Twice a week we publish problems that will feature in a forthcoming Dear Jeremy advice column in the Saturday Guardian so that readers can offer their own advice and suggestions. We then print the best of your comments alongside Jeremy’s own insights. Here is the latest dilemma – what are your thoughts?
I have just completed three years of my PhD and am only two to three months off submitting my thesis. Prior to my PhD I had a fairly successful 10-year career but was made redundant due to a site closure.
I have recently been approached by my former boss who is now working at a contract research organisation. I agreed to attend an interview but was taken aback by unprofessional questions about my marital status (I am female), and whether my reasons for doing a PhD were because my career had become stagnant. It had, a little, and I was probably stupid to admit this.
This company has since offered me a graduate six-month position, which does not take into account my experience or doctoral training. It needs highly experienced people and is forcing me into a two-week start which means that I can no longer commit full-time to writing my thesis. I tried to negotiate a more senior grade (not necessarily a higher salary), but the company is refusing to budge.
I don’t particularly need a job right now (I would rather complete my thesis), but think it might be a way to get back into the system until I find a better job. On the other hand, I feel that I am being taken advantage of and that taking this job may reflect badly on my ability to secure a more senior role in the future, which was the main reason for doing a PhD.
Do you need advice on a work issue? For Jeremy’s and readers’ help, send a brief email to dear.jeremy@theguardian.com. Please note that he is unable to answer questions of a legal nature or to reply personally.
