Comments on: The wrong goal? http://openstacks.net/os/2008/04/20/the-wrong-goal/ Promoting information access and literacy for all. Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:08:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Connie Crosby http://openstacks.net/os/2008/04/20/the-wrong-goal/#comment-1480 Connie Crosby Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:15:22 +0000 http://openstacks.net/os/?p=622#comment-1480 You have correctly advised to have something to say before saying it--one needs to establish oneself (at least a little) in the career to have concrete things to relate to the profession, even if that experience is nominal to start. Mostly I say this because the blogging and the speaking and the writing on a national level do not translate into success or reward on the job unless you are Stephen Abram or Michael Stevens. The job success is its own separate pursuit that requires just as much care and attention. I have also learned that it doesn't matter how well known you are in the profession, if the people hiring you for that next job are not also in the same profession and been following your public career, they are going to have no idea who you are and it will be to little advantage. On the other hand, this is not to dissuade someone from stepping forward to inspire us all. I want to hear new voices! I want to hear from the next generation of librarians, and the next! Please, come forward and show us the passion that should be part of this profession. If you do, I promise my best to help you figure ways to translate that into job success, too. Because really, if you are seen as having expertise in the profession by most of you colleagues, it should translate into expertise on the job. You'd think. You have correctly advised to have something to say before saying it–one needs to establish oneself (at least a little) in the career to have concrete things to relate to the profession, even if that experience is nominal to start.

Mostly I say this because the blogging and the speaking and the writing on a national level do not translate into success or reward on the job unless you are Stephen Abram or Michael Stevens. The job success is its own separate pursuit that requires just as much care and attention.

I have also learned that it doesn’t matter how well known you are in the profession, if the people hiring you for that next job are not also in the same profession and been following your public career, they are going to have no idea who you are and it will be to little advantage.

On the other hand, this is not to dissuade someone from stepping forward to inspire us all. I want to hear new voices! I want to hear from the next generation of librarians, and the next! Please, come forward and show us the passion that should be part of this profession.

If you do, I promise my best to help you figure ways to translate that into job success, too. Because really, if you are seen as having expertise in the profession by most of you colleagues, it should translate into expertise on the job. You’d think.

]]> By: Meredith http://openstacks.net/os/2008/04/20/the-wrong-goal/#comment-1479 Meredith Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:23:38 +0000 http://openstacks.net/os/?p=622#comment-1479 Great post! Not only do I remember LIS Blogsource, but I remember how utterly thrilled I was to be mentioned in it back in late 2004 (shortly before you all hung up the towel). My experience was much like yours. I wrote and I wrote and then Jessamyn mentioned me and I got more readers, and then Dorothea mentioned me and I got even more readers, and the rest is history. I didn't know that I'd write a blog that people would want to read, but I think my posts on the so-called "librarian job shortage" and about my own frustrating job hunt really came at the right time. Very few people were writing about their job hunting experiences in an honest way, and I touched a chord. I remember after I got the job wondering if anyone would continue to read my blog. I'm glad folks stuck around. :) Great post! Not only do I remember LIS Blogsource, but I remember how utterly thrilled I was to be mentioned in it back in late 2004 (shortly before you all hung up the towel). My experience was much like yours. I wrote and I wrote and then Jessamyn mentioned me and I got more readers, and then Dorothea mentioned me and I got even more readers, and the rest is history. I didn’t know that I’d write a blog that people would want to read, but I think my posts on the so-called “librarian job shortage” and about my own frustrating job hunt really came at the right time. Very few people were writing about their job hunting experiences in an honest way, and I touched a chord. I remember after I got the job wondering if anyone would continue to read my blog. I’m glad folks stuck around. :)

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