Q: What makes for a good KT CV?
What I’d like to know is, What makes for a good “KT CV”?
I’ve heard before that a CV that’s ‘all over the place’, so to speak, looks bad. So for instance, a more or less conventional presentation might list your publications or presentations chronologically, but if your work is of that sort that you contribute KT support to a range of disciplines/body parts/sectors, your CV might look scattered.
Has anyone a story to share about the construction of &/or reception to their “KT CV”?
Cheers,
Ryan
maichn 8:21 pm on December 6, 2011 Permalink
Hi Evelyn how are you? The last time we connected was in Winnipeg at the inaugual meeting! Yes I am back!
Oh how exciting to be where you are in the PhD journey. Congratulations! Remember how close you are to the finish line and keep this in mind all the time! Consider how much is behind you and how very little relatively speaking is left for you to complete. I defended my PhD in April so it is all in my very recent memory. There were a few strategies that I will share that I feel really helped me to push through ‘the wall’ during those final laps. You have been running a marathon and it does feel like hitting the wall in the final phase. You will push through though because you are sooooo close. Here they are:
1. I negotiated really tight time lines with all my committee members that we all agreed to keep. That provided me with clear dates for all the final submissions negotiated months in advance and they all promised specific quick turnaround dates so that I could meet university deadlines. That kept me motivated and moving forward at a steady rate. It was this time last year when I did that because Iwanted to graduate in June, therefore I had to submit my final thesis by February and defend by April. The pre-negotiated dates maintained momentum and prevented the ‘hurry up and wait’ phenomen that happens so often. I think it also prevented several unecessary drafts yet the final product was still quality as I had no further revisions requested at my defense.
2. In preparing for the defense I ran a practice defense. I presented my 20 minute blurb and then asked everyone to pose every question they could possibly think of so that I had the opportunity to think on my feet to answer the questions. I found that very valuable as the questions I did not feel well prepared to address, I still had time to prepare before the ‘real’ defense. I planned the practice defense 1 week before the real defense. The grad program sent out a general invitation for all to attend. I am so glad I did this as it prepared me really well.
3. Another really helpful strategy for me was asking a number of people to read my thesis and then drill me with questions. I asked people with diverse areas of expertise and worldviews so that the questions were really varied and covered different perspectives. People were really generous with their time in doing this and it was invaluable. I was humbled by their generosity. I made notes from each of these sessions and had a friend take notes during my practice defense. I used the notes to prepare areas I felt I needed to research, contemplate, develop more prior to the defense. It ended up I was overprepared but that is what I aimed for. The defense went really smoothly and was actually enjoyable.
4. I reread key articles, theories, policies, etc that I thought I may have to expand on. I even made some pointform notes and extra powerpoint slides that I could talk to if needed. I found that I didnt need to use them since I felt so comfortable with the content having completed the prep. It was nice to know it was there though. I also reread my thesis carefully and tagged pages I thought I may need to refer to during the defense (even though I did not need to).
Once again I did overprep but that was so much better than feeling underprepared. When I was preparing I knew the moment when I ‘was there’. I suddently felt a really strong sense that I had done all I could do and was ready for the event. I was actually excited for the defense once I reached that stage. Yes I was still nervous too but only until I started talking…then everything just fell into place. Everyone told me, “remember you are the expert on your research. No one else is. This is the birth of your work. Just enjoy the rich acadimic dialogue the defense offers.” I did not believe them but it is all true. I wish you all the best and am confident that you will wow them! Let me know if I can offer anything further or if you wish to chat about this in more detail.
Sending you energy for your final burst!
Nancy
Evelyn Cornelissen 6:27 pm on December 10, 2011 Permalink
Hi Nancy,
Thanks for your reply! I really appreciate it. Not only did you provide some excellent suggestions which I had not yet considered, but reading your ideas and perspective ‘after the fact’ is somehow comforting. I will definitely follow your suggestions re a practice defense (or two…and with someone to take notes!) and asking people from diverse backgrounds to read my dissertation and ask whatever questions they can think of. I also wonder about tape recording the practice defense? And the real defense? Has anyone done that before?
Your comments gave me another idea, too…we could perhaps work with our VSS (virtual seminar series) idea and give members another potential venue for a practice defense. Might be an interesting way to share one’s work, stimulate thought (and potential future collaborations) AND give a student a great trial run.
I love your analogy to running a marathon…yes, it does feel like I’ve hit the wall…so much further to go and it takes just so much energy right now. But when I look back at what I have done, it does give me some extra motivation. Thanks for the boost!
I hope all is well in your post-phd world! EC
Robin Urquhart 1:03 pm on December 11, 2011 Permalink
Hi Evelyn and Nancy,
Thanks for this discussion topic – a very important one and timely for me considering I am now trying to (realistically) plan my timeline for my defense, likely early next fall.
In any case, I wanted to follow up on one point above. For me at least, the idea of setting up a forum/mechanism within the KTTC (VSS or some other way) to hold practice defenses seems to be a very valuable opportunity. My PhD program is extremely “independent” and I don’t have opportunities in my dept to do this, so would welcome the chance to hold a mock defense (when the time comes) in front of my peers. As Evelyn pointed out, this is potentially a great learning/networking opportunity for all of us, since we could learn what others are doing and foster connections with folks who have similar research interests as we begin our careers. If others think this would be a valuable activity for KTTC-ers, we could potentially work on this …
RU