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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.....
and we all have multiple identities:
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
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?
(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)
... 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"
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/