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What's Online? Recommended Resources
by Terren Ilana Wein and Maura Barrett
What: Identifying transferable skills
Why: Transferable skills are skills learned on the job, while
volunteering, when parenting, or anywhere - skills that you do not
always know you have. If you are thinking of branching out, now is
the perfect time to do some assessment of your transferable skills.
We recommend: Quintessential Careers: Transferable Job Skills
Don't be turned off by the flashing banner; Quintessential Careers is a site with good content that deserves a better design. It can help you understand the concept of transferable skills and how to begin identifying and using them.
What: General career management
Why:If you are thinking about branching out - or, frankly, even if
you're not - you should be thinking about how to expand your
knowledge outside of your job function and your field. This will
also help you network with people outside of the library world.
We recommend:The best generalized online resource for career management and professional development is CareerJournal.com: "Job Search and Career Information for Executives, Professionals, and Managers" - also known as The Wall Street Journal's Executive Career Site. This site is an absolute gold mine of information, and it speaks to professionals and pre-professionals across the board (not just folks on the Street!). Skip the resume database and go right to the "Manage Your Career" and "Career Columnist" tabs. An article search button allows you to search for specific topics; "Success Stories" and "Career Killers" are great reads and will give you lots of ideas - things to do and not to do!
What: Getting published
Why: According to Rebecca Miller, Senior Editor at Library Journal,
"writing for your colleagues forces you to engage in your work in
new ways and gain perspective. Through the process you contribute to
the necessary dialogue of any work with information, and ultimately
you shape the profession." You can start writing for the profession
by reviewing materials in your area of expertise, bringing your
information-professional perspective to a non-library magazine (for
example, reviewing resources on cars for a car-enthusiast
publication), blogging, then working your way up to articles and
interviews.
We recommend: Poets and Writers - "Resources for Creative Writers"
Are librarians creative writers? We can be. But PW, the major trade publication for creative writers, can help you on a number of writing fronts, from information on how to publish, copyright, and other technical questions ("The Writer's Forum") to online forums on "The Literary Life." Also find authoritative information on contests, conferences, etc. - you can get that poem about your card catalog published! Poets & Writers, Inc. is the primary source of information, support, and guidance for creative writers. Founded in 1970, it is the nation's largest nonprofit literary organization.
What: Sitting on a corporate or non-profit board
Why: You get a new perspective that is helpful in your own career,
you make new contacts, and you get to work with high-caliber people.
We recommend: Strategies for Landing a Choice Board Post
Are you looking for some professional rewards? According to the authors of "Into the Boardroom: How to Get Your First Seat on a Corporate Board," joining a board can be very good for your reputation and there is a certain cachet - a subtle message of making it - for those who serve on an outside board. Board members come away from the experience with ideas and a fresh perspective and report getting at least as much out of the experience as they gave.
What: Volunteer
Why: Volunteering can provide a two-pronged aid for branching out:
it can get you networking with new people, and it can give you new
skills.
We recommend: Getting involved with your professional organization, perhaps at the local level, and also getting involved with a organization that speaks to a different interest or a different facet of your work. For example, if you work at an academic institution, there are sure to be arts committees, funds- disbursement committees, etc. - all outside of the library. While undertaking volunteer work, don't forget to keep track of the contacts you are making. When you have done some volunteering, go back to our first recommendation identifying transferable skills - and see what you have added!
Volunteer Match is an online service we recommend. Type in your ZIP code, choose an interest from a pull-down menu (or search all if you want); you can even limit the distance you want to travel.
Terren is the Assistant Director for Library and Information Services at The University of Chicago's Career & Placement Services. Maura is the Director of the Fisher Library at The University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business.