathway for around 10 months. The extra year is to satisfy the funding body, as I already have an MA in Sociology. My problem is simple: (a) I'm not enjoying my PhD; and (b) I don't want to enter academia, upon its completion, pretty much rendering my PhD in Sociology useless.


So, I've been applying for jobs for some time now. And, success! I was offered a role with a university yesterday. However, I have some reservations and a dilemma I could use some advice for. We'll start with the reservations. Prior to undertaking my PhD, I occupied a role on a reception desk at a NHS Trust specialising in mental healthcare. I enjoyed my role as it was rather varied and no single day was the same, however, I always felt like it was a stopgap job on the path to something greater and more challenging. The job I've been offered is, once again, a receptionist role. One of my career options is to pursue a career in academic administration as I consider it a career I would (a) enjoy and (b) be rather good at. However, can anyone here shed some light on career development prospects within academic administration? Is it slow-moving? Is it possible to move forward from a receptionist role? I really really do not want to be stuck in that position for the next 3-4 years!

***CONTINUED BELOW***

So, what is this dilemma? Well, prior to receiving the aforementioned job offer, I was invited to an interview for a role in the NHS which deals with research and project management. This job is (1) more varied, (2) more challenging, (3) and pays a higher salary (£21,000 vs. £17,200, before tax). Like the receptionist role, it is also a permanent position. The interview is August 18th, but I must give a decision for the receptionist job on Monday the 11th. What do I do?!?! My problem is twofold:

(1) Do I take the receptionist job? It pays me £932 per annum more than my PhD, once tax has been deducted. Thus, is it worth taking this job or staying on the PhD and seeking more opportunities out? By my reckoning, I need to make a decision regarding the PhD by January. In December, the NHS Graduate Scheme opens, and in October the National Offender Management Graduate Scheme (NOMS) opens. I'm interested in both of these, and I'm sure more opportunities would arise in the interim too, so I'm unsure what to do!

(2) Do I go to the interview? My head is telling me YES! Its a Band 5 role with more responsibility and it offers a greater challenge. Even if I accept the job for the university it would only be a verbal agreement, not in writing. But, is this ethical? Could I really turn round and say I don't want the job anymore if I were offered the NHS role? Decisions decisions ... To complexify this further, I know research in the NHS is something I've always wanted to do, so this is an outstanding opportunity to do that ... argh! Maybe, I'm overthinking. Maybe I should just look at it like this: (a) accept or reject the job; (b) whatever I do, attend the interview. I don't know!

Thank you everyone for your time and inputs (hopefully!). Its good to get second, third, fourth, fifth etc., opinions on this!


MoC

Have you asked whether you could have a bit more time to think about the receptionist role? It's not unusual for people to be juggling several interview/offer deadlines at once.

Based on what it sounds like your career aspirations are, I would hold out for job #2 as it aligns more closely with your longer term plans.

I would definitely go to the interview for #2, regardless of your decision. Even if you decide to take the receptionist role for now, the other job sounds more like what you want to do long term, so it would be good to get the relevant interview experience.

Go to the interview, otherwise you won't get the job and then it's irrelevant what the ethics are isn't it? At least give yourself a decision to make. As for ethics - employers would stitch you up if they had (cont...)

The chance, so take the Uni job and if you get the other one tell the Uni you don't want it any more. Also, it seems you don't want to do a PhD, so take one of the jobs and forget about it.