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Some librarianship students are graduating this
semester (congrats!), and with this in mind, a colleague recently asked me to
offer some advice to graduating students. Specifically, what did I wish someone told me as I was wrapping up my
librarianship degree?
semester (congrats!), and with this in mind, a colleague recently asked me to
offer some advice to graduating students. Specifically, what did I wish someone told me as I was wrapping up my
librarianship degree?
In thinking
back, all that came to mind was what I wish I had NOT been told.
back, all that came to mind was what I wish I had NOT been told.
Like many, I was
stressed out by not having any inkling of what career path that I wanted to
follow and felt that I lacked the experience needed to get any kind of
professional position.
Friends and colleagues kept telling
me “it will be all right” ; “it will all work out in the end.” That kind of
vague reassurance was the LAST thing I wanted to hear in the throes of that
stressful time.
stressed out by not having any inkling of what career path that I wanted to
follow and felt that I lacked the experience needed to get any kind of
professional position.
Friends and colleagues kept telling
me “it will be all right” ; “it will all work out in the end.” That kind of
vague reassurance was the LAST thing I wanted to hear in the throes of that
stressful time.
But emerging
professionals, take note: you do not need to leave your future to
chance. The following thoughts might be helpful to make “it all work
out”:
professionals, take note: you do not need to leave your future to
chance. The following thoughts might be helpful to make “it all work
out”:
·
If you feel that you don’t have job-ready
practical skills after graduating–you actually do. I was surprised to realise
how much I had learned in library school that gave me the necessary knowledge
and perspectives to be successful in my first job. Be confident that you are
aware of the bigger picture and can pick up details later.
If you feel that you don’t have job-ready
practical skills after graduating–you actually do. I was surprised to realise
how much I had learned in library school that gave me the necessary knowledge
and perspectives to be successful in my first job. Be confident that you are
aware of the bigger picture and can pick up details later.
·
Put yourself “out there”, in person and on social
media. It’s highly unlikely that you’ll find the perfect opportunity without
meeting people, being engaged in the profession, and finding your voice.
Put yourself “out there”, in person and on social
media. It’s highly unlikely that you’ll find the perfect opportunity without
meeting people, being engaged in the profession, and finding your voice.
·
Very few people have straightforward career
paths. Know yourself, but be open to whatever opportunities are thrown your way.
Very few people have straightforward career
paths. Know yourself, but be open to whatever opportunities are thrown your way.
As the
ever-on-point librarian Barbara Fister put it,
ever-on-point librarian Barbara Fister put it,
“Get good
advising, try things that you feel ill-prepared to do, challenge yourself.
Because those challenges will keep coming and you might as well get the hang of
it. “
advising, try things that you feel ill-prepared to do, challenge yourself.
Because those challenges will keep coming and you might as well get the hang of
it. “
Fister,
Barbara. (2015, March 5). “MLS Required” on Babel fish: A college
librarian’s take on technology (an Inside Higher Ed blog): https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/library-babel-fish/mls-required.
Barbara. (2015, March 5). “MLS Required” on Babel fish: A college
librarian’s take on technology (an Inside Higher Ed blog): https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/library-babel-fish/mls-required.
Megan
Fitzgibbons, Librarian
Fitzgibbons, Librarian
University of
Western Australia
Western Australia
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