Piglet summed up my thoughts perfectly, but I refused to start blaming myself. Instead I concluded that the academic system is highly flawed, favouring contacts and political gamesmanship rather than scholarship (the true thing we are being paid for).

I have been temping now for months and I have started to think my PhD was a total waste of time and effort, insofar as satisfaction in itself and job opportunities. I am also aware that if I do get an academic job (and thats a big if), job security will be minimal as will pay and I will be on the fixed term contract merry go round for a long, long time.

Not sure where to go from here.

I have applied to about 15 post docs, (about half in my field, the others related). This doesnt include speculative letters I sent for more informal teaching work/ research jobs to every contact I had. Still no dice, and am on the old "temping to riches" path.

Hoping it will pick up after the summer.

I would always say that unless you are 100% about your supervisor, don't even think about it. I can tell you from experience, your choice of supervisor has implications for a long time after you graduate from your PhD.

For some, the supervisor you describe is very desirable (especially those that are work oriented, rather than interactions with others, and who rise up to the challenge of Marine-Drill instructor types). For those of us of a more sensitive disposition it means having your confidence knocked daily, living on the edge of anxiety and constantly worrying .

Take the advice of the other students whatever that is.

I reckon the lower the better. As journals and referee always say, the more consice and brief the better. I think its easier to waffle, but harder to get your point across in say 80,000 words.

Don't get caught up in the whole "My thesis is thiiiis long" pointless machismo ( I nearly did).

I would say it would help to stand back, take stock and ask:

1) Why do you want to do a PhD?

As you may have seen from my position, although fully funded with a stipend, my PhD hasnt gotten me anything close to appropriate employment. I think if I had bankrupted myself to get to this position, I would probably have had a breakdown. I would say, unless its a burning desire that you cannot live without, think twice. It sometimes takes more bravery to let go than just carry on stubbornly.

2) Is there anything else I can do that will get me to my desired goal?

If you like to teach, there are ways to do that that get you funded. If you want to do research, RA jobs (where you can do PhD work on the side are available. The most straighforward route is often the hardest (Funded full time PhD in this case), but going about it slightly differently can pay off.

(Cont'd)
Thats fair enough I suppose. Before the holidays, several of my friends have gotten temporary post-docs, or teaching support roles, but even these have dried up due to summer. Also most of them seem to constantly moan about them as they tend to be insecure, have very few benefits, and have little to do with what they want to study.

What is good is that I am no longer homeless, but have moved into a house I share with about 6 other people (although it has been said that being nearly 30, with a PhD, people had expected more from me by this age). What really sucks is that my ex-girlfriend who has just finished her doctorate has just been offered a job with her first interview

God if only I knew 4 years ago, what I do now...

Howdy folks,
Its been a few months and I am still temping. Although there have been several different offices it feels like the same old place. You turn up, no one knows who you are and you do the work that no one else seems to want to do. One good thing is that even though managers and some co-workers give you crap and engage in office politics, I have found my years in academia have given me this bulletproof skin, so their comments don't get to me.

I have applied for pretty much every job I have seen in journals and online, with little luck. I guess there must be a PhD oversupply or something. I have had a few interviews and some good feedback, but most jobs seem to get taken by internal people.

I think there maybe something detrimental about the solitary nature of the work. The careers counsellor from the university I attended said that most employers actively look for team playing skills, and graduate recruiters often have group tasks etc. If I am being honest I reckon during my studies I have become more obsessive, self directed, critical and controlling(otherwise my work would never have been done). This may not be what employers are looking for.

It may also be why my girlfriend has left, and why an earlier post talks about the romantic wasteland faced by PhD students. I wonder if many of us realise how we could become when we sign on?

So its been the first few days of my new job.

I am not sure that temping in admin beats being a waiter. Its less physically demanding, but its equally insecure. What I really cannot help feeling is that the work is repetitive, low level and boring. I know it sounds arrogant, but I feel smarter than the people I work with, most of whom embody a very limited world view.

I feel I deserve more than this, but my attempts to find more engaging and intellectually stimulating work keeps hitting obstacles. Most of the jobs I have asked about demand experience, and do not see my PhD as being "relevant" or "too narrow". I am astonished with some of the hostility that I have been met with when talking about my PhD, and the way employers seem to think they are self indulgences rather than achievements.

The good news is that I am no longer working as a waiter. One of the temping agencies came through and I am working in central london as a admin temp from Monday.

The bad news is that I have been evicted from the house I was living in and am now technically homeless. I am now in the enviable position of sofa surfing at a friend's home. Also things are not going well with gf, so am currently not in contact. Well they say the academic life is no friend of relationships right?

FYI. You would need to either do a full 3 year BSc/BA in psychology or a do a Postgraduate conversion course (this is not a masters course) to achieve BPS accreditation known as GBR (which is essential to become a chartered psychologist in Britain). They are also a necessary prerequisite to doing Clinical, Forensic, Health, Educational and some other postgraduate qualifications (either at masters or doctoral level).

There are some Psychology MSc courses that do not require you to have GBR. Similarly you could do a PhD in psychology related field, but still not be eligible to call yourself a chartered psychologist if you a) don't have GBR and B) are not supervised by a chartered psychologist.

and even if you do you still may not find work afterwards like me...

Again, it makes me rage to hear the crap we have to go through in this profession. If it was any other area of industry, most of the higher ups would be fired by now. God, don't you wish you could name and shame supervisors and universities that treat their students like garbage?

If I were you I would make a log of every single complaint, incident of harrassment and grievance that you have experienced. Try to talk to your supervisor, if not take it higher (all the way up to the dean if necessary). If you still do not get any joy, I would write to newspapers, MPs and anyone that will draw attention to what is happening. I wish I had done this, with some of the frankly illegal stuff that was happening, but I didnt know any better.

Hypothesis: "A large factor for people doing a Phd is to show those that once mocked them as being thick/ no hopers, that they are not". Discuss.

PS. Was never called thick or hopeless, but was frequently called lazy. Do I qualify for the "Wait untill I tell Mrs So and So" Club?

H
I don't mean to depress you (or anyone else), but I do feel I have to be honest. This is because if someone was honest with me earlier, I may not have had such a time tackling the hurdles I now face. However, I concede my posts reflect a darker side to academia. I still feel we can change aspects of this through activism (if not me then others at least), so am not totally despairing.

Shellyanne.

I am not making a personal attack on you (or anyone else). I am certainly not calling you shallow (I dont think I do this on my posts, but if I do I apologise sincerely). What I am doing is stating a particular argument (that the initial poster alludes to) and always warmly welcome debate.

If I am being honest, I feel I achieved quite a lot, and learned a huge amount, and really loved my subject.

At the moment I really dont feel it was worth it, due to the very difficult current circumstances I am in. When I finished, I also feel quite removed from other people who do regular jobs (although I have had a nasty wake up call since then), and have felt the sting of others who look down on academic types as living in ivory towers.

But thats just me.