How to finish and get a job, then live
happily ever after…
Dongho Kim
October 10, 2001
Dongho Kim
1
Before Defense
• When to take the defense?
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Ask your advisor
• What to prepare?
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Defense packet
– Pick up from graduate school (GFS 300)
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Thesis committee
– Three or more faculty members
• Scheduling
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Takes some time
Dongho Kim
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Before Defense
• Draft of the thesis
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To the committee members
At least three weeks in advance
• Meet with committee before the defense
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Bring slides
– Go through at least first seven slides
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Answer questions
Find out their concerns in advance
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Before Defense
• Practice talks (dry-runs)
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As many as you can
Alone first
With group members
With advisor
With different audiences
• Seven slides rule
• Backup slides
• Defense announcement through the department
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Lorraine
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Finishing vs. Job hunting
• It is hard to do both
• So, you might want to consider finishing first, and
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then concentrate on finding a job
• However, job hunting takes time.
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Sometimes, quite long time,
Especially when the economy is not good.
• Trade-offs
Dongho Kim
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During the defense
• Be confident!
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You are the one who knows about your thesis most.
Dongho Kim
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After defense
• Getting signatures
• Submit thesis to graduate school
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Thesis editor  another signature
Degree Progress dept.  check the requirements
• Graduating consists of two parts
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Oral, and
Written
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Job searching
• Get connections
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Introduce yourself to other people at conferences
Introduce yourself to the speaker at seminars
Get to know your colleagues
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Job searching - Academia
• Start early
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For fall semester/quarter,
September – January
• Research area
• Publications
• GPA
• Research schools vs. Teaching schools
• Consider research labs also
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Job - Academia
• Interview
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Among 5 or 6
Talk
Meeting with faculty
• Have research agenda for the next five years or so
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During the talk and meetings
Potential future collaboration
• Know your research needs
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Equipment
Support for students
Make sure the school is willing to provide those
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11
Job searching - Industry
• Prepare several versions of resumes
• Customized cover letters
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Do not waste time on the positions that do not match
• Learn about the companies in advance
• Knowing someone inside is a BIG plus
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Job searching - Industry
• Interviews are different than that of academia
• No formal talks, but
• Very short, but carefully prepared talks
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Several versions with different lengths
• Technical questions
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Refresh your memory
• Strange questions
• Phone interviews
• Prepare questions
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Technical
HR
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Making decision
• Two-body problems
• Timing
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Scheduling is important
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Good Luck!
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