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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Member
Joined: 2/21/2008
Posts: 1
Points: 3
Location: London, UK
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Happy New Year all! I'm interested in hearing from anyone who might have some fabulous tips and strategies for dealing with first day/first weeks on a new job. Just a bit of background on me: I had been working for five years as a reference librarian/supervisor in a US public library and was happy in that position. In June 2008 I had the fortune of marrying a lovely UK citizen and I've been living in London since the beginning of July. After taking some time off to adapt to life abroad, I started job hunting, and lo! I found a job! I'll be working as a librarian at a special library focusing on medical history and science policy (topics I'm interested in but have no formal training or expertise). I'm very excited and completely ready to get back to work after a 6-month hiatus (read: period of unemployment  ). How do you deal with first days and weeks on the job? If you've made the switch from one type of library to another, what did you do to acclimate yourself to your new information environment? Any preparation you'd recommend to get back on the employment wagon? Thanks! Jenn
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Management - Moderator
, Member
Joined: 1/2/2008
Posts: 348
Points: 922
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
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Congratulations! When I switched jobs about 4 years there were a few things that made the transition less stressful and I think set up a strong foundation for my enjoyment of my current job. Early on take as many opportunities as possible to learn about and meet your colleagues and/or patrons. You can play the "I am a new librarian card" for a while so it makes it much easier to build relationships and learn from others. Take advantage if it because it will never be easier. Set a side a certain amount of time each day to learn your resources: print and online. It is easier to do now when you are not under a time crunch.
Brian C. Gray Head of Reference & Engineering Librarian Kelvin Smith Library Case Western Reserve University http://blog.case.edu/bcg8bcg8@case.edu
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Rank: Administration
Groups: Administration
Joined: 11/5/2007
Posts: 106
Points: -851
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There are a number of articles in the "getting started" category of Info Career Trends that might be useful -- while most deal with a new entry level job, a lot of the tips should still be applicable. http://lisjobs.com/career_trends/?cat=636
Rachel Singer Gordon / rachel@lisjobs.comFind a library job: http://www.lisjobs.comThe Liminal Librarian: http://www.lisjobs.com/blog
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Jumpstart - Moderator
, Member
Joined: 11/18/2007
Posts: 73
Points: -69
Location: Wisconsin
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What's the best advice anyone has ever given me? That's easy...remember you have two ears and one mouth so you can listen twice as much as you talk. Listen to the needs of your patrons; listen to the goals of your co-workers and employer, and you will will ensure that the feedback you are offering is more insightful, and more sensitive to the needs of the organization and/or the patron.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
, Tenure - Moderator
Joined: 11/19/2007
Posts: 34
Points: 102
Location: New York
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Hi, Career Q&A with the Library Career People addressed this topic a while back. You can read the article/post here: http://www.lisjobs.com/CareerQA_blog/?p=3
Susanne Markgren Digital Services Librarian Purchase College, SUNY
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Rank: Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 1/3/2008
Posts: 10
Points: 30
Location: Moscow, ID
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I read somewhere some advice a father had given to his daughter on her first day of college that has always made me feel a bit better during first day experiences. It was something to the effect of, "Be prepared to be uncomfortable and unsure at times - it's to be expected." I guess the idea is that it is completely normal to be unsettled in new circumstances, if not on the first day, then sometime in the first few months, and somehow knowing that it is okay and normal always makes it a bit easier to cope with. Of course, all the better if you don't need this advice. :)
Congrats and the job and the marriage!
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