Hi,
I know how you feel. I am doing a PhD in computing and my topic is social networking. I am going to start write up in January and am not looking forward to finishing. What sort of job are you looking for ? Have you tried going to the carears office to discuss what you might like to do. Start talking to your supervisor about jobs and opportunties. They may be a chance to do a postdoc in your department or get a grant. Try looking at departments that deal with e.g Human computer interaction or image processing.If you want to look for an industry job ask e.g the person that deals with placements for undergrads because they will have a list of companies that you could ask.
Even though I am nearly at the end of the PhD, I find maths and programming hard but remember that it may just be the panic talking. If your supervisor did not think you could do it, they would not have let you go near writting up. You can do it, you just need to clear your mind and worries maybe by talking to supervisor and making a plan on how to job search. My supervisor is trying to get me to relax because he said that when I am stressed , I am very tough on myself and that does not help when doing a PhD.

Hope this helps :-)

BilboBaggins, I am doing a phd in computer science so there is some ability to go into different areas. Thanks for the web link.I will definately look into it.

I am 4 months from starting to write my thesis and I am really depressed about what life will be like after my PhD. I would like to be an academic but there seems to be not many post doctor positions in the UK in social networks. I really like doing my research and dread the prospect of not being able to develop my research after my PhD. I would go abroad to find a post doc position but the problem is that I have a disability so it would be better if I stayed local or at least in the UK. I would like to know what sorts of jobs PhD graduates do if they don't get to become an academic.

Hi DanB

Thanks for all the useful information and advice. What did you do your PhD in and what are you doing as a job now. My area is computer science. I don't know if this is a common feeling but is it normal to feel guilty if you put your heart and soul into your research but then in the end you get a job unrelated to it. I was wondering can you still publish work even if you get a job which is not in academia.

Hi,

I am heading towards the end of my PhD and started to wonder about what I want to do after. Some ideas include lectuership, teacher or I.T techncial support person. What I am worried about is trying to find these sorts of jobs. Is there any advice you can give on how to go about trying to find a job after your PhD because at the moment I am scared of the prospect of never finding a job that truely makes me happy.