Last Thursday, I gave a talk titled Pimp my career: how to get ahead in library-land, at the ALIA Access 2010 conference. I’ve embedded the slides below.
I had an enormous amount of fun compiling and giving this presentation. It was great to present something quite personal that seemed to be useful to the delegates. Many of the points I made were reiterated (and often expressed far more eloquently) throughout the day, and it was great to see we were all on the same track: career success is about being self-motivated, positive, and above all, willing (on many, many different fronts).
While I was preparing my presentation, I asked my Twitter friends to share their best career tips in under 140 characters. The result was an amazing amount of honest, relevant and smart advice. I received several requests to compile the #careerpimping tweets in a blog post, so I’ve included them all, below. (I should note that I divided a few of the tweets into two for this list – where they contained more than one piece of advice and I wanted to use the different parts of the tweet in different parts of the presentation.)
In no particular order, here are the #careerpimping tweets:
- @KatieTT make a few big things count
- @KatieTT don’t wait for perfect
- @KatieTT it’s OK to make a mistake. Don’t get bogged down in detail.
- @KatieTT be bold, take risks, work with committees, but know how to make them work for you
- @KatieTT leading/managing is about sideways and upwards, not just down.
- @sofie_f be interested in what others in your team are doing and offer to help out. have a go at everything (or as much as possible)
- @sirexkat Best advice I got (for my flibbertygibbit ways) was “focus on the strategic few”. Challenge = identifying the strategic few
- @petahopkins or industry RT: @haikugirlOz: don’t be afraid to move to another State or Country to learn new things #careerpimping
- @katejf don’t be afraid to say ‘i don’t know’ and ask for help #careerpimping
- @katejf cultivate a pln wether it be online, offline or preferably both #careerpimping
- @sirexkat Work out your limits with dressed-up-ness, attitude of workmates and chance for creativity. Seek jobs that let u do that.
- @sirexkat Think “co-mentoriing”. You probably have more to offer, earlier in your career than you realise.
- @katejf don’t be afraid to move across country #careerpimping
- @haikugirlOz don’t be afraid to move to another State or Country to learn new things #careerpimping
- @haikugirlOz Informal mentoring and peer support has helped me… but also seek out training in leadership skills #careerpimping
- @sallysetsforth Be adventurous in exploring & trying new things. Nurture your own enthusiasm & opportunities will arise to share with others.
- @katejf volunteer for #alia #careerpimping
- @sallysetsforth Appreciate the efforts of those who train you, help you, support you, advise you – and let them know!
- @katejf don’t be afraid to suggest new ideas etc @ YPOW, just because you are new does not make your ideas any less valid #careerpimping
- @myleejoseph #careerpimping be generous = build a professional ecosystem to work and play in
- @myleejoseph #careerpimping be generous – mentor new libs, listen to experienced libs, encourage peer libs, volunteer, write, present
- @flexnib a well-reasoned clear argument is easier to listen to than a rant
- @zaana a side step is still a step, don’t be afraid to take risks #careerpimping
- @zaana don’t limit yourself to only searching for ‘library’ or ‘librarian’ jobs there are more worlds out there that <3 your skills
- @helenfreid Don’t be afraid to ask colleagues – librarians are the greatest sharers around #careerpimping
- @helenfreid Read and listen, all the time thinking can we use this/try this/take a risk #careerpimping
- @zaana ask for feedback, accept constructive criticism, be open to change. A good attitude is powerful #careerpimping
- @katejf learn how to network, use social media like twitter, get a mentor
- @haikugirlOz Share the love… if you admire someone or think they are doing a fabulous job tell them… we don’t do it enough #careerpimping
- @rockchicklib #careerpimping maybe work on non-traditional “librarian” skill sets that make you stand out – multimedia, web development, etc?
- @haikugirlOz A lot of issues can be resolved over a cup of tea/coffee with a colleague #careerpimping
- @haikugirlOz Don’t let fear stop you from taking risks. Be adventurous, be creative and proud of what we do #careerpimping
- @ranginui don’t forget to look outside the library sphere for influence, its a small world, outside has lots going on too
- @snailx know your audience and speak/dress to please
- @flexnib treat colleagues and staff as you would like to be treated. be brave and speak up (no one will thank you for whinging later)
- @haikugirlOz library/information world a small one… respect! #careerpimping
- @redevilib make sure you have at least one pair of red shoes #careerpimping #librarianswearredshoes
- @flexnib ignore the inner critic, surround yourself with constructive critics.
- @flexnib practice & do. dont wait, train yourself. keep learning
- @haikugirlOz get “social” – follow library peeps on Twitter, read blogs… network like there is no tomorrow #careerpimping
- @redevilib prepare for interviews like it’s the reference interview of your life. Scope, environmental scan, research, reference, present
- @sirexkat Follow your passion & develop your interests and all else will follow. Trust this. Don’t do things solely for career opportunity
- @snailx be confident and if you can’t, then fake it.
- @haikugirlOz further study opens doors… get a Masters degree it is worth it #careerpimping
- @sirexkat Be on time. Wash. Remember people u tread on on way up will get you on the way down.
- @sirexkat Say it if it is necessary. And only then
- @haikugirlOz publish… publish… publish #careerpimping #writeforincite #writearticles #givepresentations
- @haikugirlOz dress for success #developyourownstyle #careerpimping #libraries
- @NaomiDoessel write for Energise>Enthuse>Inspire. Volunteer for #ALIA. #careerpimping
- @MissSophieMac Be enthusiastic, passionate and find the positive in everything. Inspire others & communicate #careerpimping #lifepimping
- @flexnib look for opportunities, look at the bigger picture, engage with colleagues across sectors.
- @flexnib think Can Do, think “Yes… And..”
Have I mentioned how much I love my PLN?!
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