{"id":469,"date":"2024-06-17T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-06-17T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.exeter.ac.uk\/hasspgrblog\/?p=469"},"modified":"2024-07-02T11:30:26","modified_gmt":"2024-07-02T10:30:26","slug":"navigating-liminal-employment-the-life-of-an-apres-doc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.exeter.ac.uk\/hasspgrblog\/2024\/06\/17\/navigating-liminal-employment-the-life-of-an-apres-doc\/","title":{"rendered":"Navigating Liminal Employment: the Life of an \u2018Apres-Doc\u2019<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Image by Denny Franzkowiak<\/a> from Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

I often introduce myself at conferences or reading groups as an \u2018apres-doc\u2019. As with \u2018apres-ski\u2019, this is meant to communicate that I have completed the PhD (January 2023) but I have, as of yet, not managed to secure a post-doctoral position. I don\u2019t really have any tips or tricks for navigating this liminal space \u2013 indeed I feel that I am the one in need of guidance \u2013 but I hope to offer here a transparent description of what it has been like to break through all the barriers and stumble over that finish line of a final submission, and not to seemingly find anything on the other side  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The vast majority of my thesis was undertaken during the lockdowns. My partner was considered an essential worker, and whilst many others baked banana bread, I strained my back hammering out a thesis over a kitchen table, without the support of a research community or office. Other blogs here will tell you about how to get through this, all I can reiterate here is to not let the perfect be the enemy of the good, as the best PhD thesis is a submitted thesis. All you need to do is pass the Viva, there will be opportunity to improve upon it later for publication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Viva now feels like a dream away. The immediate aftermath was pure elation, as a great weight was lifted from me. Once this had subsided, however, there came an existential and economic question: what next? As with many doctoral candidates, I was under no illusions about the conditions of the academic job market (although prospects for us humanities are now considerably worse than when I began my studies). The only way that I know how to deal with these things is to throw myself into more of everything. Every Call for Papers that I came across that was halfway relevant I submitted an abstract. Every lectureship or post-doc vacancy that was in any way connected I applied for. I filled up my CV and my calendar, and spread myself too thinly, all the while trying to financially support myself with bar work and also trying to find some time for personal research. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A year and a half in and I am so far unsuccessful, and I am not sure that I can recommend my \u2018scattergun\u2019 approach. I have submitted 100+ job applications for various universities around the globe (in every continent except Antarctica), secured an academic mentor and translated my thesis into 2 chapters in edited collections, two journal articles, and one monograph. Despite this, I am still very precariously employed, with marking employment for now, but no academic appointment yet secured for the 2024\/25 academic year, and only 3 interviews that I have managed to secure so far. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As time ticks on my C.V, of course, becomes more competitive as I produce more research, attend more conferences, and teach a greater variety of modules as an \u2018occasional teacher\u2019. At the same time, however, my research becomes less cutting-edge, and I start to age out of the market. My PhD was self-funded whilst I worked a patchwork of part time jobs, and so luckily, finishing the thesis has not meant a drop in my finances. Given the givens, I give myself another 3 years or so to hopefully strike lucky, and if not then to try something else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those of you getting towards the end of your PhD, relish the time you have now. Secure an academic mentor if you can, try to remain excited about your research, and look out for each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

____________________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Joe is an early career researcher working in critical disability studies whilst teaching within the different schools of English Literature, Philosophy, and Medicine at the University of Exeter. He is the editor-in-chief of the publication Viewpoint<\/em> for the British Society for the History of Science<\/em> and can be followed via @EngTwiterature<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I often introduce myself at conferences or reading groups as an \u2018apres-doc\u2019. 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