Today, I have had dilemical decisions to make.
The department offers a limited number of spaces up for lab placements over the summer – one student per supervisor. Six to eight weeks, fairly respectable pay, experience working in an area relevant to the degree, looks amazing on CV etc, etc.
Currently, I hate lab work, therefore I had no intention of applying, despite the obvious benefits. My friend applied for one of these places. She didn’t get it (even though her grades are exceptional). As for me, when they emailed ‘round everyone informing of this opportunity, I wasn’t bothered – I know I don’t like labs, and the thought of waking up each day to do lab all day, even if I were getting paid for it, filled me with dread. The thing is, I know I’m not that bad at chemistry, I know I could do it, probably, if I had a little more confidence in myself, and put a little more effort. And you know, £1000 or so could be quite handy. But the deadline is fast approaching, and I knew I wouldn’t go for it.
Today, I got an email from one of the supervisors specifically addressed to me, asking if I was already applying for a placement or would be interested in applying with him?
Now, here, flattery takes a hold of me. I know I didn’t want to do it, but he especially asked me, I’ve been to him for feedback several times, he knows who I am, I generally turn out good on paper and I put across a personable first impression. Of course, he’s never actually seen me in the lab so is unaware of the utter nervous negative wreck I am, but still, he chose to ask me to work with him!?
There’s a part of me that feels I should at least find out more about it; there’s a part of me that although it’s a compliment, I still wouldn’t be comfortable with being responsible for doing lab work every day all day and with the expectation to know what I’m doing; there’s a part of me that feels, hey, my friend applied for this first, hey she actually wanted to do it, hey maybe I should tell her about it before I think about it myself.
I’m not sure which part of me is winning out – I don’t know what to do, should I really be throwing away this opportunity without a second glance? Should I really apply to him myself when it's obvious my friend actually wants to do it, wouldn't that be a bit unfair?
This has been screwing with my head along with everything else.
Please help, blog squad!?
On the jukebox: t.A.T.u ~ All The Things She Said
If I were you I'd find out more about it but don't commit yourself until you know more about what you'd actually be doing. Then at least your dilemma will be a slightly more informed dilemma!
ReplyDeleteI assume it's a Nuffield project or similar? I was sort of investigating one of those in my Dept., especially as a friend was applying for something similar (- I'd have company) and due to someone else pulling out, there was an Algebra project up for grabs, which is the sort of thing I find, um, interesting! £1000 guarenteed for the summer, while not working out at so much per hour, wouldn't be bad.
Having thought about it for a bit, though, I decided that I'd rather getting some 'real world' job experience - I know that I don't want to go into Maths and I figured that I'm spending quite a good proportion of my university life scribbling symbols on a piece of paper as it is.
So I guess what it boils down to is do you want to spend your summer doing Chemistry, and doing Chemistry away from home? If you'd enjoy the work (and you sound to me like the kind of person who gets less stressed working when there aren't loads of other people around you) then go for it! I'm sure you'd be able to come up with some decent explanation for your friend, such as you know the supervisor and she doesn't?
And ****, that reminds me, I've got an OU job application to be filling in...!
ReplyDeleteMac and cheese. definitely.
ReplyDeleteoh, and win in doubt, go with green.
wednesday.
two left turns, then a right, then straight on until yesterday.
hope that helps. you know I care. good luck.
Yeah, it's Nuffield. The thing is, I wouldn't even have considered it if it hadn't been him asking me. It's like - someone's held out a hand, perhaps I should grab it?
ReplyDeleteI don't want to go into chemistry as a career, I couldn't cope with everything I should know. Why would I be doing the placement? Not for personal experience, more for future employers (of any kind) because it's a worthwhile application to have. And the money, then I wouldn't need another job, and it'd be done with some summer to spare. But then I'd be here on my own, and I while I like my own space, if I didn't enjoy the job it could get awfully lonely. Also in terms of 'real world' job experience, I had thought about doing something else in particular which I feel I would prefer and perhaps help me figure out what the hell I want to do with my life?!
I've emailed a recent graduate who did one of these placement things last year, asking about the kind of stuff that was expected of the students. I'm hoping the response from that might help with me deciding about it.
Thanks, Lucy.
Andy: Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning is where I'm headed.