How friendly is the relationship between you and your supervisor? Maybe you could show your current supervisors the feedback you got from your old university professor? Explain to them that you don't really want to quit, and innocently ask how can there be so much difference of opinion ( something along the lines of how you're confused at two very varying opinions maybe?). Be careful on sounding out any personal problems as of yet, things can get awkward fast. Show them you can stand your ground. Good luck! :)

Depends how much you trust your supervisor for doing their job properly, really. RLD is right where it can make the difference between major and minor corrections, but again this depends on how honestly your supervisor checks through your work. Also, I don't think it's always the case where you have to include ALL the edits your supervisor/advisor adds. So if there are any edits you find that you don't agree with, then you don't have to add them, and you already seem to be in the frame of mind to defend your writing at your viva. It's all a very personal affair this process, just do what your gut tells you.

Started out as being something along the lines of torture (that was a year and a half in). Then on in, I refused to let it take over. No email checks before 9am and after 5pm, definitely no meetings outside the times of 9-5, my weekend started at 5pm Friday. Work didn't exist on the weekends for me, neither did any of my colleagues or supervisor. That was to complete any practical work. I did the same when I was writing up too. I came out relatively ok.

Yeah. This feeling is beginning to grow for me too. Also being told "you'll find this job boring, I'm not gonna lie" makes me squint.

I feel your pain. Sorry I have no advice to give, this must be really difficult for you. What did your supervisor say? Is it feasible to write up what you have instead?

I completely understand what you're saying kelpie, I'd probably be the same if I saw that on a cover letter too. As of yet I've been very positive. It has to be done, where you spin it as being lucky enough to have had a supervisor who "allowed you" to be an independent researcher etc etc and how great it was...whereas in reality she was useless. When I was on the verge of finishing, I'd considered one of my thesis examiners, but she managed to be dazzled by a promise of a professorship into delaying my graduation and is now working with my ex supervisor :/. Anyone else I approach backs off when I tell them who my supervisor used to be (scared of her maybe, I don't know?)...so I guess I'm kind of stuck here.

Exactly wowzers. Maybe it'd be easier if I confronted her about the bad reference/presentation. And if I stop using her as a referee and it all hits the fan (she can be pretty aggressive and has no issues humiliating people), I've got nothing to lose right now. So, no harm no foul? 9 months is a very long time.

Right now I'll take any job, it's just so bloody hard!

Thanks, kelpie. The postdocs I have been looking at have specifically asked for my main supervisor as a first referee, and then any other two I know. Even for non-academic jobs I've been putting my ex-supervisor as a first referee (even though they didn't ask for it) because I hadn't realised that my ex-supervisor was giving bad references until it was explicitly pointed out by my last interview feedback. I'd just been told that it's really difficult to land a job in this day and age anyway by people around me.

Hmm, maybe not highlighting that my referees don't include my main supervisor would be a good idea. I think what you've mentioned is what my interviewer was pointing at too tbh. Get away from my ex-supervisor for a year so that I don't have to use her anymore.

Awful thing I found out today, she is including my work to present at a conference as a main speaker... :( ...found out in passing, she didn't even bother to tell me :( I need out!

Thanks again Iman. I'll definitely try this. And shall keep you informed :). Fingers crossed!

Hi rocket8. I think anxiety in starting something that has a bit of history like you've explained is perfectly normal, and I can understand where you're coming from

Maybe try making a list of what needs to be done to be able to get back in the habit of studying/list possible routes of funding. If you have your plans out on paper, it makes it more structured than having the thoughts swimming about in your head. Plus you get to cross them off afterwards (which I quite enjoy doing!!)

You could start studying in short bursts of time, then build it up. Don't feel pressured into thinking you have to read hours on end.

Also reward yourself for having started studying (no matter how short the time). Go for a walk around the block, basically you want get away from where you have been studying for a while. Sometimes getting away for a while can help refresh your mind. You'll eventually find you are studying for longer periods of time.

When you do sit down to study, disconnect the phone, internet, tv, radio, and don't keep your mobile with you. This helped me a lot when I was writing up my phd. If it's not conveniently available, you won't be tempted to have it on the background etc.

Finally, be positive! You had 3 jobs plus uni before and you were doing it (pretty hardcore!), and now you're in a much better position. I think your dedication to studying is a strength. Focus on that instead of the bad stuff.

You can do this!! :)

Yep. Weird right?! I did ask them, but all they said was that they loved the interview and everything, but I didn't get offered the post because of my supervisor, and that maybe I should consider working with someone else for a year to help myself along. One of my other referees that I'm on very good terms with asked me about the post telling me I got a shining reference from her, and she was surprised to hear I didn't get the job... So why did they not take her reference instead of the horrible one? I'm thinking it's maybe because she wasn't my main supervisor? (I ended up with only one supervisor when I should've had two because my advisor decided he didn't want anything to do with me).

Thanks Iman. I would like to try this. But what of the job applications that require your phd supervisor to be one of the referees?

Hello. I'm new to this forum, but I'm looking for some real advice.

I finished my phd a good few months back (coming up to 9 months now). It wasn't the nicest experience I've had, and basically I came out the other side of the phd with zero support from my then supervisor. I've been applying to plenty of jobs in the last 9 months, I've had some interviews but can never seem to get past the interview stage. I realise that finding a job in today's economic climate isn't easy, so I've been trying to keep an open and positive mind. But my last interview feedback has got me feeling a little suspicious of my circumstances. One feedback from an interviewer (who knows my ex-supervisor) explicitly told me over the phone that I didn't get the job because of my ex-supervisor. They also said that they didn't want to put this in writing hence the phone call feedback.

Now I don't know what to make of this. My ex-supervisor is not the nicest person in the world, but could she be giving a bad reference and could a poor reference be enough to prevent me landing a job? I'm kind of stuck otherwise on the referee front, considering most job applications I've seen require your phd supervisor to be a referee.

I'm either going crazy with not being able to land a job, or this is something that I should be worried about. And if it's the latter, how do I tackle this?! Now I'm beginning to wonder if poor references have been the reason for most post interview rejections in the last 9 months. I don't know where to turn with this issue, considering everyone I've had contact with in the last 3 years know my ex-supervisor, and will inform her of everything. :/

Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you!

Don't worry! So did I :). You'll make it through. I was knocked back by the outcome too, I found my way around the knockback by turning it into something positive, because my supervisor just didn't bother helping me, and neither did she offer to help me after the viva outcome for resubmission, so I tried to take it as official proof-reading/editing chance from examiners to better my thesis. So on the brightside, your supervisor is a supportive one! :)

My odd phd experience included things like my advisor washing his hands of me, telling me he wanted nothing to do with me or my research project because he was not interested. But then felt the need to be co-author on published work. Also involved my supervisor losing interest, a bit like yours I guess.

My supervisor didn't bother reading any of my work either when I was writing up my thesis. Maybe she flicked through the cover/contents page, then had the cheek to tell me she couldnt find any mistakes in it at all (I found 4 typos on the first page *sigh*). My examiners essentially gave me all the feedback after my viva for my thesis. Mention the ignoring situation to postgrad admin, let them sort it out.