Post on 08-Feb-2017
CLIMBING THE CAREER LADDERNJLA Emerging Leaders | November 10, 2016
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CLIMBING THE CAREER LADDER
➤Career Trajectory ➤Getting to the Next
Step ➤Research ➤Developing the
Skills You Need ➤Positioning Yourself
for Advancement
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Geneva Public Library genevapubliclibrary.net
Countee Cullen Branch of The New York Public Library http://urbanareas.net/info/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/37318_Countee-Cullen-Library2.jpg
Piscataway Public Library, MiY Launch, 2012
Librarian
Senior Librarian
Supervising Librarian
Assistant Director
DirectorSAMPLE LIBRARY CAREER TRAJECTORY
Junior Librarian
Senior Librarian
Head of User Services
Branch Manager
Associate Director
MY CAREER TRAJECTORY
Librarian
ALTERNATIVE CAREER TRAJECTORY
(President, NJLA Children’s Services Section)
(Chair, Youth Services Forum
(Fiction Reviewer, School Library Journal)
(Member-at-large, NJLAExecutive Board)
Planning Committee)
GETTING TO THE NEXT STEPCC Image courtesy of tormodspictures on Flickr
RESEARCH
➤ Position announcements
➤ Connect with people in that position
➤ Join conversations on social media
➤ Awards and recognition
➤ Hard skills vs. soft skills
POSITION ANNOUNCEMENTS
➤ Make it a habit to read job announcements related to the work you want to do
➤ Join library listservs for the geographic areas where you want to work
➤ Check web sites that post job announcements regularly
➤ Ask people to forward you announcements for specific types of positions
➤ Don’t hesitate to reach out to people you trust who might have more information about a position
➤ Be on the lookout for red flags
READING JOB ADS
➤ The time to research a position is before you’re ready to make a move
➤ Identify hard skills (degree, certification, language, software, etc)
➤ Identify soft skills (team-building, communication, time management, facilitating change, etc)
➤ Make a list of what skills and experience you’re missing
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CONNECT WITH PEOPLE
➤ Identify the respected people in the position you want
➤ Reach out to them, and ask thoughtful questions
➤ Find opportunities to familiarize them with your work (volunteering, serving on committees, etc)
➤ These people will make excellent references
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NJLA Honors and Awards
Library Journal Movers and Shakers
I Love My Librarian Award
DEVELOPING SKILLSCC Image courtesy of greasybeans on Flickr
PEOPLE
➤ Be proactive in developing mentor/mentee relationships
➤ Always be networking
➤ Show up
➤ Smile
➤ Ask questions
➤ Follow-up
➤ Develop a personal learning network
➤ Be strategic
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CAREER-RELATED READING & LISTENING
➤ The First-Time Manager by Loren B. Belker, Jim McCormick and Gary Topchik
➤ Reframing Organizations: Artistry, choice & leadership by Lee G. Bolman and Terrence E. Deal
➤ Rise: How to be really successful at work and like your life by Patty Azzarello
➤ Tribes: We need your to lead us by Seth Godin
➤ Harvard Business Review hbr.org
➤ HBR IdeaCast soundcloud.com/hbrideacast
TRAININGS
➤ Look for free and low-cost webinars from NJLA, LibraryLinkNJ, etc.
➤ Identify trainings that match your current responsibilities but will help you develop new skills
➤ If possible, attend trainings that fit the job you want
➤ Keep a list of all trainings
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VOLUNTEERING
➤ Libraries
➤ Professional Organizations
➤ Non-Library Leadership Organizations (Rotary, Toastmasters, etc)
➤ Charitable Organizations
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POSITIONING YOURSELF FOR ADVANCEMENT
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BE EXCEPTIONAL
➤ Be really good at what you’re doing right now
➤ Position yourself as an expert
➤ Write about your work
➤ Volunteer to be a book reviewer for review journals
➤ Look for speaking opportunities
➤ (Facebook Group: Library Conference Call for Speakers)
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EVALUATION
➤ Take evaluation seriously
➤ Be candid with your supervisor about career goals
➤ Make self-evaluation a part of your routine
➤ Have a copy of your job description
➤ Be strategical with working outside of your job description
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SUPPORT OTHER PEOPLEpay it forward
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HIGHLIGHT YOUR WORKutilize a portfolio
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WRAPPING THINGS UP
➤ Be thoughtful and candid about what you want from your career
➤ Plan for tomorrow while you’re still happy with today
➤ Build relationships with people you respect
➤ Volunteer to do stuff, and then do it
➤ Be patient, but be decisive
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