Category: Process
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How much I make
Or, as my University Affairs editor put it, “Let’s talk money”! Talking about money can make for an awkward conversation. But money is also a basic fact of life. So, I decided to tell the world how much I make and how I make it. I think it’s helpful for us self-employed folk to talk…
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Tips for surviving the academic job search season
Are you on the market now? I’m sorry. It can be a very difficult time of year. Here are some things you can do to help you cope with the stress of uncertainty and near-certain rejection. Doing these things helps me, and I suspect the list will be more a reminder of things you already…
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The PhD is a passport
My most recent blog post for University Affairs is about PhD candidate Nadia Jaber’s TEDx talk (“Reimagining the PhD”) and her new PhD Career Ladder Program. Watch the video and get more details about the program over at the UA website.
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This spreadsheet keeps me honest
My latest blog post for University Affairs is about how I track what I spend, and how knowing what’s going out motivates good spending habits. Here’s how it begins: Ten years ago, when I started my PhD at the University of Toronto, I began tracking every penny (R.I.P.) I spent. I can’t remember what motivated…
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Making a big change? Start small, be kind to yourself
Today’s post on University Affairs is a reflection on the nature of change and how we can best set ourselves up for success. When it comes to making changes in your life, start small. It’s all well and good to decide to exercise regularly, take up a vegan diet, or write for two hours every…
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Dealing with inner critics
One of the most important jobs I have as a coach is to recognize, point out, and help my clients deal with their inner critics. Noticing and coming up with a strategy to deal with inner critics is an important part of coaching. We all have these “gremlins” messing with our lives. They are there…
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Don’t shy away from informational interviews
I’ve just come from a virtual event hosted by Versatile PhD Boston all about informational interviews and networking. Fun! Anyways, earlier today I wrote this piece about informational interviews, and it’s now posted on my University Affairs blog. You’ll see that I make a distinction between informational interviews and networking proper. Here’s a chunk from…
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Twitter chats as public outreach and engagement
Do you know about Twitter chats? These planned interactions are an important part of my work, for different reasons. You may know that I host a biweekly chat using the hashtag #withaPhD. Here’s an excerpt from my latest blog post for University Affairs: These Twitter chats are fun, engaging, and meaningful for me. I connect…
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Why job hunting is like an election campaign
What? Yes. It’s election season here in Ontario. Where I live, the lawn signs went up a few days ago, and the campaign offices are up and running, their outsides and insides plastered with orange (NDP) and red (Liberal). On my walk home from the library just now, I noticed one home sporting two election…