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“Everyone presents himself to the others and to himself, and sees himself in the mirrors of their judgements. The masks he then and thereafter presents to the world and its citizens are fashioned upon his anticipations of their judgements”

Consequently, we tend to identify with our jobs. The 'stories' we tell are based on these understandings. They feel more authentic than the narrative of 'transferable skills'

Some PhD students have trouble crafting a new narrative for themselves

The thesis is probably not the place to find this story

The Thesis Whisperer is but one aspect of this work.

It's about your brand (baby)

What does it take to craft good digital footprints?

Proposition: stop thinking about the tools...

Your 'digital footprint' is the trace of all your activities on the internet

which is most clearly seen in a google search

how do we get them thinking differently?

This is how many researchers think about portraying themselves on the internet

Your digital footprints probably look more like this...

But even the most diligent person will not have a footprint that looks as clear as this one

Understandably, this can make some people anxious. So this presentation wonders.....

This prezi was composed by:

and we all have multiple identities:

We are unique

But I used to identify as an architect...

Now I have a doctorate...

... but I am still a student in many ways.

I am a wife, mother and aunty...

I am also @thesiswhisperer

These identities can be in conflict

This is the way Google sees me:

There's always a dark side

Anselm Strauss, "Mirrors and Masks: the search for identity" (1969)

Identity

Which identity should be 'primary'?

What identities should be 'hidden', and from whom?

(the digital tools to help us manage this problem are improving)

Who are you?

Research students can be their own worst enemy

Highly trained to be critical, they can turn this on themselves

And cut their own head off with their intellectual lightsabre...

(and they may well be right, because the story of the research often lacks a narrative which holds it together and tells others what kind of person the research degree graduate is)

We are taught, usually at the end of highschool, that having a career is the same as having a certain kind of job, not a certain set of skills

PhD students have undergone an 'identity transformation'. It can be hard to know how to make this comprehensible to others. They need a new story.

The problem with this is we pigeonhole ourselves.

My job = Myself is a limiting narrative

Authenticity

Many researchers believe their research is as interesting as this to 'outsiders'

What stories do you choose to tell?

Dr Inger Mewburn ....... @thesiswhisperer

School of Graduate Research, RMIT University

inger.mewburn@rmit.edu.au

www.thethesiswhisperer.wordpress.com

One day my brother in law said:

"I always hear about where you are, or will be, not what you do"

I couldn't answer.

(at least at first)

Here are three philosophical questions I like to get students to think about BEFORE they select the digital tools and strategies.

... she's happily employed at the moment, thank you, but always interested in talking!

Here's my answer:

"I believe in the value of research to help the world. I think PhD students are the most amazing people I have ever met. I want to use my skills to help them get out there, doing good"

but 'self promotion' has a bad reputation...

Many of the narratives about research students are disempowering ones of trauma and loss

How to sell brand 'research education specialist'?

Narrative

First give it a new name:

"Thesis Whisperer"

2

How do you tell the story?

Adopt a 'freemium' model. Give away knowledge in order to be better understood by others.

Use blog as a platform to connect and collaborate with others.

3

There's lots of people out there showing you how to do it!

"Raising your profile in a digital world" http://www.slideshare.net/cristinacost/prism-2011

Tristam Hooley's blog: http://adventuresincareerdevelopment.posterous.com/

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