Welcome to the club...I am in a very similar situation (minus the temporary contract job with lower pay+ a dependent to feed) and feeling like giving up. I will definitely be unemployed from the 1st Sept...I have applied to research jobs, postdocs, fellowships, lectureships and have made two grant applications. All the same- some interviews but jobs gone to other people, in most cases to those with 3-5 years of a postdoc experience (i.e those who actually should be applying for lectureships but who cannot get them because there is a shortage of lectureship positions).

Welcome to the club...I am in a very similar situation (minus the temporary contract job with lower pay+ a dependent to feed) and feeling like giving up. I will definitely be unemployed from the 1st Sept...I have applied to research jobs, postdocs, fellowships, lectureships and have made two grant applications. All the same- some interviews but jobs gone to other people, in most cases to those with 3-5 years of a postdoc experience (i.e those who actually should be applying for lectureships but who cannot get them because there is a shortage of lectureship positions).

Welcome to the club...I am in a very similar situation (minus the temporary contract job with lower pay+ a dependent to feed) and feeling like giving up. I will definitely be unemployed from the 1st Sept...I have applied to research jobs, postdocs, fellowships, lectureships and have made two grant applications. All the same- some interviews but jobs gone to other people, in most cases to those with 3-5 years of a postdoc experience (i.e those who actually should be applying for lectureships but who cannot get them because there is a shortage of lectureship positions).

Current situation in academic job market is very tough, at least it is my impression after looking for a next job since the beginning of this year. My current research contract expires next month but I havent got next job. I have made fifteen applications, but got only two interviews. I have PhD from the one of the top universities in the world, excellent CV and brilliant references, but no next job. Where is the problem? You wont believe but apparently for many positions I applied to the competition was 150-200 people per place! (I know that from the 'insiders'). Moreover, people who are too qualified are applying to temporary, short-term and similar jobs simply because there are not many permanent positions available for those who few years ago would get them.

In current situation, if I were you, I would stick to the job you got:) But you might think differently.

Hi Ogriv, there is a place under the Sun (and in psychology) for different people. You definitely will find a way how to apply best your talents:)


PS: I am the opposite to you- brilliant in empirical work but rubbish when it comes to theory. And always envied people like you.

Wait, isn't there a rule that for research and educations purposes pictures can be used for free and all you need is the permission of the copyright holder?

In that case, are you sure that you will be doing PhD and only Phd, that you wont take up any other responsibilities? Wont you feel isolated, I mean, if you dont have around people who do the same things (ie PhD), you wont have anyone (apart from your supervisor 1 a month) to discuss things related to it, share experiences etc. I found it very motivating to meet other PhD students on regular basis and just have a chat about how it is going. 'Normal' people usually notdo not understand what does doing PhD mean:)

If you will live outside of the UK and will go to the university only once in a while, it might be even worse.
Mainly because, you might feel like sitting on two chairs at once without proper commitment to anything you do. MSc is brilliant because it provides a shorterm change, opportunity to get fresh experiences but knowing that it will end soon. PhD is a serious relatively long-term commitment, and believe me, in the first year it seems that it will never ever end. If you go to work away, the other things will take over, and PhD might turn into never ending story.

My 1st year of PhD I spent living between 2 countries Uk where I was doing PhD and one of European countries where I was continuing to work part-time in my previous job.I would not suggest anyone to do the same, if they want to get on with PhD and make progress.

' Age:
I am 30 - is this terribly late to start your phd?'.

I started at 32.5, and there were 2 more people much older than me who started a PhD at the same time. No problems, apart from getting research fellowships that unofficially prefer young people

You can register, of course, but it will mean paying the registration fee, though. Not turning up to give your presentation isn't a good style but lots of people do it.

Badhaircut: I am afraid, it is modern capitalism. Only low qualified-employees used to be exploited, nowadays it is time for professionals to be squeezed out for the sake of employers. The more will academics to think about how to survive on small salaries, the less they will have time and energy to ask uncomfortable questions and suggest changes.

To make it clear: the bus driver comparison was just situational, I really don't think that post-doc and bus-driver jobs are comparable. Lets speak from now on about post-doc salaries in the context of the time, effort and financial resources involved in getting a PhD, and salary you get for it later:)

joyce: this is not my first job. I have worked 10 years as a research-assistant and as a lecturer. So, if I can get only the very bottom salary, who then (and when) get these top 31K? people in their 40s still on 1-year contracts??

masters: there is life outside of one's work. Of course there are some geniuses that literally live in their labs and have nothing else apart from work. But for the rest of us doing science without reward just because one likes it, is a history where scientists were mainly white upper-middle class males with secured income from properties they had inherited.

Shani: that is a very good point. I havent thought about it this way before.
Vince: thanx for kind message. Probably I am too overstressed as well:)

golfpro: University in Blackpool at least will offer a good quality of life:) Just imagine a line in a job add "We offer:- a wonderful sea view from your office, especially if you work late".

Vince: about your point of being able to do things you are interested in. If you happen to be interested in a theme that is not a hot topic currently, then finding a post-doc job that allows you to continue to pursue your interest is quite a challenge:)