Graduate School Tips: Networking and Conferencing

November 8, 2018 ~ oleksaphd ~ Leave a comment

This is the second part in my series on my advice for graduate students. It may seem odd to go from applying for doctoral studies to covering the topic for this blog, conferencing and networking as a graduate student. However, some of the advice is useful for undergraduate and Master’s level students who are looking to make the most of their time in academia.

The main reason for that is that networking and conferencing go hand-in-hand in my opinion. Whether it is meeting new students in your program, making connections at any level of your studies, staying in contact with scholars ranging from former professors to people you meet at conferences, to presenting at conferences, it can be an easy way to help whatever career path you take following graduate studies. The importance of networking is self-explanatory, whether you plan to make a run at an academic position or aim to leave academia entirely. Unfortunately, from my experience, networking is something with which many students struggle.

So how to do it? Here are some simple pieces of advice.

Send an email

One thing I learned very quickly when starting my graduate studies was the importance of reaching out. As simple as it sounds, sending an email and touching base with a scholar in your field or in a related topic can be an easy way of saying hello and starting an interaction that can help your research or lead to meeting a friendly face at a conference.

If you have noticed someone is working on a related subject or you read their book and want some clarification, send an email. Most often, the worst case scenario is that they ignore you or cannot help you. Be respectful, introduce yourself, mention your project and ask a question. Even if you don’t have a question, if you really enjoyed their work, say so. You may brighten their day, telling them that their work is helpful or useful. In many cases, they may take interest in your work and you can bounce ideas off them. Equally possible is that you hit it off, find out you’re going to the same conference and can arrange to meet. It also gives both you and the person you’re contacting a name for potential conference panels too and you never know what opportunities could develop. Think of networking as the process of opening doors for opportunities. They may happen. They may not. But you’re giving yourself a better chance of them happening by taking some initiative instead of hoping someone happens to find you.

Attending Conferences or Departmental Talks

Depending on proximity, even if you do not have a paper to present at a conference, you can still attend it and get an opportunity to meet scholars. This is not necessarily the most feasible plan as many departments do not provide funding to offset costs for attendance and only support those who actively present papers, if at all.

Departmental talks are much more feasible and many scholars are happy to discuss their research, especially with passionate scholars. Many of the best connections I have made were from attending a departmental talk, realizing an overlap with my research, and approaching the speaker and starting a conversation.

I should note you’ll see the following advice frequently in this post: Approach the speaker and start a conversation. In fact, in many cases, taking the initiative to introduce yourself is the most important step. Anxiety tends to be the biggest reason many graduate students don’t take this step. They’re concerned they’ll look foolish, be shot down, get humiliated, or have a wide array of results play out in their head. Most likely, the worst case scenario will be that they say no and move on. Yes, there are jerks in every field of academia, but from my experience, many scholars are very approachable and interested in meeting scholars who share their research interests.

Presenting at Graduate Conferences

Graduate conferences can be an important tool for graduate students. In my opinion, there are two main reasons why:

They offer a generally low-risk platform to present work. Unless you work in a hyper-popular field, chances are that very few people in the room will challenge you on your conclusions unless they’re really out there or obviously wrong.
You meet other graduate students and can make connections. They may not be in your area, but they may have a colleague who is. You may make a long-time friend. Plus, many of them are going to be just as nervous as you for meeting people. Eventually, you find yourself at a pub or a coffee shop discussing random things from your graduate experiences with other students.

I suggest every graduate student attend at least one graduate conference. It’s an opportunity to just get used to delivering a paper. If possible, students should do this at the Master’s level; present a paper they’re proud of from one of their courses or their fourth year. There are also undergraduate conferences in some areas. Rip off the bandage and get used to presenting. Think of this process as skills development. You’re public speaking and that’s a skill that can be helpful when looking for employment, inside and outside of academia. Plus, each presentation can be a line on a CV which can clearly show you can deliver a presentation.

At the same time, realize the shortcomings of graduate conferences. You are unlikely to get good feedback, outside of general comments. You’re unlikely to find someone directly in your research area. At some point, you will realize that graduate conferences have a ceiling of value for your research and growth as an academic. But again, if you find someone who may be worthwhile talking to, go up to them, introduce yourself and start a conversation. You’ll also meet a number of people who are all going through the same process you are.

Presenting at Major Academic Conferences

I love conferences. Major academic conferences in your specialization (e.g. ASEEES for Slavic Studies) can be incredibly important. It is an opportunity to present your research and get some good feedback (at least from the discussant of your panel, if not the audience). Plus, nothing is better than seeing a major name in your field sitting in the audience listening to you speak. Even if they’re not there for you, ignore that possibility and believe they are there for you and you can feel good about it!

There are two great ways to make connections and network at major conferences. The first is creating your own panel. Develop an idea for a panel that could link a number of scholars together. Discuss this with your supervisor if you’d like to get some ideas of who to contact. Aim big. The worst people can say is no. When I formed my first panel, I asked a significant name in my field to be a discussant on my panel. He said yes. I was over the moon. Again, take the approach that the worst they can say is no and send them an email. They may ignore it. They may respond. But the benefit of them saying yes over no is always worth it!

As you invite people, ask them if they know others who may be a good fit. Many will suggest colleagues in related areas and people they know. In the process, you’re building a small network of people. If you’re successful in forming the panel, and the panel is accepted, you already have made a positive impression and from there, you’ll have a good opportunity to speak with them before and after the panel. I also always like to invite any panel I’m on out for drinks or a coffee to continue the discussion. Even if a few people turn you down, you’ll get the chance to talk with your panelists. You’re building your network.

The other option is, shocking I know, to get up and introduce yourself to a scholar and start a conversation. Every conference I go to, I look at the schedule and see who is attending. I then make a plan to meet two people. At the very least, you say hi, maybe swap business cards. Yes, they could be rude, they could say no, they could just ignore you, but again, the positive potential outcome is always better than the negative ones and as before, many scholars are happy to speak to scholars interested in their work. You may end up going to a couple of other sessions with them. They may invite you to join them for dinner/drinks/coffee to discuss your work or even to meet some other colleagues. You may meet up in the hotel bar and they’ll wave some colleagues over and you’ll end up talking to a number of scholars.

At the same time, realize that others are doing the same as you are. You may introduce yourself and find them distracted, engaging in “conference eyes,” when scholars are scanning the room looking for someone in particular, while engaging in other conversations, but ready to leave when they find that person. Yes, it’s unfortunate. If this happens, be polite. It’s rarely anything personal. If you have a business card, pass it along; if not, offer to contact them by email.

Go Up and Say Hi!

Much of the information in this is self-explanatory (and repetitive!), but I hope that reading it over and over is helpful. Go up and say hi. Start a conversation. That’s often the first step to networking. Yes, it can be scary. Anxiety can run wild, especially if it’s someone you deeply respect in the field or a senior scholar. Ultimately though, based on my experience, I’ve found most scholars are not looking to destroy the spirit of a young scholar who stammers when they say hi. Many are happy to share advice, give suggestions for sources, or introduce you to other colleagues. If you go with a cohort from your school or some friends, hype each other up and help each other’s confidence. By saying hi, you may open up an opportunity, such as future publications, like a book chapter, or a contact for a potential postdoctoral supervisor. Furthermore, some may have contacts outside of academia and can get you in touch.

Take a deep breath. Take a leap. It will be worth it.

The Doctorate and the Application Process: Some Advice

September 2, 2018September 2, 2018 ~ oleksaphd ~ Leave a comment

This the first in a series of blog posts about advice I would give aspiring and/or current doctoral students. It is based on my experience in a graduate program in history at a Canadian university. While certain details may differ in different contexts, I feel this advice can be broadly applied and reflects advice I have given many graduate students who have asked me over the years.

You are in the middle of a master’s program in the humanities. You are enjoying it, getting intellectually stimulated by reading new authors and you’re enjoying your research. Someone then asks you about doing a PhD. You start to think about it some more. You get to continue doing some research on a topic of interest. The dream of becoming a tenured professor flashes in your mind and you realize, hey, that wouldn’t be so bad.

So you take the plunge to do doctoral studies. This blog post is going to give you some information of some of what I feel you need to consider to help you meet that goal of getting into a PhD programme. It does presume you have already made some decisions such as determining the research topic of your potential doctoral studies and figuring out which schools may be the best fit for your topic.

But first, let’s make sure you REALLY want to do a PhD.

The Big Decision

Unfortunately, the academic job market is VERY competitive. A quick Google search will lead you to plenty of articles lamenting the job market in academia. It is also hard to predict and a number of factors come into play in determining whether even adjuncts positions are available. Never mind if you want to chase the unicorn that could be that tenure-track job. Even if you believe you may be this superstar, it is very difficult predict the job market four years out (likely more) and you could end up with a PhD, struggling to find any teaching positions. There is nothing wrong with wanting this to be your ideal goal, but unless you are willing to be exceptionally patient, rely on a bit of luck, work hard, and be willing to move, unfortunately, success is unlikely.

I always suggest to any potential PhD student to have a reasonable goal along with that ideal. Why do you want to do a PhD? There are two reasons I typically stress as good ones.

1) You are looking at employment in a field that values a doctorate, that’s NOT academia. A government position, for example.

2) You enjoy researching your topic so much that you are willing to devote significant time to your passion.

In both cases, they hold some personal value with the added benefit of being a motivation you can hold onto when inevitably you become stressed or disappointed or frustrated with the entire experience. Even though I will happily note I loved my doctoral experience, I had days where I questioned every decision I had made to that point, whether I should have even done the PhD and whether it was worth it. Reminding yourself of your end goals and believing in them is crucial!

Do Your Due Diligence

So you have decided to still take the plunge. You do some research, surf the web, and decide on a handful of schools that would be perfect destinations or have the perfect program for your topic. Each option is has either a good graduate program or someone who could serve as a good supervisor. Now what?

Applications cost money and before you start working on them, there are a couple of things you really should do before you start.

1) Make sure you have the necessary documentation to complete the applications.

Assuming your marks are good enough, make sure you have enough people to write you good letters of reference. Do not be afraid to ask any potential letter writers if they can write a “good letter of reference” explicitly. Aim to have your master’s advisor and at least one individual who can comment on your research and writing skills to be your two base letters. This step is where taking some time to get to know your professors can be invaluable as the better they know you and what you bring to the table in a research and teaching environment, the stronger the letter they can theoretically write.

Some schools require three letters of reference. Become familiar with each application you intend to make. Organization can save a lot of headaches during this process. Nothing is more stressful than misreading an application and finding out you need an additional letter of reference days before the deadline. In Canada, make sure you also complete any governmental funding applications (such as SSHRC in the humanities). Prepare a writing sample that can be used to judge your abilities. Usually this is a strong paper written during your Master’s year for one of your classes or your major research paper/thesis/cognate if you apply after you have completed the Master’s program.

For your plan of study, make sure you have done some research on your planned topic. Have an idea of what you want to do for your future dissertation and determine how you plan to go about doing your project. It should act as a starting point and show that you have given some thought about your topic and have the potential for a good thesis. Chances are your project will greatly alter over the first couple of years of your doctoral studies as your supervisory committee advises you or you identify new interests through comprehensive exams or doctoral level courses, so focus on clarity, writing, and identifying a need for your research. Also be prepared to write it in multiple different lengths and yes, this is exceptionally annoying.

2) Contact potential supervisors before you apply

In my opinion, these are the most important steps of the entire process. For any program to which you intend to apply, contact the person you want to be your supervisor. Inform them of your interest, tell them your topic and ask them point blank if they would be interested in supervising you. In doing so, you can find out some important information. Do they have too many responsibilities or are unlikely to take on any new students? Do they have no interest in supervising the topic? Do they have any interest in supervising a graduate student that year at all? Are they going on sabbatical or taking on a new departmental role, meaning that if they agree to be your supervisor, their time to supervise you will be limited in that first year? Finding out this information can help you save some money, and avoid unnecessary time and effort in putting together an application only for it to likely result in rejection.

If they reply positively, ask if you can either arrange to speak with them. This is crucial. I recommend everyone applying to a doctoral program find some way to speak with their potential supervisors, whether in person, by phone or online. More importantly, I suggest that you only spend a few moments discussing your topic. Ideally, you want to ensure they are on board with the topic, hear any concerns they may have, take note of any suggestions they give you, and also note if they get excited about the project. For me, however, the conversation is more about figuring out whether you are a good fit with that supervisor.

In a doctoral program, your supervisor is your mentor, your teacher, and your critic, but can also be your support and your advocate in the department. If you have an issue with the program, chances are they will be the first person you go to. If you have an idea for your research, you will be bouncing ideas off of them. If you have any personal challenges during your studies, they will be your immediate institutional support system for better or for worse. Knowing that you feel comfortable enough with them that they will offer whatever you may need in their position as a supervisor while undertaking your doctoral studies, a 4+ year commitment, is an important consideration and one not to be taken lightly. I suggest that applicants try to get some small talk in when talking to their potential supervisors and see if you can have a casual conversation. In my case, when I was applying, I spoke with several potential supervisors. In each case, I was able to feel confident in knowing with which one’s I would have a good relationship and trusted that he or she would be someone I could go to if I had a problem. It added an important consideration when comparing school offers and immediately put a few schools above the rest.

When talking to these potential supervisors, you can also ask about other information important to you. What would your potential committee look like? Can you talk to those professors too? Do you want to teach? Do they have some additional funding that they could share with you to offset costs, employing you as a research assistant? Do they have connections they are willing to use to help you get new and exciting opportunities? Do not be afraid to be upfront about what matters to you. You are planning to spend years in your program. Your personal goals are important. It is a significant decision and many potential supervisors, especially if they want to supervise you, will happily speak with you and answer any questions you have. Furthermore, if they are excited about supervising you, they likely will advocate on your behalf when graduate applications are evaluated.

Also, do not be afraid to also ask if you can speak to current or former doctoral students of a given program. Your graduate cohort will make up another support group and often graduate students will give you another perspective on the program and the department. Furthermore, it can help you gauge the general atmosphere of the graduate program. Do other graduate students in the program support one another? Is it cliquish? Is it hyper competitive for opportunities? What issues do graduate students have at a given school? Especially in light of the competitiveness for academic jobs and opportunities, having a graduate community that is the right fit for your personality is important too.

There is no right or wrong choice

If you have done this due diligence and gotten the information you want, hopefully you have been successful and have the opportunity to choose between multiple programs. Make the decision based on whatever is right for you. Maybe you want fit with a supervisor or a graduate community more than anything else. Maybe you want to be close to home. If you are in a committed relationship, you may want to get your partner’s thoughts. Maybe financial incentive is the most important factor (Don’t be afraid to negotiate your stipend too! You may be unsuccessful, but it does not hurt to ask!). Maybe you want to just have a new experience and thus attend a new school. Maybe you want to live in a bigger city or a smaller one. But the decision and application process is about more than finding a school to do your future dissertation.

Prioritize what is most important to you. You are essentially signing up for a 4+ year term of employment. Treat the decision in the same way.

Hopefully this was helpful in giving you some items to consider when applying to a PhD programme and you enjoyed reading this blog. Other topics in the coming weeks will include how to tackle writing a dissertation and how to network and conference as a doctoral student. Of course, I am also open to suggestions, either in the comments or via twitter.