Yes, I was advised to use the STAR technique when completing the application form! Previously, I have only used it during interviews rather than on the application form.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for you :)

Thank you Hugh :) I just feel a bit guilty these days if I have a day that is not incredibly productive as the deadline is quickly approaching! I feel like I need to make every day count.

When was the interview? Even if it is a rejection, ask for feedback. I had some feedback recently on an application I did and it was super helpful. Whilst I had all the experience, they said I didn't make it clear enough and needed to be more specific with examples which was really helpful to know.

It is going well, hoping to finish applying feedback to chapter 5 of 9 today and proof read it tomorrow. I stupidly went for a 'quick drink' with a friend last night that turned into a fair few hours of drinking, so I feel quite tired today (my own fault though!)

How is everything going with you Hugh? Heard anything from the job interview?

To echo what others have said here, you really need to speak with someone at your institution about this who can give you more specific advice. You say you have no evidence- are there not messages on social media/ email trails that provide some indication as to what has been going on? Even without this though, you still do need to speak to someone. It may be worth writing everything down that has been occurring over your studies with this supervisor before you do go and speak to someone so they can understand the extent of this.

Glad to hear that litphdgirl :) you are almost there!

Today I finished editing a chapter that took a lot of work to get it to a standard I was happy with. I am planning on working this weekend to try and get another chapter edited by the end of Monday (which should be more straightforward- it just needs a thorough read through and a couple of things adding/taking out).

I am desperately craving a duvet day though!

Thank you, thank you *takes bow* I'll be here all week! Haha joking aside, I hope your supervisor starts being more responsive now that it is coming to crunch time Hugh :)

My sup started paying considerably less attention when they got some new first year students. I imagine I felt the same way a child does when a younger sibling is born, or the way a dog does when its owner gets a new adorable puppy.

I did this and still no joy!

I did wonder about this- whether they are deterred by the fact I have not submitted yet. I am sorry you have had similar experiences Chickpea, in an odd way, I am glad it is not just me, but it still sucks!

I will come back and report on the feedback when I receive it. I will also PM you about a frustrating experience I had recently if that is ok? I am cautious about putting it on here as it may ruin anonymity.

The feedback I have received from some is just that other applicants' experiences were a better fit- even when I was over qualified!

One job I applied for was in a department in my current uni and they are familiar with me, and they are kindly meeting with me to discuss in person why I was unsuccessful which will be helpful. I mean, these jobs are the first I have applied for in 5 years so it will be useful to understand if I am making any careless errors. Though, the really funny thing is that I used to work in careers advice and successfully got other people jobs consistently so I am pretty skilled at assessing and improving CVs and covering letters.

I have not been shortlisted for any interviews yet. I don't want this to sound arrogant but I was surprised as I have always been offered every job I have applied for outside of academia before starting my PhD. When applying for these academic jobs, I am just not having any luck with even getting shortlisted for interview.

My sup recommended changes throughout and some of them were quite major so I am hoping when the full draft is in I won't have that many- (hoping!)

You are so close Hugh! And is the interview for a job? Good luck :) I have had no joy on the job front yet, so I have taken a step back for a few weeks to focus on the editing of my thesis.

Currently nearly finished editing chapter 3 of 10. I feel like I am maybe taking too long but I want it as polished as possible before it is handed to my supervisor. I am hoping the remaining 7 chapters will be much faster as I don't have a lot to edit on those (hopefully!)

I am with Chickpea on this Hugh- I am 100% certain that this is not something to be concerned about and that your supervisor will tell you it is ok. Those at the office will just have blanket advice 'Oh look, it has flagged this up- better re write it'. I mean, who knows best, PhD students represented on this thread who have all heard that this is not an issue across different institutions or those that work in the office who have not been through the PhD process themselves?

In past theses that I have read from my department, people simply state before the contents page 'The following work has been published from the thesis: *list of publications*' and these are those that have passed.

Even though it is not a thesis by publication, as Chickpea says, thesis by publication would not exist if this was an issue :)

Can you clarify 'the section before chapter 1' Hugh? The thesis' I have seen completed in my department tend to go: Acknowledgements, abstract, contents then it launches into chapter 1 which is the introduction.

Well done litphdgirl :) You have been super productive!

I am just finishing the proof reading of my literature review chapter today, then I will move on to editing the next chapter. After the next chapter, I am hoping it will move along much more quickly; the first three chapters of my thesis were the ones I was dreading editing as they needed lots of updating, but by the end of next week I will have hopefully completed the 'dreaded' chapters and be working on those that do not need as much tweaking :)