Hello Serious.

Its always tricky when you want to change careers but i would list a few jobs that you have done.. not making too much of it..  but then move swiftly onto the skills you gained that are relevant.. for example, painting houses - team work, conscientiousness, attention to detail,  business acumen (assuming you made a profit) .. there will be valuable skills from all you've done.. you can also add any voluntary work or clubs or societies you're a member of, if relevant. 

In most workplaces showing you can get on with people is everything.

If you've time before you're planning on submitting your CV you could volunteer for something now and be able to add something relevant. 

All the best. Chuff

Have you ever been invited to a birthday party that you don't want to go to ?

Bought a top and then thought.. why on earth? and had to pretend it was from your Grandmother who is a bit batty, and colour blind etc

Think of an excuse... an easy simple excuse.. less explanation is more realistic, an elaborate storyline looks like just that, a story, so keep it simple.

Other demands, conflicting appointments, you could even tell them the truth that you are deferring your paper as your work requires further crafting. I would disagree with your sup though, ignoring just seems like bad manners to me.. whereas lying, white-lying, is definitely ok.

Chuff

I used to quite like you DanB ( you have a gift for one liners in response to the spam trolls)  but now you just sound like a swot ;-)

I read "around" in the sense of say once a month i would go to specific journals online and look at the article titles and hope to God that "mine" wasn't there... if something else grabbed me then i'd read it.. so it was less organised than your method but I'd guess you'd say that I was keeping up to date in a very random fashion. Haven't done so since I submitted though... mmmm..  must do.

Regards, Chuff

Hi Hiccup.

I used Endnote but I know a few people who used Zotero which I believe is a free referencing system. Have a google. I stayed with Endnote because I'm not very IT-ed up and wanted the assurance of having someone I'd paid money to that I could shout at if i messed up ... each to their own ;-)

In response to your 'am I mad?'.. on here you sound totally sane.

All the best and stick with the forum, whatever you encounter someone will have been there or know a (wo)man that has.

Chuff

Aww... you mean its not an opportunity of a lifetime... i was just getting my coat.

Hi Gillian.

Personally i didn't centre the headings and thinking about the few PhDs I've read I don't think others did either... obviously this is not to say etc etc, it was a very small sample size !

All the best with your submission and when you're in the middle of the mania of last minute stuff everything seems like a silly question doesn't it, don't worry ask away.

Chuff

Hi jojo.

thanks for posting your story much as I wished you hadn't now i've read it ;-)

I find it incredibly disturbing that your ext could be allowed to behave in this way,  i think you used the word odd in your post - spot on.

But, and i don't mean to sound like your mother.. but don't you dare take an MPhil you get those corrections done my girl :p

There is nothing to be gained by trying to understand this self absorbed twerp .. just make something from it.. Your PhD..

and when you're examining others in the future.. remember what not to do.

It certainly gives us pre-vivas something else to be mindful of, so thanks again.

Chuff

Big Congrats jojo,

really glad you enjoyed the viva especially given your external sounds a bit of a trial - sounds almost like he was looking for to fail you - so you did doubly well.

wonder whether he wants to give you a job ? so you're like his apprentice now :-)

when you regain your ability to type be fab to hear the full story.. but for now.. a well earned rest and congrats again.

Chuff

I remember reading the Endnote handy guide when i started and was keen ... handy it was about 150 pages !    from that wonderful experience i do same as Sneaks. Only i don't find it too much of a trial .. it was the ABC (1999, cited in DEF 2000) and those fiddly ones that wound me up.

I dread re-reading thesis and picking up on all those I've messed up.

Sorry to grab your thread Button but as an aside,  I've still got endnote X2.. is it worth upgrading? and how easy is it ?

thanks.. Chuff

Hi Niksoph

Just to add to Ady's post...

if you haven't got any publications .. fair enough, all started somewhere... BUT .. what about a (wo)man with a plan..

List working papers, target journals, research projects.. what are you going to do.. how and why? why would they want you ? Put yourself in their shoes..

there's nothing like a bit of enthusiasm and a list ;-)

all the best .  Chuff

All the very best jojo.

have you thought of emailing yourself everything that is on your USB stick, and your PhD too .. so that you can pick it up from the net if things were to go awry ?

for all else.. you just need a credit card,  you can buy everything else.

Have a fantastic time.. stand tall, walk tall, smile and breathe...

And smile some more.. you will enjoy it, I'm sure.  Best Chuff

Hi Button.

I would read and think intersubjective norms..  symbolic interactionism ... social constructionism..

From that viewpoint i would interpret 'consensus information' as information presented during the current context, nonconciously provided by the actor and interpreted by the observer.

i'm trying to think of an example... and here's what comes to mind..

i have a perception of how a footballer behaves, i act in this way,  as an observer you have your perception of how a footballer behaves too. We come to a consensus, via meeting somewhere between my perception and your perception of how a footballer behaves and agree in that context that i am acting as footballer.

That's the consensus - meeting somewhere in between our nonconcious perception.

Information - is the actors behaviour, their agency which links the two.

Does this make any sense at all ? 

If not.. i'll say - i have no idea what that means ;-)

Chuff

======= Date Modified 02 Jan 2011 16:21:55 =======
hi jojo,

not a psychologist, nowhere near, just an irritating optimist ;-)

I've always viewed nerves and excitement, flight and fight if you like, as the same thing - after all, i tell myself, the feeling is pretty close. therefore, and this is all in my own head you understand,  its how I choose to define it that denotes it as good or bad.

To me, therefore, i see it as my bodies way of giving me the energy to get through the experience - interview, exam etc..  its the buzz of it.  the kick you need, nature's "Red Bull".

without it you'd never finish a PhD - mother natures miracle :-) 

So... you're not nervous, you're energised...  

feel free to slap me.

All the very best for Wednesday, enjoy it... it's what you've worked for. 

Regards, Chuff

Thanks all.

BB - So month it is.. nice to be reassured i'm somewhere near to "normal" ;-) . I've got the tinkler book, recommended on here previously.

jojo, do i read your post correctly ? is your viva tomorrow ? If so... i would like to thank you for spending the time in writing this thread i've enjoyed reading your story. If not... I'd still like to thank you but i'll wait :-)

AQ .. you've always had a quiet confidence so 2 weeks out sounds about right for you. keep posting what you're up to .. i can follow suit.

Regards, Chuff

Happy New Year All.

I have a good feeling about 2011 for no apparent reason.  Is there a general warm glow out there or is the media fed gloom winning?
 
To jojo and all. I have a question on viva prep, how long before the viva would be a good time to start prep? I'm torn as I'm concerned about starting too early and, obviously, too late is too... anything too is too ;-)

So, what's not too ?

My plan was a month before, be really good to hear your opinions ?

Thanks Chuff