3years post PhD...should I give up?

[itto]

I just had a negative answer for a post-doc application so I am feeling very deflated. I am about 3 years post PhD, in a quite niche humanities topic but can possibly work in a number of different departments. No teaching experience in higher education (although some secondary/ A-levels). I have very young children hence haven't really been able to apply for jobs and opportunities until now, and also have to stay around London. I'm trying to keep up with my own research and I have some publications lined up. I had a job offer pre-covid to do some tutoring in a uni course, which at least would have enabled me to make some new contacts, but this was basically cancelled. I am just not earning a penny from this and it's not sustainable!! Please advise experienced ladies: should I give up? Are there particular opportunities I can apply for? What should I be doing? Many of the academics I worked with have left and I don't know where to seek advise.

QueenoftheAir I think there's a balance to be struck, and I struggle with it, between giving advice and constructive feedback and actually the student taking charge of their own career. I'm pretty good at telling students what is needed to succeed in an academic career (teaching, papers in good journals, possibly grants, conference papers) and supporting them if they do want to apply, but I have noticed increasingly that I am kind of working harder than them on this, sending along grant opportunities, sending along conferences. I don't think there are many students that really can seize these opportunities and run with them, I didn't as a student, I was quite passive and I worked my way towards these things as a post-doc more than as a PhD when the thought of presenting your work is a bit scary. Also, these days there are plenty of great blogs by PhD advisors and other PhD students all about how to succeed, and books on it, so it's not like your supervisor is the only one who possesses this knowledge. I think fundamentally you can't make other people take charge of their own careers, like several people I know ended up dropping out because they didn't write, but beyond offering to help/read their work, you can't write it for them. At some point, the person has to think- what am I going to need if I'm to get a lectureship and then go and do those things.

This might just be my experience, I've just had one or two student who I have facilitated in every way but it's not happening from their end. I have decided to back off a bit and leave it up to them, as I feel like I'm more invested than them in them succeeding at this, and if they don't want to move/write/build up a network/put in grants, then why am I trying to drive this?

Yes, your supervisor might be ready to discuss the subject, but if they never raise it, do you know they were ready?

Excellent point. Must remember it with one of my current PhD students.

I think there's a balance to be struck, and I struggle with it, between giving advice and constructive feedback and actually the student taking charge of their own career

There's a fabulous YouTube vlog by Tara Brabazon called "It's your PhD"

It made me laugh out loud, and wonder which PhD students I needed to send it to, but won't because it could be seen as undermining ...

She's a 'character' and she says some questionable things, but this vlog is a diamond!

I have dipped in and out of Tara's videos over the years, and I encourage my PhD students to do the same! Good find!