Okay, spent most of today hunting around temping agencies in the city. I need to pay for so many things, keep my head above water so I figured I could do something short term. It was one of the most humiliating experiences I have ever had the misfortune to encounter (and I include difficult supervision sesions with that).

Most temp companies don't care that you can type, reliable, self motivated and have a wealth of skills. Most of them regard PhD students as lazy, greedy primadonnas, and probably because several have some kind of chip on their shoulder, delight in shooting you down. One even said "Just because you have a PhD it doesnt mean anything around here".

I am gradually becoming aware of the perceptions of PhD students in the world of work. Its a bit like Sophie in the apprentice, almost everyone resents it, and will take any opportunity to laugh at the slightest weakness.

Don't let that affect you. You did it, you are successful, intelligent and motivated. You can call yourself Dr Badhaircut.

Other people are just jealous as they would never get that far!

I had to endure this humiliating crap from bloody secretaries who in all likelyhood never made it past school. It is just frightning how insular the world of academia is, and how far removed from anything we can actually use to survive. The only work I was offered today was working in a hospital laundry for sub minimum wage, but they "would keep me on their books incase anything came up" (sniggering as they did so).

Applied for my 34th post-doc position today (in a field I dont really care about but am desparate), but something tells me with all the sh*tty luck I have been having, I should not be getting ready to iron my interview suit....

Maybe they are jealous, but they also have a steady income. Unfortunately, just having the title "Dr", doesnt mean that I can live off it, and doesnt seem to give you any respect either.

There are jobs outside of London en masse and we know that there are teaching universities out there en masse. So maybe you could consider applying to one of those (for a lecturer job) instead of complaining about the failure to be successful in post doc positions.

You did a PhD so maybe you just deserve a break from it all to get a clear view on what you want in life. Blind actionism wont help you but if you think carefully you can now make a major career move.

It all depends on committments such as relationsships, and factors such as general flexibility but there are loads of opportunities inside of academia (if you look a bit around and are flexible).

If they don't give you the respect you got to claim it!

Be self-confident, you got a doctorate, so don't let some arrogant, bloody secretary with a certificate in type-writing look down on you.

It's a horrible scary time, I do sympathise. I ended up temping as a medical secretary before getting my post-doc (thank goodness for the RSA typing course I did to fill my 6th form timetable!). It was practically minimum wage but better than nothing. My ultimate low-point was when I tried to apply for a job in Tescos but I was told that there was a waiting list for an application form!

It's quite demoralising to find that despite years of education and hard work, you can't get a job However, you WILL find something eventually. Good luck.

I don't know if this will apply at the University you're based at, but most universities have a notetaking/support service for disabled students and they take on staff paying them above minimum wage. I was a notetaker (outside of London) and was paid £9 per hour for notetaking and £7 per hour for support work. It was very enjoyable too and I got to sit through all kinds of exciting lectures from law to microbiology. Other than that, here exam invigilation is a good way to make albeit a seasonal wage - it's offered to staff and PhD students only. Might be worth approaching your Uni to find out. Don't be too disheartened by the agencies - we've all been there! You could always be creative with your CV ie don't list all your academic qualifications if the job doesn't require it! Do they really need to know?

wrong attitude - big time, Sassy.

"Don't list all academic qualifications", that's crap. He should be proud of his achievements and not hide it.

And what is all this stuff about 'note-taking' all about? That's a crap job. He should rather try to get a lecturership or Postdoc instead of going for the small fish. It's not easy to get a good job, but with patience and strong will everything is possible!

Its not crap, it makes sense, its short term relatively well paid work to make ends meet. You cant just say im waiting for a lecturing job when youve got bills to pay. Youve got to keep all options open.
Dont be so

Okay, I admit my response was a bit

Nevertheless, there are better jobs than note-taking, for example McDonalds (where I have worked myself). Plus, they ususally give you the option to work behind the till straight away if you have a degree, so you don't have to start assembling the burgers in the background.

Still, it might be a bad idea to take administrative jobs in the university, when the real thing you want to do (and are trained to do) is to be a lecturer. Think about it.

Add-on: you usually don't "wait for a job". You go out, pro-actively, apply to 50 universities if necessary and if it doesn't work you apply to another 50. That's the way I got all my jobs in the past and it was always worth the efforts and more effective than waiting for miracles or for a phonecall from Sir Alan Sugar who offers you 100k

Thanks Danny!

Hi Otto - That's a bit of a rude response for someone trying to be helpful who you don't know! I was not for one minute suggesting that he should not apply for jobs as a lecturer. I was responding to his need to find short -term averagely well paid work. As for it being a crap job - how do you know and how do you make ends meet - presunmably you do something well paid and brilliantly exciting and have no need for such lowly ways to make a living?

Also could be quite offensive to anyone disabled who has had valued and important assistance in completing a higher education!!!! I was a notetaker for people completing BAs, MAs etc. and it was a nice job where I met interesting people who complete their education with more obstacles than most.

I think if you're applying for jobs at a temping agency which I have had alot of experience of (obviously more than you Otto) you can consider two options - either
a) Not say you are doing a PhD if you are affected by other people's negative and demoralising attitudes
b) Say it with pride and accept that some people will not find it relevant to your job application and might be quite possibly rude/disinterested perhaps because they are having a bad day/don;t like their own job or just don't care.

PS Otto I think you mean "with patience and strength" not "strong"