Thanks folks for all your messages of support (except Dr Biochem).

I never realised that it would be this difficult to get a project (you have all proved that)..with only 4 applications out there and one dodgy interview, I'm probably being quite impatient and not quite observant of what academics want (not someone with 10 years experience)...and yip, if it's something that I really want I'll just have to persevere.

For those of you who think that I'm full of myself then frankly, I don't care as only I know what I've had to do to get to where I am now (10 years of bloody hard work following the most miserable academic record (before uni) you can imagine).

Okay, here's the issue. I graduated in 2001 from a not-so-great university (got a 2.i) but with a great sandwich year managed to get a job at Pfizer. I've now been there for 10 years as a high-flying scientist and am leaving the company with a fantastic skill set and a brilliant set of recommendations (plus a killer CV).

I've been looking for a PhD since March 2011 (a little late?). Have sent a few applications through for PhD's I know I can breeze through but for some reason I'm not getting anywhere. I'm either getting the silent treatment or rejection emails. I can't seem to understand why...is it that I'm too old?...they don't like my university?...or am I too experienced?

I'm beginning to think that I should give up on getting a project before October and go back to the world of work!