... or lack thereof, should be the title.
Is anyone else in a similar predicament?
I finished my PhD in Jan., and have a one year fellowship at my own institution (this looks good on the c.v, but it is not salaried like the equivalent roles elsewhere ....) and have been applying for suitable jobs.
The number of jobs that I've actually had any business applying for over the entire year? THREE.
Yes. THREE.
I was straightforwardly rejected for one, received good feedback for another (your specialism isn't quite what we want, but please re-apply when we re-advertise something else), and an interview for another.
At my interview for a part-time Teaching Fellow was: someone who has written a book on x, someone coming off a three year post-doc, and someone with several years lecturing experience. These are people that, to me, should be good candidates for lectureships. I got good feedback on my interview, but ultimately, someone was a specialist in x (whereas I am y) and could teach it to a higher level.
That's fine. What's worrying is that this seems to be representative of the situation for humanities PhD's in the U.K. Meanwhile, universities continue to take on PhD students and, frankly, tell lies about their job prospects: not intentionally, but the situation is painted to be a lot better than it is.
Then, if you fail to get one of the three jobs in your area for which about 100 people applied, some regard you as a failure. It was my first ever experience of the academic interview process, and I understand where I can improve for the next time - but the whole worry is that the likelihood of a "next time" seems slim!
So now it is time to keep my head down for the next year and work on pubs (I have one paper out there under review, a second to be sent after presenting at an International Conf in Sept, aim for 3rd by Dec, another over the Spring ....). And by the way, we now have to have more pubs than established lecturers to be even considered for an interview. That's pretty crazy.
Meanwhile, we have ancient Professor's on fractional overpaid contracts who deign to enter the dept. for two hours a week and do no teaching or other duties, and block the way for people like me trying to get started. But then, in these times, I'm not even sure their positions would be replaced.
It is awful, demoralizing, and I would caution anyone thinking about a PhD in my topic NOT to do it if entering academia is your aim.
This is more of a rant. Can anyone empathise ?!
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48 replies
Godstopper · 19/08/2016 14:26
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