We have different grading systems. I'm not in the UK. But I understand what you mean. Having the PhD should be sufficient to prove your ability to do research as you apply for an academic job. It's sad that undergrad grades come back to haunt you (and others in the same boat). It's almost like these institutions demand you live an impeccable life, right from the day you were born. At our 20s, when we were doing our undergrad degrees, we were not thinking "son of a gun, i need to get straight A's so I can get into the PhD later." Nobody does that...or very few people are so clear and so sure as to what they would do in the future, and do exactly as they envisioned. The employers should know better. You should be evaluated based on your phd and other relevant qualities like ability to handle pressure, to get along with co-workers, etc...Undergrad grades are irrelevant. I'm willing to bet some of the employers came to have their jobs in some accidental way, or in some way that adjusts to their circumstances in life given a point in time.

Of course they need some criteria to judge the applicants, but these criteria must be realistic and relavant. I hope you get that job. And maybe you shouldn't worry too much. Maybe they ask for your undergrad grades, but it wouldn't have such a big weight on their decisions, red tape and all that. Maybe you can phone them and ask how relevant undergrad grades are and explain just what you said here? They'll be able to see your point, it's not hard to understand. Goodluck!

Goodluck Dunni. You've prepared the best you can, so try to relax. You'll do a great job!

(up)(up)(up)

I don't think you're crazy at all. Goran Ivanisevic wouldn't play at Wimbledon without having watched the teletubbies.
That's nowhere near phd quirkiness, lol.

I would go with the first one. Most respectable examiners would not like to get some flattery like the second one. I have a feeling you'll get respectable examiners:-). I also think you can stick to the writing that's more coherent, rather than inserting some for-flattery-purposes-stuff.

Thank you Ady, you get a new star:-)

Auld, MC and Powell, LM. Economics of Food Energy Density and Adolescent Body Weight. ECONOMICA Vol. 76 Issue 304. OCT 2009.

[email protected]

Thank you very much.

Good initiative Ev. I agree, let's contain our moaning here so we don't pollute the good posts. They're doing good by the way, and I'm happy for them.

Now for the moan....more than moan actually....i feel angry looking at the online profiles of some my ex-colleagues in the corporate world. They were slackers on the job (literally watching ball games at work all day), and I see them now with fancy titles. I just feel sad, angry, confused, I don't know really, just a surge of negative emotions. I know I should be happy for them....I also know 100% that I am not entitled to a fancy job just because I have a PhD. That's life, I guess. It's just hard...if you know what I mean.

I just feel so negative about the situation....jobs in academia are hard to get by, and even jobs outside academia are hard to get by. I can't point at it exactly, but something seems amiss. It's like...what have I done with my life? I regret that I did not research what it really means to be a phd, I overestimated my chances of going back to the "real world" (as if the challenges of the phd are not "real"). And overestimated the chances of getting an academic job, because my sup said doors will open for you at Ivy league 1, ivy league 2. And I, the sucker, bit the dust.

I enjoyed some parts of my phd genuinely, by the way. But you give way too much and get too little for it. Too much energy, too little satisfaction (I'm speaking for myself here).

People say I should be grateful for the things I have now. I try to do it and it helps. There are just days that I can't see anything else than the downside of this phd thing.

Thanks for listening/reading people...

I see, thank you for the info. I'm happy that it worked for you. Wish you luck for your new job, very well-deserved with your patience.

I can empathize with your situation Vilee, and the others here too. I guess it's one of the things we didn't see coming when we started our phds. We have to move forward in any case. Nothing to add, really, just want to say that I understand you.

Congratulations Scottishkelpie! I'm happy to hear the good news. How much time did it take you to find one?
Is it an academic job, or an industry one?

I will survive is a really good one. And when push comes to shove, when everything seems so dark and there seems to be a no way out, oh my, God can explain. Have a nice day/evening everyone :-)

Yes, now that you've mentioned, Queen has some motivational titles :-)

Hello Patseya,

You are right, it is "certainly not a UK PhD style."
I tried to help by giving a specific answer to a general question, which was posted with no references on the subject (initially) and geographic area of interest.

Congrats on your viva :-)

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Hi ShrugsLova,

I think I misunderstood your post.

I thought you have two offers going at the moment, one is phd, and another is a job in an MNC. I thought you meant that you wanted a phd so you could earn a high salary in the industry once you graduate. Is this correct? If that is the case, I would go to the industry directly, bypassing the phd, because you said that you have no interest in education line (which I understood to be teaching and academic research). I said this because after a few years as a junior engineer, you'd be able to move up higher anyway, so the time you spend in a junior position would be the same as the time you spend in the phd. The difference is that IMO you have more chances of getting a senior MNC position if you are involved directly with the company or if you are already an insider.

Or maybe you meant you want a phd because the salary as a phd student is more attractive than working in the industry?

If you meant the second case, please disregard my post. On the semiconductor-thermoelectrics question, sorry I don't know about that. Goodluck

:-)

Lol pub*ic transpot, pub*ic spending, pub*ic amenities...

A couple of years ago, I wrote a project proposal to a young prof, whom i happened to have a crush on (not that I realized at that time)...I kept using the word "engagement" over and over, even if my thesis had nothing to do with anything romantic at all! Phrases like socially engaged, etc....anything where I could use the word engage, lol.

The words were so rampant that my sup yelled, "wtf is this engagement all about!?"