Why PhD students had better start working on publications earlier

This paper aims to enhance the importance of publications during the PhD candidature. Although publications have been recognized as a critical factor for a successful career, there are still questions concerning PhD students, mainly when and how they should kick start their publications. To answer some of those questions, the first section of this paper provides an overview to publication types, and reasons why PhD students had better start working on publications earlier. The paper also demonstrates the consequences of PhD students failing to publish their work before graduating (or those who think that they will work on publications after they submit their thesis). Section two of this paper presents several recommendations for successful publications including (1) targeting the 'right' journals and conferences; (2) peer review process; and (3) writing collaborative publications