I've occasionally visited this site but have only newly registered and this is my first posting, seeking your help.

MY STORY:
Having completed my PhD (prior to which I earned my BA with a first and MA with a distinction), I worked as an RA on a one year fixed term contract and subsequently became jobless. I feel completely screwed up realising quite lately in life that earning a PhD would not necessarily get you a job outside the academia (where one is considered overqualified) and in the academia (where the prospects are very slim).

After a lot of soul-searching, I decided to go back to the university and train in a specialist field leading to a professional career with excellent job prospects and progression (e.g. teaching by completing a PGCE; Social Work, Occupational Therapy or Speech and Language Therapy by completing a 2 year Masters degree). I’ve already secured a PGCE place for September 2014 but 2014 entry into masters in Social Work (SW), Occupational Therapy (OT) or Speech and Language Therapy (SLT), etc, seems late (these require the acquisition of relevant work experience—paid or voluntary—which I do not possess). As it stands, I have to wait until 2015 if I opt for SW, OT and SLT professions. Also earning a PGCE in my BA, MA, PhD subject area should make me a strong candidate when chasing jobs post-qualifying in comparison to the fields of SW, OT or SLT, etc, where I’ll be a new comer.

............................................................................................................................................cont'd

MY DILEMMA:
I’ve just landed, through a foundation, a 2 year postdoctoral fellowship position which pays around €2700pm. On completion of this fellowship, I would most probably have to start searching for jobs and feared remaining jobless again. Whereas, if I take a PGCE (Sep 2014-June 2015), I should have a permanent job from September 2015 and shouldn’t have to worry too much about being jobless. To this end, the postdoc seems a temporary fix whereas pursuing a professional degree in, for example, teaching, social work, etc, seems a permanent solution. Age isn’t on my side and I have a family. In the light of the foregoing, what would you do if you were in my shoes? I’m really depressed and sometimes feel suicidal but for the thoughts of my very supporting spouse and lovely children.

Is there any possibility of pursuing the PGCE on part-time basis?
Most part-time programmes take two years, so by the time your post-doc contract draws to a close, you will be winding up with your PGCE programme.

hi bongoboy,
Yes I agree with the Engineer if the PGCE could be done on a part-time basis.

Don't be so hard on yourself. I agree with you that it can be depressing. But the good news is-- that you landed a job--and that is so hard to come by. So many, many congratulations for this!

If you took the postdoc position, at least your family would have less hardship financially, and at the end of the tenure, you would have 2 years' experience added to your CV. If it were me, I would take the postdoc position, set aside money to pay for the PGCE because the PGCE can still be done in future. We never know what will happen. During the course of the postdoc, you may come across more job opportunities and your network may expand.

Whichever decision you make, choose the one that feels right for you.

love satchi

If I were you these are the sets of questions that I'd be asking myself:
1) How competitive am I at the moment for an academic job (e.g. am I getting short-listed and just missing out or nowhere near), and do I really want one (being very honest about what the job is really like, rather than people think it is)? Would I be able to get enough out of the postdoc to considerably improve the odds of getting a lectureship e.g. what could you realistically get published? What sacrifices are my family prepared to make so that I can chase the dream - e.g. is my wife prepared to relocate anywhere in the country so that you can apply for everything? (This is a conversation you have to have, if you haven't already. If you are geographically tied, then the odds of getting an academic job fall considerably.)
2) Do I actually want to be a teacher / social worker / SALT? (Very different careers and the first two are notoriously high-pressure so difficult to thrive in if you lack the real desire to do the job). What are the realistic job prospects at the end - e.g. I know quite a few people who trained as primary teachers and can't find a post? What would my ideal job be and why? Is it the depression talking when you say you can't get a non-academic job without retraining or is it reality?
3) What are my priorities in life? Do I live to work or work to live? How important is a dream career to my happiness?
If you were single and really wanted an academic job, I'd risk the postdoc, but try to use it to network outside as well as within academia, to enable a two-pronged job search at the end. But you have family responsibilities, and it might be too great a risk. I'd involve your wife in deciding what way to jump - I think it has to be a joint decision.

PS I don't think doing the PGCE part-time alongside a post-doc is going to be viable at all (and the postdoc contract might rule this out). I've seen the hours people doing PGCEs have to put in - it's pretty brutal, and if you wanted to maximise the postdoc you'd also need to be working long hours. I think you do need to choose.

Hi i have a pgce. I found the job market very poor in my subject. Time wise, i think you would struggle even pt with a postdoc.

I am not familiar with education system in uk. So, cannot offer much advice to your problem. However, I can understand your desperation and confusion and can offer only sympathies.

Thanks guys for all your responses. I wouldn't be able to combine the PGCE and my Postdoc. Apart from the highly demanding nature of each programme, the postdoc is based in Netherlands and not the UK, making it difficult to combine the two.

@Bewildered, you raised very pertinent questions which I've pondered upon quite deeply. I would be more inclined to go into teaching -- I possess excellent subject knowledge and my intention is to teach in the FE sector after gaining my PGCE (Secondary) + QTS. I would like to teach in the FE sector because, unlike in the school sector where pupils are there mandatorily (and sometimes makes life difficult for the teacher who could end up controlling the crowd rather than teaching his subject), FE students are there out of their own volition and tend to be more serious and matured. After a few years, with further publications, my chances of moving to the Higher Education sector should, hopefully, improve.

Hi Bongoboy. I am in humanities too, secondary plus further education (11-18)

I'm agree with Engineer myself in that if you could do the PGCE part time alongside the post-doc, that is the way to go.

However, if you can't do you know for sure theat the PGCE would guarantee you a job in a years time? If so, go for it if it's what you want to do.

If not, then I would take the post-doc as that's at least two years works experience on your CV. You can revisit the PGCE and the other options two years down the road.

Ian (Mackem_Beefy)

I'm afraid to say that job prospects for humanities teachers, especially FE are about as bad as postdoc opportunities (FE funding is being heavily cut as are posts and salaries). Now if you were maths or science that would be a different conversation!

As you already have postdoc funding I'd be inclined to go for the postdoc, particularly when the need for compulsory teaching quals is being eroded anyway so you may find yourself with another qual that won't get you anywhere. Already in private schools, FE and some free schools there is no actual requirement for a teaching qual (FE requirements were revoked in September). You'd be better doing the postdoc and some part time voluntary work in schools or colleges or paid agency work to build teaching experience. Hope that helps with your decision.

Thanks all for your inputs. I found them helpful. Please keep your thoughts coming.

@wowzers: it's true that the current UK education policy allows academies and independent/free schools as well as FE colleges to appoint graduates without teaching qualifications to teach. The reality is that with a first class honours degree, two masters degrees - each with distinction - and a PhD (all from red brick unis), I could not get a teaching job. They're all asking for teaching qualification and experience. So, I have the gut feeling that the jobs are going to people with a teaching qualification and experience. This makes me think that earning a PGCE might make a difference. But, you're right, I need to be sure I'm not acquiring additional qualification that wouldn't add any value. My postdoc is in Netherlands which rules out the possibility of acquisition of teaching experience through part-time (paid/volunteer) work in schools.

I really feel like I duped myself into believing that working hard to earn higher degrees would land me an academic job! Life isn't fair.

hi bongoboy

Instead of PGCE, why don't you go for PGCHE? If you already have a phd, this might benefit you more. Some while ago, I put up a post about PGCE, QTS, PGCHE and GTTR details here:


http://www.bvog.com/?post=IDoL3O7kp5JSAbZMR


You may like to read it. Apart from that, I partially agree with wowzers.