This document discusses challenges and opportunities related to completing a PhD and preparing for a career after graduation. It notes that doctoral students should stay focused on achieving their end goal and managing relationships with supervisors while reading extensively, writing, and securing funding over four years. Career challenges include establishing professional networks, building an online profile, gaining experience like lecturing, and publishing. The document advises PhD students to take ownership of their research, engage with others, set deadlines and goals, attend conferences, and maintain an up-to-date CV to expand their skills as they work towards their "end game."

1. ‘Your’ Doctoral Research:
What is the end game?
Dr Denis Dennehy
Lero @ NUIG
Whitaker Institute PhD Forum
25th May 2016

2. Oct ’10 - Sept ’14: PhD (Business Information Systems)
University College Cork, Ireland
Thesis title - Designing tools that enhance communication and understanding between multiple
stakeholders: the case of mobile payment value networks
What does the end look like?

3. TURNING CHALLENGES…
DOCTORAL CHALLENGES:
 Staying focused on the end game!
 Securing funding for four years
 Reading, reading and more reading
 Writing, writing and editing
 Managing relationships with your
supervisors
 Authorship
 Sourcing cases studies and interviewees
 Seeking external feedback on your research
 Time management – snowball effect
 Work-life balance
CAREER CHALLENGES:
 To be prepared for the end game!
 Establishing relevant networks in academia and
industry (500+ is not the goal)
 Building a ‘new’ professional profile (online and
offline)
 Acquiring relevant experience
 Lecturing
 Supervision
 Administration
 Publishing
 Journal reviewer/associate editor
 Building an academic CV & cover letter

4. …INTO OPPORTUNITIES
• To expand your skill-set and knowledge base
• To extend your professional network
• To show your ability to work with others in a collegial manner
• To demonstrate your focus and determination
• To write a wicked CV – it’s not just for job hunting!
• Grant applications
• Consulting
• References
• Reviewer and editorial roles
• To be ready for unexpected opportunities

5. HOW?
1. Early mornings and late nights
2. Take ownership of your doctoral research
3. Don’t forget – third level education is a privilege, not a right
4. Get out of your PhD cave and engage with other PhD candidates, staff and practitioners
5. Have dedicated PhD days and/or half days
• Switch off phone, email, and all other distractions
• Avoid people who say “I’m doing a PhD for my sins”
6. Set timelines with actual dates and tangible deliverables
7. Create a ‘professional’ online profile
8. Maintain an up-to-date, targeted professional CV
9. Don’t depend on your supervisors to get access to case studies and interviewees
10. Attend a PhD consortium and international conferences (even if not presenting)
11. Submit to relevant journals and other outlets
12. Know when to say “NO” – unless it helps you to achieve the end game.
13. Know ‘your’ end game and enjoy getting there!