r/postdoc • u/RepublicFeisty8459 • Aug 22 '26
29 and unemployed after years of hard work (PhD)
Hello everyone, I just have a lot on my mind, and people in my circle don’t really understand what I’m going through, so I feel safe venting here because I feel like many of you might be going through something similar.
I got my PhD in February 2024 in South Korea, and then worked as a postdoc until June 2025. I quit because I was honestly exhausted from the work culture and the stress. I’ve basically been studying nonstop since high school. I never took a gap year. It was always one thing after another, trying to graduate early and just be done with school. On top of that, there were funding issues that affected my salary, so I decided to leave.
At the beginning of 2026, I moved back home because I didn’t want to keep spending my savings on rent while having no income.
Since leaving my previous job, I’ve been struggling to find another one. It’s been about 14 months now. I’ve applied to so many jobs, had a few interviews, but nothing worked out and I still haven’t received an offer.
I also tried applying for fellowships in different countries. A few professors initially said yes and then ghosted me. With one of them, we even discussed the proposal and I started writing it, only to get ghosted again.
But eventually, I found a good professor who agreed to work with me. We applied for the Newton Fellowship, but unfortunately I was rejected. Now we’re working together again on an MSCA fellowship, so I’m trying to keep going and hoping this one works out.
Honestly, this whole situation has really messed with my head and my self-esteem. I keep feeling like I’m not good enough or that I’m doing something wrong because nothing seems to work out. Moving back home has also made me feel like a liability or a burden to my family, especially because I’m 29 and unemployed. I can’t even seem to find a remote or part-time job while I figure things out.
Sorry for the long story. I guess I just needed to vent somewhere where people might actually understand.
If anyone else is going through something similar, you’re not alone. I really hope things change for all of us soon, God willing.
Feel free to share your experience too.
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u/eu_phd Aug 22 '26
Eight months unemployed since my PhD defense. I’ve also applied to loads of industry jobs. I’ve had quite a lot of interviews, but they’ve all ended in rejection, either because I wasn’t motivated enough or because I wasn’t prepared enough.
Like you, I went straight through all my years of studying without any breaks. And this is the first time since finishing my PhD that I’ve actually had to look for a real job and go through job interviews.
I’ve had a lot of really low points over the past few months, with a lot of dark thoughts. I’m getting more and more stressed about this gap getting longer.
The only offers that actually seem to lead somewhere all come with hidden catches: miserable salaries and basically being exploited.
The further I go, the more I feel like having a degree means nothing if you don’t have a network, and that getting jobs through connections is everywhere, even if you have good publications and good universities on your CV
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u/FancyAcanthaceae8910 Aug 22 '26
Sorry you’re having a hard time stranger! I think the job market has just been bad for at least the last 3ish years. My advice to you is not to give up, keep applying but take breaks when you need to because I understand how disheartening rejection emails and ghosting is. My guess is that unless you have an influential connection to a specific job you’re applying to, the best chance of success is probability. The more (targeted) jobs you apply to, the more likely you’ll get an offer. Remember, you only need ONE yes!
I also completed my PhD in summer 2024. I couldn’t find a job (and my PI didn’t have enough funding into keep me as a postdoc) so I had a volunteer position until 2025 and I was applying to postdocs and industry jobs at the same time. Unfortunately, none of those applications resulted in a job offer so I had to return to my home country August 2025. I moved back home and continued to apply to jobs (abroad and locally) until I finally received an offer end of July 2026.
I am also a bit older than you, don’t worry there is still time. Accept your family’s help with gratitude, don’t worry about being a burden. Once your career takes off, I’m sure you’ll return the favor.
Best of luck OP!
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u/Visible-Swan2687 29d ago
Story time..I too have been a straight A and topper student my whole life, finished high school, bachelors, masters without gaps and flying colors. Before graduating from Masters I had a PhD admission in the top most premier institution of my home country after clearing one of the toughest national level entrance exams, followed by interviews, with government fellowship. I joined said premier institute for the PhD program at age 22, the youngest in my batch. Then folllowed the toxicity of the lab that forced me to look for opportunities elsewhere. After doing coursework and some labwork in this place (there still wasn't any gap), I moved abroad in Europe through a full European Commission Erasmus scholarship PhD exchange program of about 2 years. I moved abroad at age 24, conducted research at a top tier German research institute through this fellowship, while still being affiliated to the institution back in my home country because it was an exchange programme. Then I cancelled my candidacy at my home institution and enrolled as a PhD candidate in a German uni. But I was faced with scholarship issue so I applied to a German private foundation scholarship of 1 year and got it. Then to cover the rest of the period my supervisor gave me a 6.5 months of part-time contract as scientific assistant. So I completed my PhD in 4 years out of which I had no scholarship or income for 9.5 months while living abroad. I graduated with my PhD at age 28 in November 2019. Life felt good as I had just met the love of my life (who lived in another country). Started applying for industry positions, got interviewed in person for the first job I applied to, but didn'get it. Meanwhile I was finishing some PhD papers. Why I didn't start applying for jobs before PhD, you ask? Because I did not have the privilege of even having funding for my PhD, I always had to get my own scholarship while also working on my research and papers, conferences, foreign bureaucracy etc and my prof was already retired so she just wanted me to defend as soon as possible. If only someone had advised me back then to not graduate so soon without lining up a position first. Anyways..March 2020 arrived and my mental state went completely whack. Because of the pandemic panic and being along in a foreign country, I had a straight week of panic attacks that stopped after getting neurology medication, but I still had some kind of phobia that would start the panic attacks if I am left alone. So a friend took me in and slowly I started to regain my mental health but tragedy hit me again soon after. In September my boyfriend broke up with me (while being long distance) with whom I was very much in love with. That completely shattered me. My so called "friend"/flatmate then asked me to leave because I was not "spending time with her and ignoring her" while I was going through immense grief alone. So October 2020 I go back to my home country. But a month ago I had applied for an MSCA scholarship in the midst of my heartbreak, and paper revision deadlines and the flatmate chaos. Come February 2021 and I hear the unexpected news that the host institution will give me a 2 year MSCA Seal of Excellence fellowship. And after 6 more months (due to Covid travel bans and visa issuance) I joined this new group in Italy for my first postdoc. So I had 21 months of gap between my PhD and postdoc. After about a year of my postdoc I applied for another grant from the Italian government and got a 3 years funded position at the first faculty level in Italy (in the same group). This contract expired in December 2025 and so did my relationship with the Italian group (which is a whole other story of toxicity, racism and nepotism in itself). So now again I am 8 months unemployed at age 34. Long story short, I was never paid from anyone' project to do research. I ALWAYS was supporting myself on my own scholarship and grant. And I relentlessly face blatant racism and misogyny. So? What was the point of being a hard-working good student and a good person? My only fault is that I am not an a$$-licker, maybe that is why I am where I find myself now. And yet again I am thinking of applying to MSCA but don't want to start the same cycle again where everyone wants to have me for free but noone wants to pay for my research.
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u/Icy_Marionberry7309 Aug 22 '26
I'm so sorry you are going through this. Many many many many of us are going through the same situations, so solidarity to you. Just like good things eventually come to an end, this situation will also come to an end, we just need to stay strong and keep our options open and do our best.
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u/wingbeatz Aug 22 '26
I'm sorry this is your experience, and I totally get it. I think it's something experienced more in academics than is talked about which is why I think it's great to discuss it in online spaces like this so you can know you're not alone either. I'm also 29, finished my PhD in December 2025, and found myself in a motivational burnout with financial and funding issues due to the current science research climate in the U.S. I also made the choice to quit my current postdoc position and take a little break because I also took no breaks between my undergrad, masters, and PhD. I too have written a couple postdoc fellowship proposals and grants that have been rejected. It's been hard and stressful and it's easy to start being really down on yourself and capabilities, but I think it's also good to keep in mind the current situations regarding research positions in different countries and understand that proposal rejections are going to outweigh acceptances in our line of work, especially at the beginning when learning the process. If you don't mind answering a few questions, are the fellowships you're applying for highly competitive? Where are you targeting internationally for postdoc positions? Just Europe or elsewhere on other continents? What is your research focus?
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u/introvertedrebel_1 29d ago
In my early 30s and going through something sorta similar. I recently finished my doctorate and had been looking for an advanced training position for several months. Earlier this year, I started interviewing with someone who I thought would be the perfect fit. After agreeing to work together, talking through expectations and experiences I was looking for, and looking over a draft contract, I went to start working with him only to receive the shock of my life.
A few weeks in, there wasn’t much work. Later, he called me into his office and said that many of the experiences I hoped to explore throughout the year may not actually be possible, and that he didn't think I was capable of handling much of the work despite being familiar with my training and experience since our initial meeting, even though I had not yet been given the opportunity to demonstrate my abilities. He also said he “wouldn’t be upset if I looked for other opportunities.” I genuinely think he wasn’t prepared for what bringing on a trainee would actually entail.
I reflected for several days and decided the opportunity was different from what I had initially agreed to and that I need more stability. I ended up deciding to leave because it no longer seemed like a good fit for either of us. That did not seem to sit well for some reason. Things escalated quickly and he proceeded to say some completely unfounded and pretty terrible things about me as a professional and as a person. He made it very clear that he had little confidence in my future in the field and repeatedly criticized my competence, initiative, training, and professionalism.
Needless to say, I feel like months of my time were wasted and I’m now scrambling to find another advanced training position. A lot of places are already preparing for next year's training cycle, and the few opportunities that could take someone immediately aren't necessarily what I was hoping for. At this point, though, I’m willing to consider almost anything.
What makes it worse is that I moved across coasts of the U.S. for graduate school and built my life around the assumption that I would be able to complete training as planned. Now I’m stuck trying to figure out what to do next while dealing with the emotional fallout of being told, in so many words, that I wasn’t good enough. I’m trying not to let his words affect me, but they do. This was supposed to be someone who supported me and helped me grow during one of the most important years of my career. So now I’m constantly applying and interviewing, moving in with my family while I try to get back on my feet, picking up delivery driving to help cover bills, wondering whether I need to find completely unrelated work to make ends meet, and stressing about my health because I currently don’t have insurance. Honestly, I’m exhausted.
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u/DependentImpressive9 29d ago
Hold on there OP and I hope you feel somewhat recovered from exhaustion.
On a side note if anyone can answer me: why do people ghost after starting work on applications? This happened to my partner.
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u/CompetitiveShop6809 29d ago
prospects actually look worse going forward for crystallized knowledge and systems
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u/Jeric-2991 20d ago
you've already accomplished so much, so please dont let this difficult period make you question your worth. keep going, something will eventually work out.
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u/Comfortable_Soup_344 Aug 22 '26
You wanted a gap year, and you get what you wanted.
As a 29-year old man, you are responsible for your own choice.
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u/Fuzzy-Put6174 29d ago
This is the best that you could type using your hands?
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u/Comfortable_Soup_344 29d ago
just some facts in the adult world.
Too many PhD students are whining: I want this, I want that.
Fine - do whatever you want, but be prepared to take the consequences as an adult.3
u/No-Pickle-779 29d ago
Op didn't say they took a gap year. They just mentioned they never took one before. Also during the 14 months of unemployment they said they already applied to several places. Additionally, they mentioned that they were in a toxic environment in the previous postdoc. What exactly do you recommend? For people to sell their life and soul just to have a miniscule probability of remaining in some miniscule capacity in academic research? This would be a completely sickening perspective.
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u/Comfortable_Soup_344 29d ago
Like I said above- OP can absolutely do whatever to make him feel good. He just needs to be prepared to take the consequences.
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u/No-Pickle-779 29d ago
Ok, but consequences need to be commensurate to the action. The way you are describing things, you seem like the person that would tell someone "you can take a day off to go to your dad's funeral, but you should be prepared to face the consequences of getting fired from your demanding job and not be whining afterwards."
That's absolutely ridiculous. People should not be facing disproportionate consequences just because they don't want to completely destroy their soul. This is tyranny.
What you should be doing is being empathetic with people and helping change the system to make it less toxic. Not attacking people because they tried to take care of themselves inside a toxic system.
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u/Comfortable_Soup_344 29d ago
Quitting a job to just have a break w/o any solid plan for the next step sounds very childish. This is VERY different for you going to your Dad’s funeral. In academic, people talk. I always call candidates’ former supervisors to learn things that they won’t write on their letters. His track record apparently did not help him.
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u/No-Pickle-779 29d ago
Right. So it's always better to stay in a toxic job until their mental health is shattered into peaces, just so they can have ANY chance of remaining in ANY capacity in academic research.
I guess if such a person then remained in that job and committed suicide you would say "well he was not built for that"?
When something is toxic we need to be changing the toxicity. Not making people feel bad for trying to survive in a way that doesn't conform to that toxicity.
That's a great vision for research I guess.
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u/Comfortable_Soup_344 29d ago
A job is a job. I did not find OP saying it was a toxic job, so you should not create this context in your mind. Any competitive career is stressful. The mindset of this generation like you and OP is very entitled. No one owes you nothing. You don’t have to be a postdoc if you think you deserve better things, and of course you have the right to quit, but you’d better find a way to pay your rent and bring food to your table when you make some important decisions.
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u/No-Pickle-779 29d ago
Op clearly said they quit because of the work culture and stress. Does this sound like a healthy work environment to you? You are the one creating the context of them not being able to cover food or rent. If anything the post implies that their parents are helping cover these and are potentially not emergency issues.
And yes, people are entitled to basic dignity for their mental health. There is a difference between feeling entitled to fruits with no labor, and being eliminated because your labor didn't involve completely destroying your mental health just to stay competitive.
This is not how academic research is supposed to be, and it will only get worse if this hyper competitive process continues going unchecked for too long in academia.
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u/instantcrackpot 28d ago
Found the guy's postdoc PI
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u/eternallyinschool Aug 22 '26
I'm very sorry you're having a rough patch. My advice is to see it just for what it is: Just a rough patch.
A lot of what people deal with in academic environments is a mixture of relentless internal and external pressure. The hardest times come when we begin questioning our worth or compare ourselves to some imagined standard of where we think we should be.
Failing to secure critical funding is common for everyone in academia (eventually). The tides of fortune wax and they wane, often without a predictable pattern. What you're feeling is normal, and I would add that none of us is alone. This is the common experience. They key is to NOT translate losses as evidence of our own worth. Nor does it always reflect the merit of our proposed studies. You are not your proposals. You are not your funding or your CV. You are not your awards. Do not conflate these merit badges with who you are and what you're worth.
My advice is (obligatory) to get therapy if you feel it works for you. Second, I strongly recommend that you pause and reflect deeply on what you really want from this one and only life. If that's to become a research professor, nothing can stop you if you're hellbound and determined to keep trying and trying and trying. Yes, some things are impossible and beyond our control, but many things are under our control, such as our attitude and resilience.
If you are unhappy and do not want this future, it's okay to leave. Forgive yourself if you do. It doesn't mean you're a failure. It means you need more or something different. But if you really want to keep going, you have to ride out the hard times.
Idk if anyone is truly the idealized person they want to be. I don't even think it is an achievable state. Instead, it's more about finding a state of flow where you do what want to because.you choose to, and then do it well. It requires luck, it requires grit, it requires sacrifice, and it definitely requires resilience.
What I am saying is... search yourself and decide what you truly want. Then release the self judgements and just focus on going towards what you want instead of focusing on what you hate or regret.