Home
So, my viva date is finally set for the 15th of March. Which is ... next Tuesday.
So I guess I better get started on my presentation, huh?
(long story, but basically due to Politics and Colliding Calendars, it's been kinda tricky to get a date. It was the 16th for a while, then it got moved to the 22nd, then to early April, so I relaxed a bit, and got on with some of the actual work I'm doing at, y'know, WORK. Then it was the 15th. Drop everything, write ~40 slides, rehearse presentation, flail.)
On the up side, I was footling with my CV the other night, and discovered that done right, the "Experience and past jobs" section I was leaving blank on account of not having left university yet actually holds an awful lot, if you look at it from the right angle. Front-line tech-support, both telephonic and over desk. Systems administration. Contract work for ... certain people. Embedded Systems research, design and implementation. So perhaps my CV isn't as tragic as I thought it was.
That said, I'm revisiting my thesis while prepping this presentation, and it's not as bad as I thought it was, either. Couldn't stand to look at it or read it immediately I'd finished writing, but now? Not so bad.
Maybe there's a lesson in that.
2011/03/10 - Brotherly-unit (10:58)
Good luck dude - pretty rotten that they've mucked you around on the date but sounds like you've stepped up to the plate! I'm sure you'll ace it dude, you must know a few things after 5 years!
From what you've told me a PhD is basically a job and the amount of industry you've worked with means your CV is probably as impressive as anyone who's been employed for the past 5 years - I still use examples from my degree in interviews so don't worry about it at all!!
Also: I understand putting a first draft novel in a drawer for 3 months is one of the best things you can do - no doubt works with thesis too!!
x
2011/03/10 - Pewterfish (18:46)
Yeah, I think I've picked up a thing or two. So long as I can avoid curling into a tiny ball during the viva presentation itself (I've never liked presenting to audience, and the additional pressure here really doesn't help), I suspect I'll be fine.
The CV is the next target once I've finished writing the presentation: I'll be writing bits of it in and around the presentation practice, just so I don't get too bored. Will be looking for style-reviewers, etc, when it's done...
I hear your life has been a bit noisy and complicated lately. Sorry I've not had the time or brain to pick up the phone. That'll change soon, I hope.
2011/03/10 - Ladylark (16:51)
Good luck mate!
I have been being very remiss and kept forgetting to ping you about whether you fancied coming up at the weekend for my birthday. I guess I was partly being lazy (I'd have to hunt for your email) and partly thinking you're too busy.
Well, now I figure you're extremely unlikely to make it... But maybe we can catch up at some point when you've got your new honorific. ;)
Naomi
2011/03/10 - Pewterfish (18:44)
Thanks.
Yeah, I'm... what you might call occupied this weekend. Sorry about that.
I love that people keep assuming I'll get my new honorific. I know it's probably a non-risk, and that the great majority of people who get this far pass, but there's a little voice in the back of my head that says "they can fail you, and they don't need a reason", and it's hard to make it shut up :)
I look forward to catching up with quite a lot of people, yourself included, once I'm done here. At the moment, however, I have trouble seeing or planning beyond next Tuesday.
Hope you and yours are keeping well.