You are about to start your journey as a PhD student this fall. Congratulations! It must feel like you now have all the time in the world to turn that research proposal you submitted with your application into reality. So, how do you make the most of that experience?

Having recently completed my PhD, in this piece I share everything I learned about doing a doctorate, drawn from my own experience. I like to call it the bad kind of advice. You will not find it in official PhD manuals, and your supervisors probably will not spell it out for you either. But you will hear it from those who have cooked in this kitchen: former PhD students like me, who came out the other side with the degree in hand.

Marry your research topic
A PhD is the kind of commitment you make in a long-term relationship. Over four years (or more), you will likely stay within the same field, so choose wisely. Think of it as keeping the spark alive: you will go to conferences where people mostly discuss your topic, read endless papers about it, and produce your own knowledge within it. All of this, day after day (weekends off are not guaranteed). Of course, you will have some flexibility to branch out within your field, but the core focus tends to remain the same, so genuine curiosity and passion for your topic help immensely.

When I began my PhD journey, I felt pretty solid in my choice. I had already written my Master’s thesis on the same topic and worked as a research assistant during my undergrad years on a related project. That early start helped me familiarise myself with the field, the key literature, and the main gaps. Because the topic felt so familiar, I was genuinely excited to keep reading those papers. That kept me going without ever feeling bored.

Grow comfortable with asking questions 
Your first big question will be your research question. But rest assured, many more follow: technical questions like how to cluster standard errors for a tricky model; practical ones like how to book accommodation for a conference using graduate school funds. Later on, you’ll face a bigger one: I am nearly done — what do I do next, and how exactly?

I was never shy about asking questions when I felt uncertain, and it helped me learn how things work fast. That efficiency will serve you well in the long run. Ask your supervisors, your grad school support team, your fellow PhDs, and alumni from your faculty. Ask people whose paths you admire about their experience during and after the doctorate (trust me, they’ll be glad to share). A well-asked question can be worth a lot, because so is the answer.

Accept a marginal contribution 
Being ambitious is very important in a PhD, and so is staying true to reality. Many PhD candidates draw pride and drive from aiming for something meaningful: a strong publication or a spot at a top conference. But stay clear-eyed: your core goal is to learn deeply about your topic, develop your toolkit, and finish that manuscript.

I found it freeing to accept that my thesis would probably make a marginal contribution (I know, we all massage that phrase in our papers to sound more impressive). There is no shame in not revolutionising your field just now. What matters is that you become a professional, know your domain well, and claim your spot in the community.

Strive for technical correctness 
Your thesis must be technically correct and, if possible, innovative. There is a lot of talk about pushing PhD candidates to the cutting edge of new ideas. And yes, research should be about creativity and discovery. But here is the reality: you are expected to finish a manuscript in four years. After that, funding ends, and so might your contract or visa.

This is a daring situation. The risks of betting everything on a high-wire, groundbreaking idea can be huge, with no guarantee of payoff. Nobody wants you stuck mid-air. Your graduate school funds you for a reason: to produce a finished thesis. You want a decent job market paper and a few side projects, all done before your funding runs dry. Keep in mind that your thesis must be methodologically sound, well-written and should explore something that is still under-explored. If it meets those criteria, send it off.

Meet people and make connections
Remember: after four years, you will need a job. Do not expect the job market to roll out a red carpet for you just because you have “Doctor” title in front of your name. It helps to prepare early. If networking is not your strength, treat it as a skill you can practice. Talk to people at conferences, workshops, and seminars. Ask what they do, share what you do, and show up as a professional-in-the-making (preferably in the field you ‘married’). This builds a clear image of you that the people you meet will remember.

With good connections, you can reach out later for advice, collaborations, or references. Do not underestimate this channel: it can open unexpected doors, especially if you are unsure what comes next after the PhD.

Take on a side hustle (but only if you can handle it) 
This one might raise eyebrows, but hear me out. A PhD demands a deep, long focus on one big thing. But sometimes it helps to do something else, too. In economics, it can be quite straightforward: a side gig might be contributing to policy reports or applied research that draws on your academic base but focuses on time-sensitive questions policymakers need answers to now. (On this topic, check out my other INOMICS blog on the difference between an academic and policy economist).

During my PhD, I contributed to several policy papers through my earlier connections. It kept my other skills sharp and helped position me for my post-PhD plans. This was to signal: look, I did not just write a thesis; I co-authored reports and stayed connected to the field I wanted to enter next. But be mindful: this can backfire. If you overstretch yourself, your main project may suffer, and you risk delays. Only do it if you know you can manage the load.

The best PhD is a done PhD
This one kept me sane in the final stretch. I knew how much I could realistically do within the timeframe, and I wanted to finish strong without stalling my post-PhD plans. Research is always some kind of ‘work in progress’. There is always more to find, and more to refine, and that is the beauty of this business. But a PhD has an endpoint. One day, you must put that final dot on the page, also known as ‘submit’. Your supervisors will guide you here: when your projects feel 90% complete, ask them what it takes to wrap them up. Use that moment to turn years of hard work into a finished product and let yourself move on. 

Good luck — and may my bad advice serve you well.

Hanna Sakhno is a policy economist with a PhD from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. Originally from Ukraine, Hanna has also worked at the European Central Bank and at a leading economic think tank in Kyiv, where she contributed to labour market and education policy reforms.

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