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Sophie Z'OursHi, dear friends!
Tomorrow, I will pass a small test to estimate my English level. Then, i may prepare the TOEIC.
I decided it would be useful for me to now how terrific genius i am in English 
:angel:.
So I can have an idea about how I can take profit from my knowledge in English.
It is getting so hard to find a job. Of course, the best thing for me would be to find a job as a Scientist, but opportunities are so rare. I just found one to apply for in the same lab as for my PhD, but I am not sure I will be chosen as the research project is a bit different from what i have done in the past... But i will try. I just need a lot of luck. Finger crossed... I have learnt not to be too optimistic, so now I am vere realistic and know perfectly that my cahnces are small eventhough people do appreciate me a lot in that lab. They have to give good reason to explain their choice to the people who give the money for the project. I am not sure that they can say only "We chose her because we rely on her". That could be ONE good reason, but not enough. I am sure there will be candidates with a better knowledge on the experimental procedures than i have... Anyway, just wait and see.
The english test is not required to help me to get that job. They already know that i have spent one year in Oxford so they know my English is good enough for the job.
Beary hugs,
Sophie.
Baird'sBears:pray: 
Good luck, Sophie!! :hug:
Your English is very good indeed! Here in Canada, all our High School students are encouraged to study math and the sciences, and somewhat discouraged from studying the humanities. The strange thing is that jobs in engineering and the sciences are in very short supply!!
Eileen
Patsy Lake BearsSophie good luck .... I am sure you will go well ...
Sophie Z'OursPeople around me told me that was probably not a good idea to do a PhD in biology, because there was already a lack of jobs in this area, but I wanted soooo much to please myself doing something I like. During my PhD, i have studied a bacterial disease of grapevine and in Oxford I have studied microbial populations of crop rhizosphere under different knid of treatments against dumping off disease. These were very inreresting research subjects and I had such great times. When I was about to leave England, they were already getting short of founds to pay researchers. At CEH Oxford, researchers had many negative answers for founds for there projects. Once back in France, it just became a nightmare. Almost no job available in my speciality. So unfair. But this is life.
Beary hugs,
Sophie.
Bumpkin BearsHI Sophie - sending you lots of luck for your test - I'm sure you'll do very well 
Oxford is a beautiful city so I'm sure you enjoyed your time there. I hope you can find a job soon. :thumbsup:
Hugs
Catherine
Estelles canal bears and Tod TeddiesDear Sophie
Dent give up, our government is trying very hard to persuade students to take more science subjects at university, but at the same time the colleges are struggling for funds. Oxford is one of our best. I think your english exellent and shouldn't be a problem at all. I am english and couldn't do much better and my French is shameful
:redface: :hug: :dance:
Posts: 8,574Catherine, love your new teddyavatar
Sophie,
We have been hearing how scarse good jobs are in France. I am so sorry. Your English is quite remarkable and I am hoping, with my fingers crossed as well, that you will be chosen for this new venture.
Your positive attitude is surely going to be an asset.
Keep us posted.....well, I can't uncross my fingers until we know....right?
:hug:
Dilu
Sophie Z'OursThanks to all of you for your support!
I will let you know...
Beary hugs,
Sophie.
Bears-a-Bruin!Sophie, good luck with your job hunt :hug:
Are you also exploring jobs in the pharmaceutical industry? Hospitals? What about moving sideways into other disciplines? I've worked in departments of genetics, biochemistry and immunology and found a great deal of overlap.....and I learned SO much! I'm a bit of a 'jack of all trades' LOL (master of none!) but sometimes that's a good thing!
Past Time BearsGood, good luck, Sophie! I am very impressed with your command of English, so hope you will be able to find a job to your liking very soon.
Sophie, I didn't realize you were a PhD level scientiest, or at least, pursuing that. Wow! Biology is fascinating; one of my favorite subjects in school, whenever I had opportunity to take it, which happened more than once in my long school career.
Good luck with your English test, but your English is lovely. 
Beary Lovely ... Bears by SusanHi sophie,
Good luck with your job and the English test, I am sure you will do great!
I wish I had you here to help me with my microbiology class, I am struggling to pass it for my nursing degree. I really want to understand it all, but the teacher just doesn't seem to reach me. I am not a math or science person, I sure wish I was!
good luck and keep us posted!
Susan
Estelles canal bears and Tod TeddiesSophie
I have said you have nothing to worry about with your English test but here is a fairy to help just incase you are still worried
Posts: 8,574Estelle
what a cute fairy-she has to be a big help!!!
waiting here Sophie.....darling do you know how hard it is to type with crossed fingers? 
:pray: keeping our best hopes up for you
:hug: 
:hug:
dilu
OxfordGood Luck Sophie
Warm hugs
Celena
Sophie Z'OursYou're all so great friends for me!
I am back from the test: 6,5/9 was my mark... I think I could have done a little bit better with more concentration...: there are some questions I haven't read well :/... But, well, not so bad. Even in French, I use to have similar kind of problem!!!
This was just a written test: question with answers to browse and choose the right one, words to put in correct order and form to build sentences, etc...
I may try later the TOIC.
Helena: Concerning my job hunting, I have never really been attracted by human and animal biology... and it is generally difficult to move from plant biology to animal biology. With a PhD, you are supposed to apply for responsability positions, so you are supposed to be well experimented in the concerned area... If you see what I mean...
Thank you for the fairy, Estelle. She is charming!
And Dilu, you can uncross your fingers to tape!
Lots of love to all of you,
Beary hugs,
Sophie.
Bears-a-Bruin!Hi Sophie,
Well done! I'm glad you are happy with your test grade and hope it helps you with your future plans! :thumbsup:
I understand what you mean about the need to specialise. Do you intend to run your own lab? I did my PhD in microbial genetics, moved to a biochemistry lab to purify animal proteins and then took that experience to an immunology department (to isolate an interleukin-type protein). Then I moved to industry to run a team who were developing assays. In my case, the wide range of techniques/applications I was familiar was a huge benefit. But to stay in academia for the longterm would have meant settling on a particular project, and to be honest that's not something I wanted to do.
Of course, I wish you lots of success and hope you are able to find the job of your dreams, or obtain the grant money you need! Let us know how you get on!
Posts: 3,540:dance: Congratulations on your test results!! :dance: I hope you can find a job that you like....aside from making teddy bears of course
Sophie Z'OursHelena, i have to confess i would not like to run my own lab... I don't feel like I could be a boss and I prefer to have a boss to help me!!!! and honnestly, I don't have enough experience to be able to run a lab!!!!!! If I am given more opportunities to work as a scientist, I may get enough experimented to run a team myself, but not before long!!!
Dear friends, today brought me another hope! My dad phoned me to tell me he will need some help at his work for a couple of weeks from the 5th of December. He is working as a librarian/archivist in our French Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of Marine (SHOM). He asked me to apply for the job. A 15 day period is very short, but still better than nothing!!! I just hope that my application won't be refused as my dad's daughter, if you see what I mean!!! I say that because I have already worked once in his working place and the rules are: every employee can have his children working ONCE in the SHOM. My dad said me that this may not be a problem due to the emergency of his need of help.... I may have the answer on monday. So finger crossed. Working at SHOM is pleasant. My dad used to work as an informatician at the SHOM before he got librarian: he was computing programs to make marine maps for boats. He changed to librarian about ten years ago as there was not enough work. By chance, at the same period, the actual librarian was about to get retired so he just asked to replace her and got the job...
At the SHOM, there is a good restaurant with good food... for all the staff. The only negative thing is that I will have to wake up early :(, because my dad prefer to arrive at work early so he can leave at 4:15 pm.
Oups :o, I may get a bit ennoying, so I should stop here... :P.
Beary hugs,
Sophie.
Bears-a-Bruin!Oh, that sounds great Sophie! And what a great dad you have for telling you about it! I'll have my fingers and toes crossed for you... :lol:
As for running your own lab....you never know....it might happen one day!
Sophie Z'OursWho knows, Helena, who knows!!!!??? ...
Beary hugs,
Sophie.
Helena, you have a PhD, too? That's really an impressive level of education. Is a PhD in the UK/France the same as it is here... four years of university, followed by four or more years of graduate school in a particular discipline? I'm guessing it must be the same, and maybe my stereotypes are showing here. I'm just flabbergasted that we have two PhD's on a bearmaking board. Then again, maybe I shouldn't be; I have a Master's and I know a few others do as well, whose names escape me... and Kim Basta is an attorney, which lands her a J.D. and means she's had at least three years of graduate school.
I never believe that having higher/graduate-level education makes a person inherently more valuable. We're ALL valuable.
It does, however, mean they have devoted a lot of dedicated lifespan time to schooling, and to being a student!
I love school and would go forever, if there were money in it... just enough to survive... <sigh>
Sophie Z'OursYes, shelli, our PhD are equivalent.
Having a PhD is good, but finding a job after obtaining a PhD is better. I should have done a PhD in teddy bear making. I would have been talented enough to earn my life just with my teddy bears!!!!
I don't feel more clever than other pleople. why would I? After all, I just specialized in a very very specific area. Not even enough to find a job easily... 
But at least, I have been working on very interesting research subjects for a few years, performed my English and discovered the magic word of teddy bear collectors! so I cannot say i have lost my time, can I?
Teddy bear making addiction can happen to every single person whatever his/her education and diploma!
Beary hugs,
Sophie.
Past Time BearsYes, shelli, our PhD are equivalent.
Having a PhD is good, but finding a job after obtaining a PhD is better. I should have done a PhD in teddy bear making. I would have been talented enough to earn my life just with my teddy bears!!!!
I don't feel more clever than other pleople. why would I? After all, I just specialized in a very very specific area. Not even enough to find a job easily...Teddy bear making addiction can happen to every single person whatever his/her education and diploma!
Beary hugs,
Sophie.
Very well said, Sophie!! So glad the test is over and that you did well! Got my fingers crossed again that you get the job your dad offered you! Good luck and you rock, girl!!
Apple Dumpling DesignsWow...so much brain power. Does it count that I worked at a college for 13+ years
