For my dissertation, I worked on conceptions of the common good in contemporary postcolonial fiction. Because I’m an international student, my funding options were limited; as a result, rather than being able to focus broadly on multiple areas of professionalisation, I had to focus narrowly on completing the dissertation as quickly as possible. This meant that I completed quickly, but without any publications. Further, not being eligible for the major source of funding available to humanities scholars meant being excluded from not only the funding itself but also the cachet of such an award. After my third year I went back to Ireland and completed the dissertation there. Living outside the academic network meant that I wasn’t networking, collaborating, or getting support on publications.

After completing my PhD, I put myself under a lot of pressure—as if I needed to know what my next step was immediately. I applied for several academic jobs in Ireland and the UK, got one interview, and was the reserve, or second place, candidate. After a break for a few months, I’ve started applying to more teaching positions and lectureships in Ireland and the UK, and I’m working slowly but persistently towards getting some work published and creating an academic network here. It’s difficult to make the time with a full-time job, but I’m more financially secure than I have been for years, and that’s a huge relief.

I’ve spent the year since I’ve completed working in the projects and communications department of a multi-national European utility company. The major project I’ve been working on is the planning application for a piece of infrastructure of national importance that will cost the organisation €160 million to develop. I’ve worked on both the coordination of the planning application itself, and on the associated consultation process with a diverse group of stakeholders, including corporate neighbours, the local community, potential customers, various regulatory bodies, and both local and national politicians. The project itself is controversial, which has added a layer of challenge.

The job is great, and I’m busy. I’m also valued for the skill-set I developed during grad school, which was a delightful surprise. I have the opportunity to write and present, which I both enjoy and am good at, thanks to all that practice during grad school. There’s a people-management element too—upwards, downwards, and laterally—which is not so dis-similar to grad school either! I’m learning to manage a much larger budget than I’ve ever had to before – and that’s been an interesting learning curve. The work I’m doing involves shaping and then realising local, national, and EU policy—and in that sense it’s having a ‘real-world’ impact. However, I really miss working with literature on a daily basis as both a teacher and a student. Going forward, the conundrum for me (as with so many other people I know!) is finding a role with more of the literary and academic elements I value that is also not too financially precarious.

For my dissertation, I worked on conceptions of the common good in contemporary postcolonial fiction. Because I’m an international student, my funding options were limited; as a result, rather than being able to focus broadly on multiple areas of professionalisation, I had to focus narrowly on completing the dissertation as quickly as possible. This meant that I completed quickly, but without any publications. Further, not being eligible for the major source of funding available to humanities scholars meant being excluded from not only the funding itself but also the cachet of such an award. After my third year I went back to Ireland and completed the dissertation there. Living outside the academic network meant that I wasn’t networking, collaborating, or getting support on publications.

After completing my PhD, I put myself under a lot of pressure—as if I needed to know what my next step was immediately. I applied for several academic jobs in Ireland and the UK, got one interview, and was the reserve, or second place, candidate. After a break for a few months, I’ve started applying to more teaching positions and lectureships in Ireland and the UK, and I’m working slowly but persistently towards getting some work published and creating an academic network here. It’s difficult to make the time with a full-time job, but I’m more financially secure than I have been for years, and that’s a huge relief.

I’ve spent the year since I’ve completed working in the projects and communications department of a multi-national European utility company. The major project I’ve been working on is the planning application for a piece of infrastructure of national importance that will cost the organisation €160 million to develop. I’ve worked on both the coordination of the planning application itself, and on the associated consultation process with a diverse group of stakeholders, including corporate neighbours, the local community, potential customers, various regulatory bodies, and both local and national politicians. The project itself is controversial, which has added a layer of challenge.

The job is great, and I’m busy. I’m also valued for the skill-set I developed during grad school, which was a delightful surprise. I have the opportunity to write and present, which I both enjoy and am good at, thanks to all that practice during grad school. There’s a people-management element too—upwards, downwards, and laterally—which is not so dis-similar to grad school either! I’m learning to manage a much larger budget than I’ve ever had to before – and that’s been an interesting learning curve. The work I’m doing involves shaping and then realising local, national, and EU policy—and in that sense it’s having a ‘real-world’ impact. However, I really miss working with literature on a daily basis as both a teacher and a student. Going forward, the conundrum for me (as with so many other people I know!) is finding a role with more of the literary and academic elements I value that is also not too financially precarious.