New Year’s Resolution: What’s Your Career Strategy?

It’s a new year. Let’s talk about your career and your career strategy.

In many of our leadership and career development presentations, we talk about self-assessment and career strategy.

1. Self-assessment: Do a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis and set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals.
2. Career strategy: People, professional brand, and online presence are three important aspects of your career strategy.

Here are some ideas and resources (from our presentations and blog posts) to get you started:

• Our leadership and career development presentations
• Career Tips for LIS Students, Graduates, and Professionals
• Are You T-Shaped?
• I’m Not Job Hopping, I’m Job Shopping
• The Secret to Job Security
• Making the Most of 3.5” x 2” (Business Cards)
• Maximize LinkedIn
• Get Your LinkedIn in Shape
• Quick Guide to Attending Library Conferences on the Cheap
• E-Portfolios: Webinar Recap, Tools, and Resources
• Using Google Sites to Create An E-Portfolio

The Job Skills of the Future, and of the Past

Tom Kucharvy recently posted a provocative post on the job skills of the future, and of the past.

As technology becomes increasingly sophisticated, it becomes capable of performing more and more tasks that previously could only be performed by humans. As of now, only three types of jobs still defy automation—specific forms of non-routine tasks (both manual and cognitive) and complex communications. Technology, however, is now beginning to make inroads even into these.

Kucharvy focuses on 2 key skills for the high-value jobs of the future:

• Complex communication skills; and
• High-level cognitive skills.

Read the rest of Kucharvy’s post to learn more.

How will the job skills of the future and of the past affect libraries and the library profession?

Making the Most of 3.5” x 2”

The typical size of business cards is 3.5” x 2”. Are you making the most of your business card “real estate”?

Here are some tips, tricks and tools that we’ve picked up along the way:

• Print on demand (SS) or order in bulk (LC). Printing on demand allows you to change your card more often and see which ones are more receptive while ordering in bulk can be more cost-effective and convenient.
• Use both sides.
• List your professional interests and skills.
• Stand out.
• Balance is key. You want a balance between text, images and white space.
• Experiment with different cards and see which generates the most interest.

Lessons learned:

When I was in library school, I got business cards and made the mistake of putting “Anticipated graduation date.”  The cards went quickly out-of-date after I graduated. Luckily, by then, I only had a few left. ~Lisa

My first iteration of business cards had my e-portfolio as a Google Site url which made it really long.  I decided to use a bit.ly link which makes my link shorter and easier. ~ Sandra

Business cards:

Upcoming Event at Pratt

We’re presenting ”Tips, Tricks & Tools for the New Information Professional” at the annual SLA@Pratt Skill Share Fair.

When: Friday, April 15th @ 5pm
Where: Pratt Manhattan Campus, 144 West 14th Street (6th Floor)

Event and RSVP info from the organizers: The Fair will consist of panel discussion from varying realms of the SLA universe, as well as one-on-one speed mentoring sessions by working professionals spanning the spectrum of the special libraries field. Attendees that are not Pratt students or affiliates must RSVP with Aurelia, amoser@pratt.edu, to be cleared with security prior to admittance to the event.

P.S. For anyone who stood us up at our Power Hour, this is your chance to redeem yourself

We Got Stood Up :(

We were looking forward to facilitating Power Hour for Your Professional Development at NYPL Mulberry yesterday, but no one showed. But rather than mope at our unpopularity, we went across the street to Housing Works Bookstore & Cafe and asked ourselves, “where did we go wrong and what can we do better next time?”

We want to hear from you. Vote. Comment.