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PHD: A N U N C O M MON GUIDETHE

TO BOOK THE AUTHOR BLOG SPEAKING
RESEA R C H , W R I TING & PHD PHD
LIFE COACHING CONTACT

12 THINGS YOU NEED TO

KNOW WHEN STARTING A
PHD
OCTOB E R 1 0 , 2 0 1 1 BY J AMES H A Y T O N

1: Beat your rst deadline

Whatever your supervisor gives you to do rst, beat the deadline by at least 24 hours.

2: Get to know people who can make things

happen

You might not need them yet, but saying hello to secretaries, technicians, porters etc is a very
good idea before you need a last minute favour later. Then…

3: Thank people who do things for you

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your PhD AMAZON AND
supervisor. It’s easy to complain if they aren’t there for you, but recognise
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that they are almost certainly busier than you are, and show that you value their time.
PHD: A N U N C O M MON GUIDE TO
RESEA R C H , W R I TING & PHD LIFE
4: Get to know other people’s research

This will give you a broader knowledge base, and stop you getting too narrowly focused on
your own research. You’ll learn far more (and faster) by talking to people than you will by
reading.

And your colleagues are more likely to be interested in your work if you show an interest in

theirs.

5: Get really, really good at one thing

Nobody knows everything. You’re not expected to. But try to get seriously good at at least one

thing.

Even better if it’s something useful to other people.

6: What you write now, you won’t like in 3

years time

3 years from now, you’ll know far more than you do now. That’s the whole point of the PhD.

The value of doing a lit review now though his to learn the basics. Focus on basic concepts, and

don’t let writing get in the way of starting research.

7: Downloading papers doesn’t count as

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7: Downloading papers doesn’t count as

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reviewing the literature

PHD: A N U N C O M MON GUIDE TO
RESEA R C H , W R I TING & PHD LIFE

I mentioned this in 17 random tips for PhD success, but it’s worth saying again. Check out this

post on an easier way to review literature.

8: Publish

Everything you do should be working towards getting published. If your work isn’t going to be

publishable, it’s not going to be worth a PhD.

9: Make contacts outside your department

Contacts are the lifeblood of your career. Get to know people at conferences, get their business

card, add them on LinkedIn, and that CV you send 3 years from now won’t be coming from a
stranger.

10: Write everything down

Write notes as if they are for someone else working coming in to take over your work after

your shift ends. Your future self will forget!

11: Time goes faster than you think

Sometimes the days will drag, but the years will y by. Set yourself a target for what you’re

going to achieve in the rst 6 months.

12: Make mistakes

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make no mistakes, you’reAND
not taking risks and you’re not pushing yourself.
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PHD: AN U
Just make NCO
sure M MON
you learn GUIDE TO take responsibility for them, and try not to make the same
from them,
RESEA R C H , W R I TING & PHD LIFE
mistake twice.

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JAMES HAYTON
Author of "PhD: an uncommon guide to research, writing & PhD life"

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COMMENTS
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7/31/2017 12 things you need to know when starting a PhD

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Anjum says
NOVEMBER 29, 2015 AT 2:52 AM

PHD: A N U N C O M MON GUIDE TO

RESEA R C H , W R I TING & PHD LIFE
Good Morning Sir
Sir please suggest me an interesting topic on Networking for PhD programme.
Thanks

James Hayton says

NOVEMBER 29, 2015 AT 6:22 PM

Even if I could think of interesting and valid topics in subjects I’ve never studied, how
would I know what was a suitable topic for you, personally?

MOHAMMAD RAFIQ says

FEBRUARY 7, 2014 AT 12:12 PM

Thanks a lot, i am submitting my synopsis for Ph.D program. Those things you recommend will
help me de nitely.
thanks once again

Celia de Winter says

SEPTEMBER 30, 2013 AT 7:31 AM

Thank you for these tips. I am just starting out on my PhD and am nding it a great leap
forward from my Masters Degree. Your tips are very useful .I think though that the hardest
thing is going to be how to manage a sense of panic and to develop an aura of peace and
tranquillity in which to be creative.

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Constantijn Seys says
JULY 6, 2013 AT 6:52 PM

PHD: A N U N C O M MON GUIDE TO

RESEA R C H , W R I TING & PHD LIFE
Great tips, thanks. I would mention picking great tools: Evernote, Mendeley, Zotero or
bohr.launchrock.com can help you a lot!

Seraj s says
JUNE 7, 2013 AT 10:49 AM

hi sir.,.
just now i started thinking to do Phd, im full eager to do, but now im persuing MBA 1st year.,.
can i able to do Phd… is it possible? i dont know how to proceed further to complete Phd.. pls
do the needful sir.,.

Elen Ifan says

OCTOBER 1, 2012 AT 4:43 PM

These are great! Feeling a little better about the vast unknown three years that sprawl in front
of me after reading this post – I have my rst PhD tutorial in a few days. Will de nitely keep
them in mind! Thanks!

Nordin says
180 OCTOBER 11, 2011 AT 5:41 PM
Shares

Its really2 good..thanks..:)

116

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jameshayton says
OCTOBER 11, 2011 AT 11:21 AM

PHD: A N U N C O M MON GUIDE TO

RESEA R C H , W R I TING & PHD LIFE
Yes, I’ve got some stu in there inspired by the 4HWW… The Pareto principle certainly applies
to research!

Mohd Ha zie Suhaimi says

OCTOBER 11, 2011 AT 3:00 AM

Hi.My name Mohd Ha zie Suhaimi. I just started my Phd last three week. I’m doing research on
IT focusing in social media. The tips is useful for me as my journey toward Phd. Thanks..

jameshayton says
OCTOBER 11, 2011 AT 11:16 AM

Thanks Mohd, and good luck!

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