Category: Uncategorized
-
Your PhD dissertation can help you get a job
Interview with Jen Harrison, dissertation coach and owner of Read.Write.Perfect. I met Jen Harrison a few weeks ago and we had a great conversation about the challenges dissertators face. One of the topics that came up was how folks can better leverage their dissertations (specifically) as career preparation. I asked Jen if she’d be willing…
-
What are informational interviews?
Thanks to my friend Jennifer van Alstyne for this fun conversation about informational interviews, why to do them, and how they can supercharge a PhD job search. Read the full interview on Jennifer’s website (“What Are Informational Interviews? With Jennifer Polk, PhD“), or watch our conversation on YouTube:
-
Are you a sellout if you leave academia after your PhD?
Guess who is the featured guess for the launch of season 4 of the Papa PhD podcast? Yup, that would be me. I’m episode 190. (It’s about time, eh! 🤣) Thanks to David Mendes from Papa PhD for hosting me on his channel(s). We talked about my career journey as well as tackling this question:…
-
Network as an introvert without doing anything icky
Are you an introvert? If so, you’ve probably wondered how you can network as an introvert without doing anything icky. A lot of PhDs identify as introverts. I do! I am definitely introverted. Introversion can be a strength in an academic environment, certainly while you’re in graduate school. But then folks worry when they hear…
-
Do you have to network to get a job after your PhD?
I watched a webinar for PhDs where the presenter pushed back against the advice to network in order to get a job. “No, you don’t have to network,” she said. “That’s not true.” Now, the thing is, she’s right: You don’t have to network to get a job. You don’t. But it’s also true that…
-
What you think you know about postdocs is wrong
Okay, yes, that’s a cheeky headline. You probably aren’t wrong about postdocs 🙂 But a lot of folks do have mistaken views about postdocs. What are common misconceptions about postdoc positions and the people who hold them? I asked this question last week on Twitter (tweet) and got lots of great responses. This is my…
-
Is your job not ticking all your boxes? Volunteering can help you fill the gaps
I teach PhDs how to identify job and career options that align with the life you want. That includes alignment of skills, tasks, interests, values, money, and all the rest. Ideally, there is a clear path that offers it all, and soon. But sometimes, maybe usually, a job doesn’t provide all the things. When your…
-
Your PhD is a marathon, not a sprint
Interview with Vanessa Corcoran, author of It’s A Marathon, Not a Sprint: My Road to the Marathon and Ph.D. In her memoir, Dr. Corcoran chronicles her journey through higher education. Along the way, she turns to running, and becomes a competitive distance runner. Readers will root for her at every step, and will hopefully root…
-
How to take a professional headshot on your phone for $0 at home
Guest post by a PhD candidate Jens’ note: This blog post by a PhD candidate who wishes to remain anonymous. When I read it, it struck me as incredibly useful advice for PhDs and other academics looking to improve their online presence. I last had professional headshots done in 2017 and since then I’ve grown…
-
Co-working sessions this spring/summer (May-Aug dates)
I host free co-working sessions on Zoom each Wednesday morning. If you’ve joined us in the past, you know how awesome it is to write (or grade, or answer emails, or design slides) in community! Sign up to join us by filling out this form: Sign Up for Free Co-Working Sign up once to attend any co-working…