eva ([info]faerycake) wrote,
@ 2009-07-08 21:46:00
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woah, another serious-y post, all apologies!

So. I've been doing my PhD for over a year and a half now and will be coming to my 3rd year in September, arg!

I know I want to teach afterwards. I love it, even though I've got a lot of improvements to make. I really enjoyed it last term and felt like I got on fairly well with my students (on the whole!). It was weird, usually I do new things and it's a lot of trial and error to begin with before I become a bit less rubbish at it. With teaching it was the closest I've got to feeling instinctively like I could do something. Even though I was really nervous I felt fairly comfortable in front of large-ish classes. I know I've got a lot to improve on, as I'm just starting out, but I feel like I could get better if I have more practice. I think it helped because I made sure I was well prepared, which calmed my nerves a lot.

I'm not sure what level I want to teach at though, I'd love to teach at degree level but I think my chances of getting an academic position are slim to none. Jobs are even harder to come by now than they were when I started, and in careers talks etc it's constantly being reiterated how competitive it is.

i.e. how it's IMPOSSIBLE to get a job unless you've got articles published in the best journal ever or got a book published (which is pretty tricky at my level, but you'll be up against other - more experienced - people who will have had substantial things published).

It's making me a bit despondent really, which is silly - I know it'll be impossible, but being pessimistic is rubbish. I always think if you're too pessimistic it can be paralysing, so even though it's unlikely I need to do a sort of (happy) double-think to try and motivate myself into focusing on my research, trying to submit articles to journals and going to conferences etc etc.

If I'm really struggling, I'll see about doing an on the job PGCE for 6th form level - English is one of the jobs they're struggling to get teachers for so at least I know I'm qualified to do that! I'm sure I'd love teaching A level English and I could always do media and/or communications too (which is more or less what I've been teaching at uni).

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[info]nelsolidarida
2009-07-08 10:31 pm UTC (link)
It is competitive, but not impossible! The worse market just means you need to apply for more jobs before you get one, be a bit less fussy about where you go, be ok with working as a slightly glorified TA for a year or two - but by the time that ordeal is over you'll have had a chance to publish and gain experience so you will be hopefully able to move up to something better. (I am telling myself that constantly. If you want to see my covering letter/CV you're welcome...)

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[info]zebrallama
2009-07-09 02:01 am UTC (link)
Right. See also my reply to the OP.

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[info]faerycake
2009-07-22 05:13 pm UTC (link)
thank you :) I think I was just panicking a bit when I wrote the post. I may well take you up on the CV thing, mine's a bit rubbish at the moment, hehe!

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[info]zebrallama
2009-07-09 02:01 am UTC (link)
It was weird, usually I do new things and it's a lot of trial and error to begin with before I become a bit less rubbish at it.

I've taught for 11 years so far and I still find that at the beginning of every semester I'm trying this and that and the other thing and the students are going WTF? And by the middle of semester things are pretty much settled down, and by the end of semester when they fill in their feedback forms they're all happy! (Or so I think.)

in careers talks etc it's constantly being reiterated how competitive it is

Same here, and yet something like 90% (maybe more) of the PhD students from my department get a good academic job. Admittedly it's a particularly prestigious department, but still ... I think lecturers tend to downplay your chances of getting a job so that you're not disappointed if you don't.

And no, you don't have to have publications to get a job (although sure it helps). One guy who's on a postdoc here has no publications but has a tenure-track position at a good university in the States (in addition to his postdoc) and has also been offered a postdoc at Oxford. I had no relevant publications (just a few from a previous career) when I got a tenured job at the Australian National University.

It's great that you've been to lots of conferences. Being well known is a big plus, I think.

My theory about how to get jobs is that nobody knows! Different departments want different things at different times. For example, sometimes they want someone who's enthusiastic about teaching. Also, sometimes you're up against very stiff competition but other times they need someone in a hurry and some of the most experienced people don't notice the job ad in time. (I think that's what happened in my case.) My advice is to concentrate on whichever aspect of your work you enjoy most (while making sure you finish your PhD, of course).

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[info]faerycake
2009-07-22 05:15 pm UTC (link)
Thank you, that's all really good advice :)

I've spoken to my supervisor about it all too and have calmed down a bit!

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[info]tiwla
2009-07-09 08:12 am UTC (link)
Ditto to what the others said. It's common to have a year or two in the wilderness after PhD, and that's the time to turn your research into articles and/or a book. Which should improve your prospects - at least, that's what I'm hoping.

Having your face in front of people at conferences is definitely also a worthwhile investment.

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[info]faerycake
2009-07-22 05:17 pm UTC (link)
Yeah, I think I've been a bit intimidated as there are some really focused people in our department who are applying for full time jobs straight away and have done about 8 conferences and had a few things published already. I need to keep reminding myself that while that might give you an edge, it's not necessarily the norm. I think I need to keep my head down and get on with work instead of panicking really.

My supervisor said pretty much the same as what you've just said.

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[info]bamboo_gnome
2009-07-09 03:30 pm UTC (link)
Wow if I'm reading your weird English language right, you're talking about teaching at the secondary school level, right? I think this is something that happens in the UK and USA but not in Australia. I've never met someone with a PhD that teaches anything other than tertiary here, but when I was in the USA I had a Dr. Zaidman who taught me highschool english (well, American literature). Maybe we just don't have as many academics in Australia. Dr. Z got paid much more than the other teachers, however, as a I recall so you're probably on the right track either way!

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[info]faerycake
2009-07-22 05:18 pm UTC (link)
Sort of, it's 16-18 year olds.

I think I'm just worried that it'll be impossible for me to get a job in academia so I need to think of other options to have my back covered. Suppose I'll have to see!

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