Hi Tudor, thanks for this lovely message. I have had a short RA job already (6 months, part-time) but have not applied for any others. There have only been a few advertised and they were unsuitable for various reasons.

It's nice to have encouragement from people who understand what it's like to go through this. When I wrote my first post, I was feeling so hopeless but the initial shock has worn off a bit now. I'm still really sad and disappointed but I have to keep plodding along. As pm133 suggested, it is also good to adjust my perspective for the sake of my mental health.

Hi bewildered, thanks very much for your reply. That sounds like a sensible plan. Glad it worked out for you.

Hi pm133, thanks a lot for this advice. It makes me feel better but it's also a good reminder to keep some perspective.

I've mainly been applying for very general 'humanities' postdocs so I suppose I worry that my subject is a turn-off for people who will naturally gravitate towards more familiar areas. But of course I have to try and communicate the value of my research as best I can.

Your second point is really interesting. I have quite low self-esteem so I think I vacillate between thinking I'm doing really well (due to this sort of praise) and thinking I'm totally uncompetitive and will never get anywhere. I haven't quite found the balance and it does take a mental toll. I am working on not getting validation from external sources but it seems hard in a field like academia. In any case, I would certainly want to avoid falling into the trap of having a superiority complex and thinking I'm above it all. That sounds like a miserable way to live your life.

I'm glad that you think it's early for worrying. It's nice to have that outside perspective. When you keep receiving rejection after rejection, it can feel like you've been at it for a lot longer than you have. I will re-consider some options this weekend.

Yes, all the time. I try to find out from trusted senior colleagues about some of the more difficult names!

Hi Tudor_Queen, thanks for your encouragement. I do appreciate it. I really hope to find something soon but it's good to keep remembering everything I've achieved so far (academically and otherwise).

Hi bewildered, thanks for your post. I have set parameters of sorts, in that I have had to restrict myself to UK jobs for personal reasons, and I've not applied for that anything that I wouldn't be happy to get. I didn't see the point in working so hard and then being miserable, as you say. I thought maybe I was being too 'picky' but your advice makes me feel better. I haven't given myself an end date though. How long did you give yourself to find an academic job, and when did you implement plans B/C?

I don't know if this is the same for you, but 'industry' jobs in my field are really hard to come by and super competitive (and badly paid) as well. I decided not to apply for these jobs because there are doze of people who really want them and it felt insulting to regard them as 'second-best'.

I think I'm just really scared that I won't get anything. I can't even get feedback so I'm constantly wondering if something's wrong with my applications. It's hard to keep believing people when they say 'chin up' etc.

Since summer 2018 (after graduating and then maternity leave). I know there are others that have been looking for longer. I guess it just feels like it's been ages even if it hasn't.

My subject is really niche and there aren't many opportunities (though I know that's pretty much the case for everyone). Again, I know how slim the chances are but I honestly thought I was in with a good chance but maybe my CV isn't as strong as I thought. I have built up (what I think is) a good and fairly prestigious network of supporters. My supervisor especially thinks I'm a superstar and has been an amazing advocate. I'm not sure what else I can do (except keep going I suppose).

I'm just posting here to vent. I'm feeling pretty miserable and I don't really have any friends in academia to talk to.

I just received yet another postdoc rejection and am starting to think I'll never get anything and that all my hard work has been pointless. Everyone keeps saying just keep going, there's light at the end of the tunnel etc. but I also know the job market is insanely tough and there are hundreds of candidates for every position.

I feel like a naive idiot for actually thinking I'd get a job. I have articles, prizes, grants and a PhD from the one of the best universities in the world. I felt really hopeful after graduating and now I feel like it was for nothing. I feel like a failure.

The fellowship I just got rejected from was one of my best chances. I worked so hard on my application and had great references. When I look at who has won it before, I really felt like I had a great chance. I guess not.

I'll keep going because what else am I going to do. I'm just really upset and needed to get this off my chest. If anyone has any good advice for continuing through this soul-destroying process, I'm all ears.

Thank you for your kind words :) I already feel better with all of this encouragement. I will keep searching and hoping...

And if there are any other prospective post-docs out there, good luck with your search!

Thanks, Tudor_Queen. It's a great suggestion but I'm actually working as a part-time research assistant now. It's pretty meagre pay as it's only one day a week and I find the topic very boring but at least it's something relevant on my CV so it could be a lot worse.

My colleague who finished the PhD at the same time as me was basically given a post-doc at our institution (there was no advert for the post) because his research interests align closely with the dept head. I guess I'm just feeling a little bitter that I have to slog through all of these applications...

Yes, hopefully something will come through and I can pursue my own research topic!

Thanks for the encouragement :) Fingers crossed...

...loves company!

Any other struggling postdoc applicants out there? Just had the first round of rejections and feeling a bit stung. I know we need to have thick skins in academia but mine's still growing I think. I'm just trying my best not to fall into a "I'll never get a job" anxiety spiral.

Anyway, I'm starting this thread in the hopes that we can provide support to each other in the difficult times ahead.

Hi all,

I've written loads of cover letters for jobs but never one for funding. I'd really appreciate some feedback on what are the best things to put in it. The application is for research support funding and requires:

1) Cover letter
2) CV
3) 2000-word research proposal
4) written work

There are no details about what exactly should go in the cover letter or research proposal.

So far, I have three paragraphs in the cover letter:

1) brief info about me/my current position, brief outline of the project and why the funding is necessary ('I'm poor!')
2) how the research aligns closely with the funder's interests
3) highlighting why the project is a original/significant contribution to scholarship and some prizes awarded for previous stages of the project

Does that sound about right? Is there something important i'm forgetting? Thanks for your help! Couldn't find anything on Google!

Hi, thanks for responding! Yes, you understand my question. Thanks a lot for your input!

Bump! Sorry - hopefully someone has some advice?