Unemployed PhD grad

LegacyUser

Hi all, another week another unemployed PhD grad. I know there was a post a few weeks ago from an unemployed PhD grad in the social sciences. I am yet another one. I did my viva almost a year ago and have my graduation in a few days. I am absolutely dreading what should be one of the happiest days of my life because it'll probably rank among one of the worst. I got a few weeks of temporary employment recently in a job way below my level of qualifications. I have had interviews for academic jobs and have been placed first reserve but I never quite seem to make it. It's been a few months now since my last interview. I am getting publications done and I always get rave reviews for my work and presentation style at conferences but that doesn't pay bills unfortunately. I am at a point now since finishing my temp job where I just couldn't care less if I was struck down and died. I glibly say to myself at least I wouldn't have to beg for a job anymore :-( It's be some respite from this torment. I was always such an upbeat positive person and trust me I keep this side out. I never go into interviews or into a temp job all negative and downcast. I do make the effort but I am at a point where I am ready to crack up completely. I am going to speak to the department head this week and basically explain in a calm manner that you have to help me here because this is just silly after all the time and money I invested in the PhD. Has anyone any words of advice? Do I have to retrain in something else completely? What the heck can I do? This is killing me now. Thank you for listening and please if you're reading this don't bother with a PhD. All the university wants is your money. Please be wise.

Another day

I feel for you. All that work and nothing coming of it.

Have you thought about seeing someone about interview skills and how you come across? Like an interview critic? Sounds mad but you are not getting results so you need to look at the bigger picture. ...

Also re job below your level..any job is better than no job. It also shows you are not a slacker and want to work. Don't knock it!

dudara

I also hold a Ph.D., but I was pretty definite that I wanted to leave academia and peruse a career elsewhere. Which I have. Are you committed to academia?

BTW, even though I don't work in the same field anymore, I am immensely proud of my Ph.D. I consider the hard work that went into earning it to be extremely important as part of my growing up and adult learning.

athtrasna

Any qualification is a stepping stone to a job, not a guarantee. There are hundreds if not thousands of possible qualifications and much fewer specialised roles. You need to focus on transferable skills and not pigeon holing yourself waiting for a specific job. It's easier to get a job while in a job.

LegacyUser

dudara wrote: »

I also hold a Ph.D., but I was pretty definite that I wanted to leave academia and peruse a career elsewhere. Which I have. Are you committed to academia?

BTW, even though I don't work in the same field anymore, I am immensely proud of my Ph.D. I consider the hard work that went into earning it to be extremely important as part of my growing up and adult learning.

Thank you both for the replies. Another Day - yes, I may consider professional help for the interviews but I think it's just a case that is v competitive out there.
Not committed solely to academia anymore, dudara. I would love it but right now I would take anything. I really enjoyed the temp job actually. I am pragmatic and would be happy to have an office type job while looking for something better but it is hard to take after all that work. I might see the PhD in a different light if I ever get a job. Right now I curse doing it.

Sarn

Unfortunately PhDs are becoming a dime a dozen. The competition for academic positions is fierce. Most of my friends went straight to industry when finished, some stayed on as postdocs. Of those who stayed, the majority left after two to three years. Several of my colleagues have a number of years postdoctoral experience but work in junior roles earning half of what they did as postdocs. They see it as a stepping stone.

I was lucky in that I still use my PhD in my daily role and am on a better salary then when I was a postdoc and lecturer. Based on what I have seen, don't rely on academia to provide the solution. It works for a very small minority. If you do stay then you are likely going to have to consider moving to where the jobs are.

Rubberchikken

i envy anyone who had the ability to complete a PhD. that's a fantastic achievement and even if life/work means that a person never gets to actually use it, then so be it.

i get a feeling of bitterness from your post that will, i'm sure, dispel in time once you have gained employment, but is there any chance you are bringing this with you, unintentionally, into interviews/temp jobs. there's also a whiff of 'i have a PhD and am better than that' about the tone re. jobs below your qualifications.

it is hard in this country at the moment for many, regardless of educational achievements, but if bills are to be paid then maybe time has come to reconsider staying here. would you consider working abroad for a length of time to actually be able to use the PhD which you worked hard to earn?

LegacyUser

I don't think I bring that attitude in with me, Rubberchikken, but maybe I do and need to think about that. I don't look down upon anyone. I did work in retail for a few years previously and have the utmost respect for every job and anyone who earns a legitimate wage. I don't come from a wealthy family either so I know all about jobs that are paid far too poorly. I am just frustrated to be still stuck like this. The 3 non-academic jobs I applied for - for one it emerged in the interview that I really wasn't suitably qualified, the second was not feasible for financial reasons, and I got the third which, as I said, I really came to enjoy. I'm suffering a dip at the moment that I think directly relates to finishing up my temp job (I really wish it had been permanent! I was a switchboard operator and took a lot of abuse on a daily basis but god it was good to have a wage and have a laugh with co-workers). So I don't think my attitude is bad in general and, as I said, I really don't carry the negativity around (afaik). I am even thinking of biz ideas.
Thank you all for the suggestions though and, yes, I do think I will feel better about the PhD when I get any job. I just feel like the biggest fool at the moment for bothering to do it but I did love the project and was so passionate about it at the time. However, I now badly need a job.

LegacyUser

Forgot to mention as well that I have applied for jobs abroad though not many. I can't seem to land an interview abroad but I can at least land a few here. I can't tell you the difference really between applications that get me an interview and ones that don't other than I am more closely qualified for certain ones than others. Regarding coming first reserve - I know I was very close with one postdoc position but the person who got it was a classically trained musician and it was a music dept whereas I am a social sciences grad who did a thesis on music. There was one question about that in the interview and I think I screwed that question up. They wrote a really nice rejection email if that can be possible so I know I can impress and do well at times. Maybe I just need to keep trying and be better prepared. Thanks again everyone and you know what it's fine I'll just keep applying. I was having a very bad moment when I posted. I think my impending graduation is filling me with sadness. I just want to cry any time I think of it when really it should be a happy day.

dellas1979

DrofNothing wrote: »

I just want to cry any time I think of it when really it should be a happy day.

I understand your position and how you are feeling OP. But the above is a bit dramatic.

You need to reframe this in your head, stop crying, and see the achievement in what you did. Its like getting out a big stick and beating yourself with it for actually doing something good.

You are sending a very negative message to yourself.

PhD regardless or not, most professionals/workers have had a crise de confiance - what am I doing? What do I do now? I dont like my job. I want a job. This isnt working. How do I get ahead. This isnt fair. Ive tried my best and getting no where.

The key to all the above is to just plain and simple keep trying. Thats what we all have to do. Start thinking laterally what you can do. It took me few years after studying to get into the area I wanted to get into (pretty niche too). That was the sacrifice - I had to wait/patience. Doing things on the side that would keep my quals/experience relevant. Even did unpaid work while I worked (in a job nothing to do with what I wanted to do). I did what I had to do, believing that some day Id end up in that industry.

zoobizoo

Firstly, you made a decision to do the PhD and you made what you felt was the best decision for you to do that at the time. So don't dwell on that.

Definitely get some professional advice regarding interview techniques - check out the STAR technique. Learn off the answer to 40 questions.

Also, the more interviews you do, the better you get at them. I used to be very laid back doing interviews - I presumed that people knew I was interested in the job because I had applied for it and then turned up at the interview... I am now more enthusiastic in interviews and if I want the job, I'll say that at the end of the interview.

Some interviews I left thinking that I had done well as I had gotten on very well with the interviewer - the interview turned into a chat... which proved that I can (a) get on with the interviewer and (b) that I can chat - it didn't prove that I could do the job so stay focussed on the task at hand and use concrete examples of work you have done. (Competency based interview answers can help - see: http://www.hse.ie/eng/staff/Jobs/Recruitment_Process/Competency_Based_Application_Forms.html)

I have 2 cvs that I use depending on the job I apply for... Sometimes I take my Masters off the cv, other times I push it.

If you don't get the job, once you know that you have done all you could have done, then clap yourself on the back, email them for feedback and move on.

Have you signed up with any recruitment agencies?

LegacyUser

OP I'll just give you a look from what might be 'the other side'! I had to walk away from a phd recently. College really let me down and my work basically came to nothing after 5 years work. I have a job and love it and get great satisfaction from it which has kept me going but I would give anything to be where you are and heading for graduation. You have achieved something wonderful so go in to that ceremony and hold your head up high and reflect on what is such a brilliant achievement. I know that the job stuff is very hard to live with at the moment but maybe speak to a careers advisor, keep getting the feedback from interviews etc. It sounds like you're so close and while that's not much consolation to you right now, it will get better.

LegacyUser

Thank you all very much for taking the time to respond to me - some stranger on the internet. I do appreciate you taking the time. I was feeling particularly crap the other night when I posted. I am in a situation where I have this qualification, can't get a job, my mother isn't well and I just wish I could help her and my family financially. I just wonder how long do I have to keep this up pretending things are fine, putting on the brave face, trying my hardest to get a job but I know there's no other answer other than I have to keep trying and things would be a million times worse for us all if I don't do that. I booked the silly gown and the funny hat ages ago and booked the restaurant etc so I am going to go and try and have a good day with my family this week. It does feel a bit ridiculous to have to sit and listen to the overpaid president of the university waffling about how great everything is while I scrimp and scrape to pay for these things but hopefully I can look back soon and see it all as a good learning curve and acknowledge that tough experiences make you that bit stronger. I have an appointment with the Careers Office at the uni next week so that's good and it's a free service. I hope I can get something before having to pay for help with it. Thank you all again for sharing your advice and experiences. I do feel a bit better about it.