Hello all

Well, after feeling positive for ages, I guess it was inevitable that a depression was about to strike! Yesterday I went to a seminar on how to secure a post-doc - and came away feeling hugely depressed. The bottom line is that get anywhere in academia, you need to be really "entrepreneurial" (now there's a word I hate!), good at networking etc etc so that you're able to either secure grants or get to be someone else's researcher. I knew this of course, but this seminar really drove it home and I realised just how difficult life after a PhD is going to be, if I go down this route. And I thought the PhD was hard! Alternative career options depress the hell out of me. I don't want to do anything apart from research, but it just seems like having to continually chase funding and jobs is an awful way to live. I'm not good at networking, am in no way whatsoever "entreprenurial" and so find this all confronting. Makes me wonder what a PhD's for if there's no jobs and I'm probably not going to use it...it certainly won't do me any good whatsoever in the world of "work" in my area.

If I do go down this route, I need to start looking for research after my PhD. I live in the Asia-Pacific region and would like to work OS. I've been advised to keep an eye on research council funded projects in my subject area, and then contact the academics and offer my services - as well as look for the scarce-as-hen's teeth post-doc positions.

So - I know about ESRC - can people tell me about other major funding bodies or institutions I need to look at please? I'm in social sciences. Have also been told to look at sociological institutions etc. I guess I must still be clinging on to the dream if I'm preparing to actually start thinking about where to next...

At least it's Friday - am definitely gonna go out and moan to friends tonight about this *&$$%# PhD and associated life!! Thanks for any advice.

Hi Sue,

yep, the reality can be quite depressing.
You write that you only want to do research, yet you also recognise that networking, being entrepreneurial etc. are important to get anywhere in academia.
I have learned during the time in research that, indeed, having the contacts is very important, if not the essential part of getting anything done. For example setting up focus groups only happens once you know a certain amount of key players. As such I think that communication skills, networking etc. are an integral part of any professional job and for people like myself, introverted, one can only try to learn to improve in that area. Not easy, but I think the only way forward.

Hi Sue,

The lovely PhD rollercoaster strikes again...although I think the collective ups and downs of this forum might not appeal to any budding theme park designers?

I'm also looking for jobs and hate the networking thing. I'm off to a conference in a month and know that I should be telling everyone how wonderful I am and that they should give me a job...most likely I'll be lurking on the edge trying to be invisible. Not my strong point either.
There's also something a bit strange about the job hunting because I'm finally enjoying my PhD and in some ways it'll be sad to finish and move away from this life (in other ways not so sad - another weekend with my laptop and a glass of wine for company...).

I think the important thing you say is that you don't want to do anything else other than research; that's exactly what your PhD is for and why you did it. I'm a believer that you can make things happen (sounds so cheesy!), but determination is the way to get there. I think science is a lot less cut-throat networking than many other worlds.

My networking will be mostly low impact. I'm starting to look for advertised posts, but also working on a general CV and covering letter which I will begin to send to relevant people in my field. I've been advised to email anyone I've met at conferences etc and put the word out that I'm looking for work. I expect it to be a slow task, unless I get something advertised/find a hen's tooth! I've already been told that the current financial sitution, and certain key economic decisions made by the powers that be have reduced my options, but c'est la vie.

I'm partly social sciences so I'll have a look at my lists of people/organisations for this side of the world and see what may be of use. But that'll be tomorrow as i'm currently distracted by my empty stomach...

Hope the friends helped!

Thanks for the replies. Yes, I have done networking - had to do it in my last career - and so am used to it but still hate it. And like you Cakegirl, will prepare an email and cv and start flogging it around. Are you doing a proper letter or a covering email? Am thinking will do email so it's less easy to ignore and people don't have to open attachments. Or are you using snail mail? I've always just applied for advertised jobs and never had to go around cold calling, so am new to this. Won't be finished PhD for a good few months yet, but I know how slow academia is.

Oh well, few glasses of wine, bit of a moan, back to work...

Thanks for the support/tips.

Sue, I had an informal interview for a prospective position (which I didn't apply for eventually), but the Head of Dept encouraged me to apply to lots of universities on a speculative basis. He said just email the Head of Dept for every uni I was interested in, and say a little about myself in the email, and attach my CV (no need for cover letter or snail mail).

Thanks Missspacey, that's very useful, and I'll do that. Spent the day yesterday compiling a list of people I'd like to work with, and so now will also do unis. My area is very specialised which also makes it difficult - there's only about half a dozen experts in this country. Oh well, room for one more?? Now had better actually get on with the job of getting the PhD!

Hi,

I've sent you a PM with some weblinks, not much as like you I'm mostly targetting specific individuals. I'm planning to do an email. I'm not sure about whether to go attachments or email body - I always like to have a good layout of information and you never know how someone's email browser can reinterpret a bullet point list or paragraphs and make it look rubbish. But like you say, it's easier to ignore an attachments... I might try some name dropping "Dr Wonderful has suggested I contact you about ..." obvious, but might help avoid the instant delete.


:-)