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leaving permanent job for a postdoc
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Hi,
I return to the forum after months. I hope everybody is doing fine.
As some of you could remember I started a job in industry few months ago. I am already bored and not motivated. This is partly due to the fact that I don't use my technical skills much, partly I have no interest in the financial interests of the company and partly I moved into a new town where I don't know anyone other than the office mates. Now there is an opportunity for a post doc in another continent in a top institute. The idea of doing research without the thesis hanging over my head is tempting. On the other hand I will earn much less and my partner won't like the idea of moving so far away. In short I am very much in doubt.
Any advice?

The Happy Thread
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I am happy because I passed my viva and starting a new job next week.:-)

weak conclusions and phd fail
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I passed my viva with minor corrections. Corrections are really minor. They found important results in the thesis which are not stressed enough. They liked very much the conclusions chapter and it's the only chapter without any corrections at all.
I will start a new job next week so I am very pleased with result.

I wish best of luck to the ones who didn't have the viva yet.

confidence tips
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Hi Satchi, you are back to forum after so much time.

Thank you to all for the confidence tips. Sunflower have your first star.
I passed my viva with minor corrections. Examiners told that important results are not stressed enough in my thesis. This also shows my lack of confidence.

confidence tips
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Hi,

I will have my viva in less than a week and I lost all my confidence. I am afraid that I will sound very weak and can't defend my thesis. I think I am not an expert of my subject and my thesis is not good at all. Lately I also developed a mental block so I can't speak about my thesis.
Does anyone have any confidence tips?

Thanks.

Shortest & Longest PhD Vivas
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In our institute the norm is 3 to 4 hours. I will have my viva in less than a week and officially booked for 4 hours but it can last longer.
The longest I saw lasted 6 hours + lunch break. But vivas of 5 hours are not so uncommon here. The length is not related with the quality of the thesis and the outcome of the viva.

Sorry but it just isn't true!!!
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Is it really different than any other job? I don't think so. If you like what you are doing, job or phd, it is easier to achieve. For me my phd is just a challenging job. You proved to be a researcher by getting your phd. It really doesn't matter if you loved it or not. I wish you realize your dream, whatever it's, in the near future.

Convinced I'm going to fail- but what will be will be
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Pineapple, I think fail is not even a remote possibility. Be positive. Keep calm.
I wish you best of luck for your viva.

weak conclusions and phd fail
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Thank you, Ady.

Endnote q
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It should be a bug. I don't have this problem.

unemployed for too long / suddenly interviews
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Good luck 404!

weak conclusions and phd fail
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Thank you for your replies.
I'm very stressed now and I can't sleep at all and go around like a zombie. My partner is in our home country so I am also alone.
The good thing is that my viva is in few weeks so I don't have to wait for months. Both of my examiners don't work on my thesis subject. Besides my external is not academic and it will be his first examination. So I don't know what's waiting for me.

Bilbo, you gave me some hope. Thank you!
Corinne, good to know that I'm not alone. Best of luck with your viva.
Pineapple, I know your troubles. I really admire your determination. Good luck to you too!

weak conclusions and phd fail
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Hi,

I am submitting my PhD now and my supervisor told that my conclusions are poor and the thesis is short. He also told that the thesis doesn't reflect all the work I did. This is because many of my experiments didn't work and didn't contribute to the final product. I don't know what I can do at this point. I also don't know how the thesis can be stronger with corrections after the viva. I am expecting a straight fail.
Do you know anyone who passed the viva with poor conclusions? What's enough for a PhD?
I'm very upset and hardly slept this week.

English question
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======= Date Modified 10 May 2011 21:56:12 =======
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Thank you all.
Rick, English is not my native language, otherwise I would  probably have written a better e-mail.
Dafydd and Melsie, thank you for the suggestions. I'll use them for the next time.
By the way he still didn't reply me. I hope it's not because of the way I replied.

English question
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Hi,

I replied a meeting request like this:
"I am available after 9 am every day. Could you please schedule a time convenient for you?"

It's very formal mail and I have never met with this person before. Is it enough polite? As I didn't receive an answer I wonder whether I was not enough polite .

Thanks.