Why Ph.D.?
There are a number of reasons why someone would consider pursuing a Ph.D., but there are two that I believe are particularly compelling. On the one hand, there must be a desire to be intellectually challenged and directed by a recognized expert in your field, or a passion for study (growing understanding and knowledge). On the other side, there can be a particular subject, philosophy, or issue that piques your interest. Both of these factors are present in the majority of persons.
In some situations, the aspiring Ph.D. applicant may have already worked in academic research (say as a research assistant for a project) or done considerable research on the subject. In such circumstances, selecting a topic appears to be a simple task, with the added burden of making it marketable or developing an appropriate theoretical and methodological framework. My doctoral career began long before I submitted my application. It all started in my head as I pondered why I wanted to pursue a Ph.D. I was intrigued by the knowledge I got from my MBA, and I wanted to know 'how' to maximize Malaysian SMIs Managers' job performance in the manufacturing sector with the moderating role of talent management practices.
Motivation
The first challenge I had during my Ph.D. journey was staying motivated for the duration of my program. The truth is that some people will have days when they are completely unmotivated. Most Ph.D. students have days, if not weeks when they believe they chose the incorrect topic. This is unavoidable and a necessary part of the process. As a result, while it is critical that the topic you choose is one that you are passionate about, there are other factors that will affect your ability to complete your thesis. When picking a topic, the first thing to evaluate is "how viable is it for a Ph.D. project?" If you're anything like me, you may have started your Ph.D. with an overly ambitious topic and struggled to narrow down your research subject. The important thing is to reduce the "huge topic" into a "manageable" research question.
That is something supervisory teams and other successful academics attempt to tell Ph.D. candidates on a regular basis. Unfortunately, some candidates have difficulty accepting this. Flexibility is a valuable asset to have during a research project, especially one as long as a Ph.D. During the thesis writing stage, you will face numerous challenges. Some will be difficult to handle, so be willing to change your topic. Perhaps you intended to apply a specific conceptual framework but realized it wouldn't work in your situation (or cases). Your supervisory team will have to decide whether to amend the case or the framework.
Your study will be driven by your topic, which may need to be tweaked or changed to match the reality and context of your setting, data collection technique, and other factors. This is natural, although it may cause confusion or research sluggishness. At the beginning of my research trip, I was so eager to inform everyone about my research that by the second year, I realized my passion and enthusiasm had waned, and I avoided any talk about my topic. I was perplexed by the plethora of approaches and concepts offered to me in an attempt to provide a succinct answer to the key question, "What is your Ph.D. study about?"
Be humble that you do not know enough!
I realized I wasn't an expert yet and still had a lot to learn; this is an important stage of acceptance and learning to cope with the frustration of trying to understand your study goal or target. If you're feeling overwhelmed by a plethora of academic discourse in your research, you're not alone. The important thing is to get started and to be willing to expand your studies as time goes on. By all means, sticking to your well-crafted topic and relevant research question will provide a smooth and well-defined journey. However, make sure you can act quickly if they don't link or make sense without feeling like you're abandoning your original objective.
My Ph.D. adventure has been unlike anything else I've ever done before. I felt like an octopus on skates attempting to keep my balance while traveling through an unfamiliar area when I first started. Nothing quite prepares you for a Ph.D. like actually completing one. I recognized areas where I lacked ability or knowledge and sought help as soon as possible. I then applied myself to learn knowledge and grow in those areas. The transition to my Ph.D. was aided by Multimedia University, FOB faculty doctoral training courses, which provided me with a greater grasp of how to engage in academic research and the skills I required to construct a research project. I needed to increase my computer skills, such as utilizing MS Word and Excel, and learning how to use the internet, as well format my document.
Self-Discovery
My Ph.D. path has been a journey of self-discovery, as I've discovered skills and qualities I didn't realize I possessed. Organization and planning, time management, and balancing with academic pursuits were all essential abilities that allowed me to complete my Ph.D. while maintaining a healthy social life. It's critical to have a solid support system in place (for me, it was my sister’s family).
I created deadlines for my study, as well as weekly and monthly targets, and rewarded myself by watching movies with my peers when I met a goal or milestone. Of course, completing and closing up my Annual Monitoring Report and accompanying documentation was a fantastic benchmark for my Ph.D. journey. My Ph.D. path has sparked various markers of self-maturity in the research arena, specifically the ambition for a career in academia, in addition to personal development. Prior to going on this adventure, I remembered that I couldn't create a high-quality research proposal or read peer-reviewed articles since I found them to be exceedingly uninteresting and difficult to comprehend.
It’s 1% Inspiration, 99% perspiration & Need for support
To meet the required standard, I had to revise my proposal a few times. I had to do my work completion defense twice. It’s a total nightmare but managed to go through on the second attempt. My VIVA went smooth but had to do major corrections before can be accepted. I find UK Proofreading and editing services came to my lifeline support to provide expert and professional service in providing timely consultation in completing required changes in my thesis before submitting it for final approval. I must extend my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Thavamaran of UK Proofreading and editing services for this to happen.
Never-ending knowledge
I’m continuing reading now, even though my research is finished because my Ph.D. journey has taught me that learning and research are never-ending experiences and that one should never stop learning and studying simply because one's Ph.D. journey is ended. Depending on your chosen vocation, the completion of one journey is actually the start of another life-long learning adventure. So, as a Ph.D. student, what are your responsibilities?
Based on my previous experience, I believe the following factors are critical for success and preventing early dropout:
1. Be modest and adaptable enough to follow your supervisory team's leadership, recognizing that their success is just as essential to them as it is to you. I was humble and adaptable enough to recognize that research can and will alter during the early stages because nothing is set in stone.
2. Set realistic goals: The Ph.D. is mostly driven by the student, so consider whether you can work remotely and independently. Are you ready to be attached to your computer as if it were your best friend, supervised by supervisors you only see via email and infrequent visits? I was lucky enough to have my supervisor’s office adjacent to my postgraduate office.
3. Maintain a healthy work-life balance, especially if you're married with children.
4. Examine your career goals realistically, because the Ph.D. program will prepare you to be a researcher and an academic, requiring you to review literature, identify a research problem, determine a research methodology, follow and implement the methodology, present your findings, and then write a thesis that summarises all of your arguments and demonstrates your efforts over the previous three to four years of your life. If you're interested in learning these "how to's" and want to work as a researcher or academic in the future, this is the road to take. However, if you're thinking of something else, you should consider it carefully.
5. Set goals or milestones that are realistic and attainable. Aside from the school's programs, you'll need your own personal program to keep you on track. Reward yourself whenever you achieve a goal or milestone. If you let it, a Ph.D. may govern and control your life, so give yourself a special reward or 'cool off time' once you've completed a milestone and gather yourself before moving on to the next one.
6. To give yourself enough time to manage the data collection and analysis phase, try to collect your data as soon as possible. This phase, even more so than the data collection process, can be quite laborious.
7. When you start writing, keep a reference list handy and structure your paper in the proper manner. You might want to try using the "cite while you type" feature or Mendeley tool. Don't put it off till the last minute — I learned the hard way. Save and back up your work in multiple locations – I learned this the hard way! – and make sure draft versions are preserved properly.
8. Finally, a Ph.D. requires patience and dedication. As a result, you must be self-motivated, as the procedure may take longer than expected. As a result, you'll need to know how to rekindle your enthusiasm while avoiding burnout. Your motivations must be powerful.
