Dr Who???

smileylondongal

Personally, I think if you've been looking for 2 months and have had that many interviews, I'd say you're doing really well. The job market is still very low and believe it or not, this is pretty good. ~You do need to keep motivated, however, and one thing I will say is that employers are a little wary of taking on PhDs as they worry they'll expect more in the long run and therefore will be more difficult to manage. In this sort of case, you have to prove to them that you're willing to roll up your sleeves and be treated as any other employee.

Is there any voluntary work you might be able to do that might be relevant, or perhaps work experience for free just to get your foot in the door?

I'd also see if the institutions have any openings themselves as they are often on the lookout for people who know what they're talking out, e.g ICE, CIWEM etc.

misskool

Do you want to stay in a related role?

Many consulting firms offer roles as analysts for those that have completed their PhD's. Their pay isn't great and it's not commonly advertised but you could use the university alumni network to get an introduction.

If you are industry sponsored, is there a reason why the company hasn't offered you a job of some description?

Oldernotwiser

You really need to be tailoring your CV to individual vacancies rather than sending out a generic one. Are you using a chronological or skills based format, as the latter would be far better.

bendix

I have to wonder exactly what sort of job you were expecting to get with a post doctorate degree in environmental engineering.

penrhyn

The Environment Agency did a great job round here with the annual fishing for cars dumped in the river event.

They seem to have some jobs if not many.

https://ig24.i-grasp.com/fe/tpl_ea01.asp?KEY=12919671&C=348646564883&PAGESTAMP=dbhigelnwrrlmhfqzm&nexts=INIT_JOBLISTSTART&nextss=&mode=1&newQuery=yes&searchrefno=&searchregion=0&searchjobgenerallist2id=0&searchjobgenerallist3id=0&searchjobgenerallist1id=0&searchtext=&formsubmit4.x=58&formsubmit4.y=6

MX5huggy

Do you have the qualifications / experience to do the reports required for the water run off and/or ecology sections of The Code for Sustainble Homes?

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/code_for_sustainable_homes_techguide.pdf

Because I am involved with Code assessments and the number of people offering these reports is very low.

gemnjam

Sorry for the mega post guys - just trying to reply to some people's questions. Thank you all for taking the time to read and reply to me though - I really do appreciate it

Mistral001 wrote: »

You could try some of the bog firms of multi-disciplinary firms of consulting civil engineers such as Building Design Partnership, Arup, White Young Green, Atkins etc.

Thanks - I have tried many of these already and applied for all the roles I could find that were suitable - I had an email today that Atkins want to interview so that's positive

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

You really need to be tailoring your CV to individual vacancies rather than sending out a generic one. Are you using a chronological or skills based format, as the latter would be far better.

I have been using a chronological format as that's what the careers dept. recommended but will look at changing it - thanks

misskool wrote: »

If you are industry sponsored, is there a reason why the company hasn't offered you a job of some description?

During my time there the company has restructured and basically the dept I would have quite likely been able to join has been disbanded and they have decided they will get outside consultants in on a contract basis when they need stuff

bendix wrote: »

I have to wonder exactly what sort of job you were expecting to get with a post doctorate degree in environmental engineering.

I don't have a post doc at all, merely a doctorate and there are plenty of jobs around to which it is applicable, sadly most of the ones who are actively recruiting seem to be outside the UK at the moment & we are not in a position to be able to move as DH has 2 kids with his ex & we can't just abandon them (have to admit that otherwise I would be in Oz by now!)

penrhyn wrote: »

The Environment Agency did a great job round here with the annual fishing for cars dumped in the river event.

They seem to have some jobs if not many.

Thanks - I have had another look on there for anything new I haven't already tried for and have submitted an application for the BGS thing - although post docs are meant to be even more competitive than the normal job market & I'm not sure I really want to be in academia anymore but its worth a go

MX5huggy wrote: »

Do you have the qualifications / experience to do the reports required for the water run off and/or ecology sections of The Code for Sustainble Homes?
Because I am involved with Code assessments and the number of people offering these reports is very low.

Unfortunately, no, I don't know anything about these.