Gensym has finally officially made me an offer, and I have finally officially accepted. Well, I sent email saying I accept. I still have to deliver the signed offer letter and NDA. But, basically, I have a job. Huzzah!

I start on Monday, January 24th. There's still the matter of finishing my dissertation revisions and preparing for the defense presentation, but I'm pretty sure I can do that on evenings and weekends. (The defense is tentatively scheduled for mid-February, but I'll keep you all posted. Although really I'd be more comfortable if nobody showed up so I could talk to an empty room.) I'm thinking that having a job will be less distracting than worrying about getting a job, but we'll see.

From: [identity profile] rawrin.livejournal.com


Congratulations!

If I showed up to your defense, I think you could still consider that talking to an empty room.

From: [identity profile] artname.livejournal.com

traditions from my alma mater


1) Pack the room with friendly faces -- they need no nothing about your topic, nor understand, but should nod knowingly at all times. Seed friends with good questions, to be used as needed.
2) Bake something for the audience the night before. What else were you planning on doing the night before?
3) You can stick around for them to congratulate you for passing, or you can leave the building before they decide and go to the beach or something. [You might have to modify the beach part.] Extra coolness points for not being there when they come out of the closed session.

And tips:
Re: revisions. It's a bit late, but the most important rule about your dissertation is: Onlyh three people have to like your dissertation, and you aren't one of them.

From: [identity profile] chris-warrior.livejournal.com


yay job!

now, one of these days, i hope i hit Boston when you have five minutes to meet me... looks like the 20-21 is not it, since you're starting new job. *laugh*

From: [identity profile] prusik.livejournal.com


At the end of the day, it just good to get the defense over with. For me, having accepted the job offer gave me something to work towards as I was finishing things up. I've worked with people who finished up their dissertation revisions and prepared their defense while they were working so it's definitely doable. (I doubt I personally would have been organized enough to make that work but the way things worked out for me, that wasn't an option. Most people are more organized than me in any case.)

Seeding the audience with good questions sounds like a pretty good idea actually. I honestly don't remember who showed up to my defense. I so clearly did not get the extra coolness points though.

Congrats!!

From: [identity profile] randomenvy.livejournal.com


Congrats! You'll be working across the street from me... =]

From: [identity profile] dougo.livejournal.com


Yeah, I think I'll be in the neighborhood of a lot of people I know (Burlington office parks). Maybe we should start a lunch game group or something.
.