During the three years of my PhD, I often spoke of that time as being in work. I'd say that I had to go into work, not into Uni every day. In a sense, that was certainly true. I had a desk (although no phone), a supervisor who was akin to a line-manager, some committees that I sat in on, some version of core hours, and I got paid a stipend which, though less than a salary, was untaxed, so I didn't feel like I did too badly. I had deadlines to work to, and had to keep my work at a high standard, and I had a yearly review. And also, a common theme is how crap the computers are, whether you're in academia or the real world. Give me a job that provides me with a Mac....pweeeease!!!!
I think the comparison ends there. And it is only in the month since I've started a 'real job' that I've realised how false a comparison really is. People doing a PhD have it (or can choose to have it) easy. There's no dress code, which means that you aren't sleepy all day because you had to get up and spend forever making yourself look presentable. And you don't have to iron your clothes either. And unless you have a meeting at stupid o'clock, you don't really have to be in work at any particular time, as long as you get the work done. I wish that were a thing in real life, instead of this set working week malarky. Also, people seemed so much more sociable in academia - maybe that was the department and university I was in, but not a week went by where I didn't go out at least once. In the month I've spent in a real job, I've been out one and a half times. The half was when I managed to get a quick drink in before heading off for the weekend. I mean really - why organise a pub night out on a Friday?
I'm not complaining. A real job certainly has its benefits. The pay for one - it's nice to have a real income. Shame about tax and pension and, oh yes, I live in the most expensive region in the UK so really, the pay disappears in a microsecond. But at least it's there - some compensation for the fact that I have to be on my best behaviour every working day for the rest of my life. I miss being a nut. Really, it's fun.
In retrospect, I'm still glad I left academia, but I'd like my PhD to have lasted just one year more. It would have kept the darkness of the real world at bay just that little bit longer and I could have attended an awesome conference in South Africa. Somehow I doubt my work will ever send me there - the furthest place I'm looking at being sent to at the moment is Newcastle. Living the dream huh?
Well, my lunch break is almost over, and actually the day is looking up. I've finished all my meetings (seriously, three hours worth today), I've got some data to play around with for the rest of the day (another way in which real work and my PhD line up quite nicely), someone has sent me an awesome recipe for cookies that I might just try out tonight, and it's almost the weekend. And we all know that this weekend the Maltese Fair is happening, and I just can't wait!!!
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