Permies

[conned tractor]

You did a PhD in 2 years? Are you some kind of phenomenon?

A couple of years as not in the literal sense but more like 5 years ago. Plus contracting for one year only. No phenomenon, took 4 years to finish a 3 year position, although some personal reasons did play a part.

Do you need precise info for your internet grooming.

[sasguru]

Thats what I did a couple of years back. With sponsorship top-up, doing the PhD gave me enough to live on .

You did a PhD in 2 years? Are you some kind of phenomenon?

[conned tractor]

RA looks pretty good... the ones around here seem pretty cool, calm & collected.

One or two are actually relatively attractive... (the female ones, I'm not that sort of GAL)...

Are you sure.....

[conned tractor]

*

**which still goes on in a more subtle & gentlepersonly way...

Admittedly it does go on, and some gigantic ego-maniacs to boot. I must have had a good department - didn't see much bitching there, but it would have been difficult to have been worse than the permie position I left. On the whole I enjoyed my time there and wouldn't rule out taking an RA (relatively easy life) or possibly lecturer (slightly more stressful with a pinch of bitching) position in a couple of years.

[conned tractor]

Many of you might not understand this. I'm not sure I can either.

I've a permie sat next to me who is giving up his job to study for a PhD in RF ID tags.

Yes that's right - apparently there's more to life than money, I don't get it. I just sat there looking dumb.

Thats what I did a couple of years back. Was a permie, sick of dealing with permie crap and wanted out. Was on crap pay anyhow - about 25K.

With sponsorship top-up, doing the PhD gave me enough to live on - not a huge difference between the permie salary and PhD stipend. No payback required by sponsor - don't have to work for them for 'x' years. And the stipend and sponsorship is all tax free - I loved this bit. Maybe your permie has worked all this out and is a similar position.

Its a good life in academia - not at all like the stressful/ backstabbing/ bullsh!tting and all that those in permie land are doing to "improve their career" - for very little reward at all. Well I loved it anyhow, some people can't hack it/ are not suited to it. It is possible to gain some good skills in academia too - many of which are mainly useless in the outside world people just don't have use for it- but I have some future plan B plans on the back of what I studied.

Anyhow, from now on I work for myself, this I had decided long ago was my goal anyhow - the study was just available at the time and I was sick of permie land so was a stop gap and looks good on the cv anyhow.

[thunderlizard]

a PhD in RF ID tags.

or "our future miniature robot overlords" as I like to think of them.

To me that seems like more of a contractor thing to do. Any permie who does anything more unusual than gardening and the occasional beach holiday is breaking the mould.

[Pondlife]

Many of you might not understand this. I'm not sure I can either.

I've a permie sat next to me who is giving up his job to study for a PhD in RF ID tags 1.

Yes that's right - apparently there's more to life than money 2, I don't get it 3. I just sat there looking dumb 4.

1) Each to their own I guess. Someone has to do the research in to these things
2) It's true, there is.
3) Which is a pity for you really
4) See 2 then 3 for your reason

[sasguru]

I just sat there looking dumb.

An expression to which you are most used, I'm sure

[Tingles]

How very collectivist.

Sorry can't offer any advice.

[scooterscot]

Many of you might not understand this. I'm not sure I can either.

I've a permie sat next to me who is giving up his job to study for a PhD in RF ID tags.

Yes that's right - apparently there's more to life than money, I don't get it. I just sat there looking dumb.