Writer's block can hit during any stage of your education or career: college, graduate school, postdoc, and professional life. Even seasoned writers experience blocks occasionally. The worst part about writer's blocks, is that they tend to hit you right when you are trying to meet a deadline. So, what can you do to get words on the paper, which eventually will turn into a polished manuscript? Here are a few suggestions and resources:

1. First, try to summarize your paper (or dissertation) in one sentence. This is called the thesis statement. For example, "The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of ...." The thesis sentence will help you to become more focused.

2. Build your arguments up gradually. Do not expect yourself to produce an elaborate manuscript overnight. Get the core of your paper done first (methods,data analysis, figures) and then write the supporting sections (introduction, discussion). The abstract is usually completed last.

3. Write every day, preferably same time and place. Aim for at least 2 pages a day.

4. If you are out of ideas, just write whatever comes to mind. Ideas are born through writing, and if you stick to a two page a day goal, you will probably put some great ideas on paper.

5. Keep a little notepad nearby to write down distracting ideas/to-do's that come to you head while writing. Do not act on them until you finish your daily writing quota.

6. Ask someone to revise your manuscript periodically. For example, your advisor, a friend, spouse, or a writing/thesis support group. Set up some milestones, such as "I want my advisor to read my first draft by August 1st". This will motivate you to get your paper done on time.

For more ideas, here are a few books and resources:

Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day: A Guide to Starting, Revising, and Finishing Your Doctoral Thesis by Joan Bolker

Writing the Doctoral Dissertation by Gordon Davis

Surviving Your Dissertation: A Comprehensive Guide to Content and Process by Kjell Erik Rudestam.

http://gradschool.about.com/lr/writing_advice/176668/2/
This page has several links to other sites with dissertation writing advice.

Wishing you the best,

Dora Farkas, PhD, Founder, PhDNet

Author, "The Smart Way To Your PhD:200 Secrets from 100 Graduates"

www.phdnet.org

dora@phdnet.org

My friend Dayna (not her real name), was just called in for an interview at a highly desirable company just three weeks after she applied online. Online job applications usually have a low success rates and very slow turnaround times (if any), so what was Dayna's secret? Dayna had been job searching for months both online and through networking, but she found few job leads. When she saw this particular job ad, a little light went off in her head. "This job sounds right for me," she thought, "and I also know someone who works there." Dayna realized that in this job market you cannot just apply online or just network. You need to do both together. Through her months of intensive networking, Dayna amassed quite a list of professionals contacts. She was amazed how much other people were trying to help her, even when they were just casual contacts. The trouble was, the jobs she applied to previously were either not the right fit for her, or she did not know anyone who would forward her resume to the hiring manager.

It is estimated that about 80% of people get their jobs through personal referrals, but the Internet is still a tremendous job-searching resource. A few years ago, it was unimaginable that you would have a list of all (or at least most) of job openings at universities and companies across the country. The tough part is that so do thousands of other applicants, which makes the competition fierce. Successful candidates are able to combine their professional network with online tools. Dayna applied online, but her contact also forwarded her resume to the hiring manager and put in a good referral for her. Do not be shy about asking for referrals. Some companies reward their employees if they refer a person who is eventually hired, so there could be something in it for them too!

YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF LANDING A JOB, WHEN YOU FIND AN AD THAT IS A GOOD MATCH FOR YOU, AND KNOW TRUSTWORTHY CONTACT PERSON WHO WORKS THERE

I know that "networking" has become a cliche word recently. Everyone tells you that you need to do it, but no one tells you how. No reason to fret, I will have a blog about essential networking tips in just a few weeks. For now, just remember that if you are looking for a job, and there is a networking opportunity (e.g. conference, professional society meeting, department seminar), you need to show up. Also have pen and paper (and business cards, if you have them) ready to write down people's contact information. Then, promptly to follow up by sending them thank you emails and your resume.

Do you have stories to share about your job-searching experience or those of your friends? We (I mean all the readers of this blog) would love to hear from you. To post a story, simply click on the "Reply" button at the bottom of this blog (you need to be logged in to see the "Reply" button).

Below, I listed a few essential online job-searching sites. Also check the websites of professional organizations and resource centers specific to your field. If you are in the health sciences field, for example, www.biospace.com, has information about start-up companies by geographic area and news about which companies received funding recently (there is a good chance they are hiring.) You can also find more information about online job searching tools on my February newsletter at:

http://www.phdnet.org/phdnews/feb10_phd_internet_career.htm

Most popular job search engines for industry (some also include salary information)
www.jobstar.org, www.jobweb.com, www.vault.com
Wall Street Journal: www.careerjournal.com

Monster: www.monster.com
Jobfox: www.jobfox.com

Sites specific for academic search:
www.academickeys.com, www.academic360.com
http://chronicle.com/section/Jobs/61/
www.insidehighered.com, www.academiccareers.com/

A last tip: if you find a job posting through a search engine, visit the company's or university's website as well. They might have additional openings that could be relevant to you as well, and might be more likely to hire candidates who applied through their website.

Many of us have heard that we need to find a PI (principal investigator or supervisor) we get along with, because that is the person we will be working with during the next 4-6 (or more) years. It turns out, that there is nearly a 100% correlation between one's enjoyment of the graduate school experience and the quality of their relationship with their PI. I interviewed 100 Ph.D.'s for my book, and slightly more than half of them said their PI's were somewhat supportive, and about a quarter were very satisfied with their PI's. These latter students, enjoyed graduate school the most, because they had appropriate guidance to move their projects along, and many of them also received support in finding a job.

Unfortunately, almost a quarter of students were unhappy with their PI's, because they received no guidance, too much guidance (in the case of micromanager PI's), or had many disagreements which set their projects back.

Since this is an interactive blog, Gradshare would like to hear your story about your relationship with your PI. To post a story, simply click on the "Reply" button at the bottom of this blog (you need to be logged in to see the "Reply" button).

What qualities do you look for in a supervisor? What advice would you give to students who are choosing a supervisor now? What problems did you overcome with your own PI?

We look forward to hearing from you, so please share your stories!

I would also like to invite you to view my newsletter from last year about communicating confidently with your advisor:

http://www.phdnet.org/phdnews/may09_phd_adviser.html

Wishing you the best,

Dora Farkas, PhD, Founder, PhDNet

www.phdnet.org

dora@phdnet.org

Hello Gradshare Community!

This is blog #5 from Grad Currents, and today I will write a little bit about the faculty job search. I know that career planning is on many students' minds, even if graduation is still a few years way. So, I will alternate blogs about careers with blogs about graduate student lifestyle. This way, you can look forward to blogs about jobs every two weeks, and the other weeks I will give you lifestyle tips so you can be healthier and more productive in graduate school.

Now, remember that this is a community blog, and we would like to have lively discussions. If you have any questions, stories or comments about the weekly topic (in today's case the faculty job search), simply click the "Reply" button at the end of this post. It can be intimidating to be the first one to post a comment, but if you have a question or concern, probably others do too. You post might spark a lively discussion and benefit the hundreds of students reading this blog.

Now, back to the faculty job search:I decided to give you just a short summary of this topic, since we have limited space here and you can read my latest newsletter (complete with online resources and reference books) on my website at:

http://www.phdnet.org/phdnews/june10_phd_faculty_job_search.html

I have interviewed many young faculty members for my book from different fields and universities, and they all have one thing in common: commitment. A faculty job search is a full-time job in itself. A young female professor in electrical engineering (whose father is also a professor in the same field), said: "The faculty job search was much, much harder than I expected it to be." Many PhD's from elite universities have to apply several years in row (while sustaining themselves on a postdoctoral salary) before they get an offer or even an interview. Universities do not necessarily look for the candidates with the highest GPA's or the most number of publications. Instead, they try to find the person who would be the best fit for their department. In other words, they are not looking for someone who does the same research, but a person who would complement their existing program well (and bring in more funding!).

So, what can you do to increase your chances of getting a job? The answer from young faculty is: network, network and prepare very thoroughly for your interview. Also apply to fellowships/grants so you have grant writing practice by the time you apply or at least interview. The summer is a great time to research schools, get your application package organized and to get feedback from your PI, since applications are due in the fall. While it is not advisable to change your thesis topic just so would be a better "fit" at your top choice school, you can tailor your research proposal. Talk to your PI and other faculty in your department about what they think would constitute a successful application.

For more tips and references on the faculty job search, click on the link below for my June newsletter:

http://www.phdnet.org/phdnews/june10_phd_faculty_job_search.html

Do you have questions, comments, or stories to share? Click on the "Reply" button below. I am sure the other readers will be grateful that you started a discussion!

Wishing you the best,

Dora Farkas, Founder, PhDNet

www.phdnet.org

dora@phdnet.org

I grew up in Budapest, Hungary, and we used to have a tradition at the end of the school year. Seven days before summer vacation, we began to spell the word "vakacio" (vacation in Hungarian) backwards. On the first day, we put a big "O" on the blackboard, the next day a big "I" before the "O", the following day a big "C" before the "I", until we had "VAKACIO" spelled out in colorful chalk across the blackboard on the last day of school. Some students were so eager, in fact, that they started spelling backwards eight days before vacation with just a big "!"

Whether you are in college, graduate school or elementary school, the beginning of the summer always spells excitement. Out with the drab, grey clothes, and in with colorful Bermudas, sunhats, t-shirts and flip-flops. There is one caveat to this scenario if you are a student. Assuming you even get vacation from your thesis adviser, where do you get the money to travel? Below, you will find my favorite travel tips and online resources, but you can also find more information on the July'09 edition of my free newsletter at:
http://www.phdnet.org/phdnews.html

Before you jump ahead to the online resources, here are a few of my favorite tips:

1. Research airfares and your destination airport.
   Some airlines offer cheap tickets, but they land on airports so far from the heart of the city, that you will probably need to pay a hefty cab fare! Also check the expiration date of your passport. Some countries will not allow you in unless your passport will be valid for a certain number of months after your arrival, so renew it if it is close to expiring.
2. Pack your suitcase (or backpack) wisely.
   First of all, make sure you have a survival/first aid kit with you, which includes all prescription and over-the-counter supplies that you might need. If you are sharing your room with others (particularly at a hostel), bring earplugs (you might have snoring roommates) and flip-flops for the showers! It is also a good idea to choose a quality backpack, that will not tear under the weight you plan on carrying, and one that you can carry comfortably (e.g. padded shoulder straps, right size for your body). Don't forget to pack a waterproof jacket and a sweater, even if you go to a warm area.
3. Plan your destinations in advance
   There is definitely a sense of adventure and suspense in planning your trip on a town-by-town basis, but there are many advantages of having a travel itinerary in advance. If you travel during peak season, you will probably need to book your hotel/hostel beforehand, so you do not get stuck in a train station for the night!
4. Stay in touch
   Regardless of where you go, make sure that you have access to a reliable support network. For example, carry the contact information for your embassy in case your passport is stolen (it happened to me once, and the embassy was very helpful!). You might also be able to rent a cell phone, but if you do not get reception at least be aware of where the public phones are. If you like to travel with others consider going on group tours - they usually allow you to travel on your own for parts of the trip, if you prefer. Plus, they offer group discounts and do a lot of the planning for you!

In the next few weeks, I will be alternating blogs about job searching and student lifestyle. So, keep your eyes open next week for some tips on the faculty job search!

Online resources for student travelers:

travelers:
http://studenttravel.about.com
www.studenttraveler.com

Student discounts on vacations:
www.statravel.com
www.studentuniverse.com

Information about youth hostels:
www.hostels.com
www.hostelworld.com

Backpacking Tips
www.backpackeurope.com
www.backpackinglife.com

Wishing you the best,

Dora Farkas, PhD,

Founder of PhDNet, www.phdnet.org,

dora@phdnet.org