Many academics will tell you that pursuing a PhD in preparation for an academic career is a rollercoaster. The process of finding the right supervisor and university, followed by four years of research, write-up and defence, is just about enough to make one feel ill, then great, then ill again – sensations that one might feel when riding a rollercoaster.
Issues with self-confidence and difficulty networking are salient among PhD candidates, as well as the risk of burnout, all of which jeopardise success. Rather than bracing for the lows and highs, maybe it’s time to reframe the metaphor.
Instead of a rollercoaster, embarking on a PhD journey can be seen as riding a carousel; round and round we go, unaware of when the ride will stop or who will get on next. Uncertainty and the pressure to network are scary but can be embraced as opportunities for spontaneity and surprise. These could later become nostalgic feelings akin to those we experience when riding carousels. Is it enough, however, to change our perspective of fear and success during and after our PhDs are complete? What can be done to help us use our PhDs to improve our self-confidence, network in ways that feel comfortable and authentic to us and prepare us for the uncertainty of an academic career?
The route to lectureship: teach, teach, teach!
Arguably the most effective way to improve confidence and develop the necessary skills and traits for an academic career is to teach. Taking a teaching assistant role during your PhD will expose you to students and fellow faculty members in ways that research cannot. Professionally, higher education teaching opens the door to organic networking with course organisers and their colleagues. Personally, it promotes awareness of potential areas of weakness such as communication, time management or discipline-specific knowledge while affording you opportunities to improve on them semester after semester.
The more you practise, the more you will improve, and noticeable improvements lead to increased confidence, which results in improved performance. Teaching subjects you don’t know very well is just as important as teaching those you’re an expert in; it forces you to assume the role of a researcher-learner-teacher-explorer engaging in a self-reinforcing cycle of discovery, affirmation, validation and exploration. Moves a bit like a carousel, doesn’t it?
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Research far and wide
Academia values research and teaching as prerequisites to any lectureship or postdoc position, but some PhDs are underdeveloped in one or the other, which leads to a lack of confidence and capabilities as well as disadvantage in the job market. To mitigate this risk, take on a research assistant role in your department or others. This allows you to flex your research muscles and establish new contacts at other colleges or neighbouring universities. Remember to embrace the process of learning and self-exploration as you navigate new research projects and welcome any newcomers on to the project. This kind of work helps strengthen your academic CV, validate your strengths as a researcher and establish more organic pathways for professional development. People talk, and especially of good qualities in others. You never know who will get on that carousel next!
Use research seminars to listen and question
Research seminars are an integral part of university culture and offer many benefits to PhD candidates and faculty alike. Regular attendance and participation at these events advertises you as an enthusiastic learner and participative researcher who’s open to sharing new knowledge, establishing new connections and taking on new work. Seminars give PhD candidates the opportunity to question and listen, build confidence and talk among colleagues in a casual but professional setting. Attend as many as you can and be as active as you can; you never know who’ll be in the room, listening, waiting for the right research assistant for their next project or teaching assistant for their course load.
Consider the benefits of teaching and research assistant roles for developing confidence and skills and attend research seminars to learn and gain the attention of potential collaborators. That’s how we can get the most out of our PhDs and prepare for our academic careers.
Maybe life is a rollercoaster but a PhD doesn’t have to be. Enjoy the spontaneity of the journey and be prepared for others to jump on to join you for the ride.
Nicholas Maldarelli is a PhD candidate and teaching assistant at the University of Edinburgh Business School.
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