How to re-modell your CV? - (Aug/28/2008 )

I was forced to end my relationship with a very mean supervisor half a year ago. I was in my second year of PhD, had results and was a very good course assistant. Her bullying made me leave the lab and the town.

I was searching for another position for months but no success. I am not sure what that relies on, maybe some bad words coming from her or maybe the bad impression of a PhD that ended after two years as one of the first things an employer sees in my resume.

How do I avoid having her as one of the references? I have two other ones, my colleague and my former project professor from another biology field.

How can I avoid the "bad image" of ending a PhD after only 2 years? Can I somehow avoid it compeltely in my resume?

Anyone that has been here and managed to find another position afterwards?

Thanks in advance!

I did not understand, you finished PhD or you leave the PhD.
If you leave PhD or end with the boss then who is right or wrong it just depends upto your results.
You have result but you cant walk any more longer with the boss
Or you donot have result but still you cant walk with you boss then its bad, it means you are not successful, its a bad image.
In this case donot send your CV to some one. Just look for lab and visit personally to some lab who can talk with you can understand you.
Otherwise email CV with some problem with boss no one like it.
Or just tolerate the boss till you have some result then you can leave him after getting success.
Or you can talk in the same department with some other people to whom you can work happily and according to me there is no lab in the world where you can work happily,

I think it takes a lot of self confidence to quit in the middle of your PhD. Many people would not have dared this!

Do you have some of your results published, had presentations at conferences? if you have any publications from your PhD: take those as reference and just say you have been working in project xyz for 2 years, but decided that the project did not meet with your special interests or carreer plans (especially if you are thinking of changing the field). But for these phrases I would contact one of the native speakers here!

Do you have any evaluation that you have been a good study assistant? Good Evaluations always look good;

What kind of project have you been involved; I mean how was it funded: was it nationaly funded or from industry; how many people were involved in the project? So have you experienced working in a big interdisciplinary team or did you have a lot of responsibility for your project.....

Put emphasis on the methods you have learned during your PhD (and of course before), the more the better.

Do not mess around why you left the project in your CV, you will be asked at the interview....and then I just would keep it to "personal reasons" or something like that. And never talk bad about your boss at an interview whatever she has done!!!!

Most important: be self confident that you are a good scientist and tell them about the methods you have learned, courses you have made etc. Just drop the leaving of the project in as a scribble on the margin; you are not the first one who is leaving a project because of trouble with your boss!

And if applying to a specific position: use the wording of the job offer and try to discribe you as the one they are looking for!

Good luck!