Following my RA jobs post yesterday, I'm really concerned about whether I will have a shot with RA experience at all and would really appreciate advice/personal experiences of undertaking an RA role. I recently graduated, got a first in my degree, won an award by Royal Society of Biology for highest mark, and only got a month's experience (so far) with a professor at a top-ranked University.

I'm planning to continue this in Jan/Feb time voluntarily whilst I continue to apply but I'm so afraid of whether I even am fit to compete at this point. I study the job specs and can always almost do 90-95% of it but I am so afraid of the competition being so fierce that I may not get interviews. Any experience of people with BSc degrees getting into roles and such? Also would like to say, my masters got delayed with no fault to my own so that is also in my plans but I'd rather at this point really get the experience knowing how hard it is to get a job and how difficult it'll continue to be after masters/phd.

Thanks guys, I feel UCL is quite erratic with their response timing as they never specify an interview date. I'm assuming it won't be told until after the new year myself but it is also very frustrating as I can do a lot of reading for it to be prepared just being hopeful I do get it and then come January I may not even get an interview so it'll be sort of effort wasted, any advice what to do whilst I wait it out that will be productive?

I'm thinking to brush up on my knowledge in general, pick up on new techniques and also work on job interview skills generally. And the position was based for BSc graduates (as the minimum) at Grade 6, is it therefore likely or possible by any chance that a person who has completed their PhD can obtain the position? It seems unfair but I'm not sure if it does actually happen.

@HazyJane the deadline was on 23rd Nov. and the start date is in March/April 2016.

I've applied (and I'm continously applying) to jobs offered to BSc graduates as my masters/phd is being severely delayed so a good chance to get some real experience and see if I can get a job. I applied to a few institutions at UCL but have yet to hear anything, any advice/experience anyone can share about the application process and how long it can take? It's been two weeks today since my first application and the one I'm most hopeful for.

Edit: my status reads Application Received

Can you please address everything I've stated in my initial message. I'm trying to find out more information and I do not appreciate sarcastic responses.

Hi all, I did post a message about advice before doing MRes/PhD and I've been constantly reading a lot of threads, I think it'd be better if I had the chance to talk to people personally who are currently doing their masters/phds but I cannot. However, I have been asking recruiters (in medical field) for advice and action steps. It boils down to the question as to whether it is worth doing a PhD?

I recently graduated from BSc Biological Sciences with a strong first and I'm interested in pursuing research as a career. However, I've been reading about the possibility of lack of jobs after completing your phD and the constant worry of unstability which is very worrying. I then looked into medical writing as another option and that also requires a PhD. If you have successfully completed a PhD in Cell/Molecular Biology, can you please share your story and any words of advice, I'd greatly appreciate it so I can figure out my next moves. I'm already struggling with a career position for research and I'm currently waiting on offers from universities I've applied for research assistance roles.

Thanks for helping TreeofLife, to be honest I'm not entirely sure myself. Initially when I finished my degree, as I really enjoyed the dissertation, it's what I wanted to do which is lab work plus publications, in which I understand the route to go through is MRes/MSc then PhD. However, I've been reading a lot and realise how difficult it is to settle into a career with doing post-doc positions which are so highly competitive already and therefore has led many people to misery. I have not been able to secure a job in research assistance holding a Bsc as you said, it's simply just not enough.

Hey all, new member here. I have recently just graduated with completing a Biological Sciences degree and have a lot of trouble securing employment. There's a few research positions geared towards graduates I applied for and I'm awaiting their response in addition to previously doing voluntarily lab experience which I'm planning to continue if nothing else seems to be happening from next week.

I have been reading a lot of the stability and I'm aware of the lack of jobs/opportunities for scientific research which is what I wanted to get into. I'd rather prefer to get a research job prior to a degree in masters research for the experience that it provides plus networking and making contacts. Right now, I'm in the position is I'm not sure what to do. I feel completely stuck, I only got interested in scientific research in my final year and the best move I made was to intern for a bit and also my masters got pushed back otherwise I'd be starting in a month (frustratingly). Any advice for an aspiring research scientist, I'd be very grateful. Thanks