Hi all
I'm applying for a background researcher-type job, basically lit reviews and preparing info for others to use. They ask for the applicant to state salary expectations in the covering letter, and I have absolutely no idea what to state. I don't want to go too high in case they think I'm having a laugh, but don't want to go too low either. I have looked at the living costs for the area and all that to see if I can work out a figure based on that, but I'm just wondering, does anyone know what salary this kind of job has? It's in the environmental field, and jobs here either seem to fall within the £15-19,000 or £24 - 30,000 range. I was thinking about 22-24,000 for this position, as a compromise, would that seem reasonable?! :$

Detail all your living expenses (what's the minimum you need to live on) and then be mindful of the economic climate. I'd pitch about £23,000 - 24,000. Also ring your uni careers office and ask them.

Thanks Delta, I think I'll go around that. It's just a minefield at the moments, I've looked at salaries for similar jobs and they vary from voluntary to 16,000 to 29,000. I think 24,000 is a reasonable amount given a PhD background, I just have to hope my cv is good enough that they will be willing to compromise if they think it's too high. I was speaking to a prospective employer tonight and it's just the same old story - excellent CV, excellent website, great publications and presentations record, would love to hire me...but there is just no money for the jobs they need filled. Bloody bankers and hedge fund speculators etc have a hell of a lot to answer for. Rant over! :)

How are things going on the job front? Better I hope.

Hi Delta
Well, it's still all a bit non-existent on the job front, I've been applying away and doing whatever I Can to raise my profile, so hopefully it will change, but I'm not getting my hopes up too much. I've kind of gone through the whole mad-at-the-injustice-of-it-all phase, and have accepted that it will take a while, and all I can do is just apply away and see what happens. It's too much energy to stay frustrated for so long. I stuck an advert in the paper and will be starting school tuition for some students this week which has helped though, not a lot of money but a bit more to keep me going. I intend to move to where my partner is working in a few months, if I don't get something before then, so I'm kind of just biding my time, trying to accept the dole is where it's at for me.
I did meet with a lecturer at my old university to get an idea for what I should be doing to improve my prospects though, which was enlightening. My issue is that in almost 2 years, there has only been one advertised post-doc in my field, which I was second in line for, and this was before I submitted. So, since then, there have been none. I got my teaching job, but obviously that's not postdoc experience, so I'm still a relatively poor candidate for advertised positions. However, most funding applications for independent early career researchers require at least 3 years postdoc experience, so it's this ridiculous catch 22 situation. So, the advice I got was to just apply for small grants that will just about cover lab costs, get in with a lab who will take me on (should be ok as it's not costing them anything, and it's essentially to just do small projects that don't require a big time investment), and this way I can add funding applications to my cv - apparently travel grants etc don't count. So, that's my plan. I've worked since I submitted and didn't take a proper break after I finished so maybe it's what I need. I'm just applying, signing on, tutoring when I can and writing papers and looking for small grant proposals.
So, not great, but I'm trying to look on the bright side! How are things with you?

It sounds as though you're being really proactive and so good on you as I know how disheartening it is. Most of the jobs I was in for I've heard back from and most of the emails I'm sending don't receive a response. Once I find out where I stand with the PhD I'll be able to better plan but my strong feeling is academia is not for me and although I'd jump at a research post very few are advertised and I wouldn't be prepared to move away for one. I don't like this but if I'm pushed to it I will start some proofreading and copy writing and I'll not care who is paying for me to write the copy.

Haha, disheartening is one way of putting it! I got an email today to say I hadn't been shortlisted for yet another job, and tried to reason myself through it, being all positive and all, but I'm drowning under the weight of all this positivism! I just burst into tears as I was driving down the motorway, big shaky ones! Thankfully I was on my own! Proof-reading etc is one way to go, how do you get into it? Would you be able to get away with doing some tutoring etc? With the pressure on schoolkids these days to pass exams it seems everyone is getting tutored, that's my hope anyway (as depressing as that thought is in itself....)....looking back, if you knew then what you know now, would you still have done it? As much as I enjoy research, I don't think I would have.....

I'm in good form today and think I can answer your question objectively - I wouldn't study the subject I did and that's for certain (nearly 9 years in total). I'd have went to university and studied something less satisfying but that had good career opportunities. However, my age is against me and I wouldn't pay fees given what I now know about the value of an education

I do hope you're OK, you've gone through a lot and are going through a lot. Please try not to take your situation to heart, it's not you but the economic climate - YOU are very employable, it's just employers are few and far between...I could be wrong but if I remember you moved for the job you were in. I've done that twice now (for contracts) and am not prepared to do it again. I want to be able to have a pet (should I want one), establish longer term friendships and have a life.

If my back is put against the wall, and after I've exhausted all the avenues, if I can't get anything I will consider joining some essay mills and I'll not feel guilty about it. When I was unemployed before the PhD, the unemployment office had talked about sending me on a skills course to assess and perhaps improve my writing ability (they treat people not as individuals but as a mass). I was completely devastated and applied for PhD's here, there and everywhere in the hope the economic climate would have picked up by the time I'd finished but it's worse. Please do what you need to do to survive.

Just look after yourself.

Thanks Delta, it has been a bit of a run through the mill indeed. I guess it's not easy for any of us though, or maybe a bit more difficult for some than for others, I know you've not had it too easy yourself. I think a combination of supervisor issues, long distance relationship, moving for a job and now, unemployment have just wrecked my confidence or something. I got really good feedback from my viva and subsequent talks etc, and I've got two good papers that I'm in the process of drafting and submitting, but I just can't even bear to look at it. Which is stupid, as finishing the papers will really help my employability, and yet I just can't do it. The only thing I want to do is be able to settle down with my boyf and start living the life we've been putting off for 4+ years due to studying/working in different countries. But I can't move yet, and neither can he, so it's like life is paused, waiting to get going. I'm sure there are many people feeling like this, I guess it's just a case of holding on and sticking it out!
I can totally understand you going down the essay writing route though, as much as I hate students who pay for them, if it provides some income for you then fine - I'm sure they won't get too far on their own so it will all pan out in the end! I'm half tempted to skip off to live with my boyfriend and do it myself, although I couldn't do tutoring where he is!

I'm not surprised your confidence is low. I know it's hard and it may feel pointless at times but try to get those papers finished while you have the time. It will do you no harm and may even do you some good and interviewers will see that you have used your time constructively. I do hope you are not on your own and if you can't be with your boyfriend you at least have friends and family around you. There are websites which allow you to advertise your services such as people per hour but I'm not sure how good they are. What about online tutoring as well? Perhaps putting notices around the local universities selling yourself as a proofreader? I'm justing trying to think of things to tide you over, get you a bit more income. It is very difficult but you're not on your own. If I can think of anything else I'll let you know.

Try to stay strong!

Oooh I never thought of the proofreader bits! That's a really good idea actually, thanks Delta!
It's all a bit grim cos I'm living back at home at the moment and most of my friends are in the process of getting married, buying houses and having babies at the moment, so it's hard to veer the conversation away from those things, and most of what I tell them isn't really taken in! But that's ok, I understand it's exciting for them, I'd probably be the same if it was me! :)
How has your job search been going then Delta, any joy yet? Have you got papers still to finish too? I know I really should do them, it's time to get back to the old motivational tricks of the PhD days I guess! At least when they are done it will only be a good thing for my CV and I can really move on from it! We'll get there Delta!

At least you're back home and with people who care about you. I'm not sure what my plans are. I'm really not keen on moving for contract work but obviously don't want to spend my life unemployed and so I'm considering ways out or alternatives. It'll all work out in the end! I feel more sorry for you because I know you like academia.