Citation envy
Friend A to friend B, one evening not long ago: "B, I looked up your web page! Now I feel totally horrible about myself. Oh my god, how do you have so many papers?!!! I’m a total slacker!"
B responded: "Oh no, you totally shouldn’t worry… they’re all really short and not a big deal, it’s just one little project each and it’s always like that in my field, and I’m sure your papers are probably way longer and more important and…"
Folks! A public service message, from me: checking your citations is not a good way to determine if your life has meaning. Neither is comparing your publication list to that of other people you know. However tempting, it only ends in distress.
You can, however, benefit from checking your citations (as well as other people’s publication lists) IF AND ONLY IF you view it as an educational exercise. Try to see how other people have built upon and developed their early work in order to make progress in their field. How can you do it too?
I think it is even more interesting when it shows the progression which allowed a researcher to change fields. For example, developing analytical technique A in field X, making a name in that niche, collaborating interdisciplinearily, then sliding into one of those other disciplines using technique A in field Y enough to learn field Y, then develop technique B.
Comment by Lab Lemming — July 25, 2007 @ 11:58 am
I tend to view understanding what your CV says about you to be an essential career tool. This is your face that you present to the uncaring forces that shape your career success.
Comment by Drugmonkey — July 31, 2007 @ 11:45 pm
Candid thoughts on the GlamourMag chase
Your CV is what it is, but you need to make strategic choices for the future
Trackback by DrugMonkey — June 16, 2009 @ 4:49 pm