:D Congrats! On the downhill now!

To be honest the only part I've really disliked is the end. And even then it's not just simple dislike...

I've enjoyed it immensely, even when the research has hit snags or when there have been tight deadlines. I can't really think of much, if anything, that would have made me as happy these past three years as my PhD has. I do want it to be over though so I can actually start my career, and earn something. The end just seems to be lots of paperwork and waiting though which is frustrating.

To be honest the only part I've really disliked is the end. And even then it's not just simple dislike...

I've enjoyed it immensely, even when the research has hit snags or when there have been tight deadlines. I can't really think of much, if anything, that would have made me as happy these past three years as my PhD has. I do want it to be over though so I can actually start my career, and earn something. The end just seems to be lots of paperwork and waiting though which is frustrating.

I'd have expected you and the others to be on the proposals in some fashion if it's extending work that you've done. It's not like the three of you have no background in the project and are being hired after the grant. Your work sounds like it might be the background, you've been working on the proposal and you'll likely be carrying out the research. Maybe there's something else going on or I'm being dim but it sounds a bit like you're getting shafted.

You need big names on grants but not at the cost of bumping you and the others off. I can see why they're not happy. Especially seeing as it looks like you'll be putting down that you 'worked on Project X' rather than 'worked and won funding for Project X'.

Whenever I included conferences I tended to do it in the research section. They might not be a paper but often they can be published as proceedings, so I included them as a seperate section (Conferences/Proceedings, Papers, Submitted Papers, Forthcoming Papers).

The job application process is never fun. In an odd way it is even worse when you get good feedback because you're left wonder what else you could have done? It's something that had bothered me before. I had 3 interviews, and was the runner up for 2 and was considered a good but inexperienced candidate for another (based on publication record mainly). At that point you kind of wish they had said something bad because you could at least improve it for the next interview, rather than feeling helpless about the competition you'll be against. Especially when as Sneaks says you might up against people with much more post doc experience than you (leading to the question of how you get the post doc experience if you need that experience to get it in the first place!).

You're getting to interview a lot though so they must see something they like. And again the feedback is good. It's just I think a matter of quantity with applications sometimes. Eventually one of them is going to fall your way. My supervisor said as much to me really when I had gotten my third rejection. He lost count of the number of applications he submitted for his first job. And now he is part of many interview panels and selection processes he says sometimes there's very little in it. So it might be much closer than you realise.

I thought pretty much the same as you Sneaks. With the PhD in the bag it would be easier when it came to competing. Though I think now it can managed so long as you're at the stage where you're about to submit, and have some of the details in place. They might place a lot of emphasis on the references from your supervisor to confirm that you are as good as done but it means you can compete a bit earlier I think.

Can be done :) I've got a job to go to and I've not submitted yet (though I'm meant to this month). I worked it out as being just over 50 applications, and 4 interviews. I think the other 3 interviews helped. It doesn't sound very helpful but they are great preparation. I wouldn't have been half as confident in the last interview if I hadn't had the experience of the others.

Nice one Walmiski! It's a good feeling I think when that form goes on. It gives you a much more definate end date to aim for. So long as you keep working steadily it doesn't sound like you're going to run out of time. How much notice do you have to give? For my Uni it's 3 months but they seem flexible on earlier if everything else is sorted out. Got the external and internal lined up?

======= Date Modified 27 Nov 2010 13:03:47 =======

I'm not sure but it might depend on what you mean by alternative schooling? To my mind that could fall under education and psychology. So I don't know what the exact expectations in terms of qualifications would be for going on to do a PhD. Some departments and supervisors might be fine with you not having a direct previous qualification and base it on the knowledge you have of teaching and the enthusiasm you have for the area.

I would imagine though that if research is your main aim that you would need some sort of research training, maybe as part of the PhD (PGC in research etc) or as a separate masters, maybe MRes.

:D You should be able to add a special TV star (groan) to the helpful ones you've got.

Local news or did you go national?!

I'm at the 3 year 2 month mark. And it should be 3 year 5 months by the time I've done the Viva and made any corrections. I only know of one person in my department who's done it before the 3 year mark though.

I think it's fairly common to run over :) PhD's tend to be advertised at 3 years, but then there's always the writing up tacked on the end.

I think it depends on whether you're re-installing windows or repairing.

A repair in theory means that programs and documents wouldn't be wiped.
Re-install would mean you'd have to reinstall the programs, and definately make sure you have a backup of documents.

I'm basing this on XP though. I don't have any of the newer ones. Whenver I've reinstalled windows it's always wiped everything for me.

I've had a similar experience to Bilbo in that a paper was sent back for revision. Not because it was terrible but because A) there were a few issues that needed correcting and B) some of the reviewers felt it would be more suitable for a slightly different journal (in terms of specialisms rather than impact).

I wouldn't take it a rejection just yet, though revisions can still sting

My girlfriend is a master present buyer. She conquered her fear of puppets to buy and wrap a weird hand puppet thing that caught my attention in the shops. She did it super sneakily as well and I had no clue.

She also cotton'd on to my love of odd books and got me a first edition of an autobiography, signed by the author and everything :D It was wonderful.

As for my family it's a three way tie between the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Blimp I got when I was a kid, the Godzilla toy I got also when I was a kid and a signed picture of an actor from my fave sci fi show.