by Leslie Zampetti
Change is inevitable - Darwin's take on the matter was adapt or die. Dying is not a usual consequence of not changing in career situations, but career death or stagnation can and does happen, even to the most talented and diligent workers. How do you start moving and shaking? Motivation, patience, and self-knowledge will all help jump-start your career - or keep it steadily cruising along. This article addresses how to keep moving: up, out, and around in your career.
Out
Out is what most librarians think of when they think of career changes. "I need to get a new job." Usually that means moving to a new organization, but that's not the only option. Out can also mean out of a stale reporting structure, out of a particular library environment (corporate to public, solo to non-solo, for example), or out of the profession entirely.
For easy comparison, let us assume out really does mean out: to a new organization. I have used the following job tips successfully for over seven years now. How successfully? Well, I had five jobs in three years before joining my current company. (The most recent four and a half years get addressed in Up and Around.) Before you get started on the practical business of starting a search for a new organization, though, remember one thing. Not getting a job or an interview does not mean you are not successful; it means that was not the job for you. Patience and persistence are the cardinal virtues of career changers everywhere. During my first job search out of college, I applied for several jobs with government agencies, only to see my applications fall into a seeming black hole. Two years later, after a Master's degree and moves to two different cities, I heard back from a few of the agencies, asking me to come in for interviews! This is an extreme example, but realizing that, like the wheels of justice, hiring processes turn very slowly, is important.
Job Hunting 101
Not ready to change organizations? Skip to the next section. Everyone else, here are some basic strategies which never fail to find outside opportunities.
Recruiters. Let someone else do the work: web sites like Monster.com, Careerbuilder.com, Headhunter.net, or any of the other job seeker sites let you post your resume for companies to find. (Do be sure to check their privacy policy!) Even better, human recruiters can do a better job of screening potential matches and there is less risk of your HR department turning up your posted resume. Not sure where to find a recruiter? Several target the library and information industry (see sidebar). Also, contact any temp agencies you may already use; many are willing to help you in your search for a permanent placement.
Job ads. Despite what you may have heard, newspapers aren't dead yet. Whether you use your local paper, association magazine, internet, or telephone job listings, looking at the want ads can only help. The conventional wisdom holds that the best jobs are never posted—but the conventional wisdom is often wrong. Besides, even if your dream job is not listed, a proactive approach never hurts!
Networking. If you only do one thing, network, network, network. This is how you find all those jobs that are never listed. Since networking is so important—and not just for moving out, but moving up or around—stay tuned.
High energy. Changing jobs is a full-time job in itself. The more energy and effort you put into your job search, the more opportunities you get.
Know yourself. Last, but never least, conduct a self-
assessment. Write your ideal job description. Take a career assessment test. Think hard about what you enjoy most in your job, as well as your least favorite responsibilities.
Set your priorities: Short commute? Better benefits? More pay? More or less responsibility? Development opportunities? Knowing what you really want from your job will make your job search much more efficient, as you can focus on the most desirable opportunities.
Up
Many of us learned early on that the way to success is to climb the ladder. (That depends on your definition of success—"know yourself" applies here too!) Climbing up in an organization can be daunting; often, it is easier to simply get the desired boost by getting another position elsewhere. Easier, but not necessarily better—being promoted means keeping the political and organizational goodwill you've built up in your job.
The usual assumption is that promotions are the responsibility of supervisors and upper management. Actually, the reverse is more likely to be true—an employee notices an opportunity, makes higher-ups aware of their accomplishments and suitability for the position, and then gets the promotion. In other words, keep your ear to the ground and toot your own horn! Another frequent occurrence is being given a desired promotion in an "acting" capacity, which is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your capability and credentials. Just be sure to set a definitive review date and have any promises regarding increased salary or benefits put in writing; you don't want to end up with increased responsibilities without the matching title, salary, and other perks.
As with moving out, networking plays a large part in moving up. Building relationships across your organization ensures that you not only get the latest and best strategic information, it also ensures that you have multiple advocates beyond your supervisor. When I first decided I wanted to expand my role from library management to knowledge management within my organization, I spoke with my direct supervisor at the time, who was mildly interested and supportive. However, I also spoke with our public relations manager, with whom I was friendly. Previously the assistant to our CEO, she realized he would be interested and was able to set up a direct meeting with him and other upper managers to introduce the concept. That informational meeting led to their recognition that I could contribute to our company's efforts at knowledge management and to my eventual promotion.
The new mantra for librarians in recent years has been, "Tie your efforts to your organization's mission." Repeat it, live it, be it. Being in sync with your organization's mission, goals, and objectives often leads to an awareness of strategic opportunities; changes in culture, goals, and strategies mean increased opportunities for internal growth. Frequent harbingers of opportunity include new organizational directions, outreach to new clients or communities, mergers, acquisitions, and spin-offs. Working for a non-profit or academic organization? These changes are happening more and more frequently in all areas, not only in the traditional "business world."
Around
Moving around seems to be a symptom of our new economy, as more and more people are choosing not to climb the corporate ladder or jump ship. Instead, they are choosing to move around—trying new roles, reporting structures, and even careers within their current organizations. Moving around combines the best of moving up with moving out in that you can keep the goodwill and seniority you have built up in your current position, plus you have all the excitement and opportunity of a new job.
I learned this after having been promoted to a management role. The old saying, "be careful what you ask for—you may get it," certainly applied to me. I got the promotion for which I had been working so hard—only to find that middle management is just that. After several years working primarily as a solo librarian, being caught in the middle between upper management and the library staff was not the place for me.
Having worked with the company's intranet since starting with the firm, I had become interested in applying web and other internet technologies to the provision of library services and knowledge management. As it became apparent that my position as a manager would leave little time for such projects, my frustration grew. Our director of technology's frustration was also growing, as all progress on the revamping of our intranet (a joint project) stalled due to our web developer's departure and subsequent lack of success in hiring another developer. One day while we were each griping about our respective frustrations, he joked that the solution to our problems was simple: I just had to switch from managing the libraries to developing our web sites and intranet.
I spent most of that evening wondering if he was serious—and if so, how could I make that leap? The next day, I proposed to him that I become our developer, provided I received any necessary training and kept my current salary and benefits. I also proposed that we promote one of the librarians to manager, as she was very qualified and this would fill the vacancy created. He was excited and very supportive; within a month, I had changed roles and embarked on a new path in my career.
My change in roles was a win-win situation for all involved: The company gained a developer and saved a great deal on recruiting fees; I gained job satisfaction and new challenges; and the libraries gained an excellent manager. His comment may seem like a lucky break, but the truth is, it's a good example of how to move around. As with moving up or out, networking is vital. Your colleagues may recognize strengths and skills you possess faster than you do; certainly, they can help you become aware of shifting opportunities in time to take advantage of them.
Another lesson learned from other moves is to know yourself. A good test is the three-six-nine test: have you learned anything new or taken on new challenges in the past three months? Six months? Nine months? If not, why not? The most common piece of advice heard at SLA conferences and other such events is to be proactive. This applies not only to our services and products, but to ourselves as well. Planning for new skills allows us to grow within our jobs and also to take advantage of future opportunities.
I've Moved, Now What?
Adjusting to change is usually difficult. The best advice I received in my career came from a fellow librarian who told me "what has changed can be changed again." It may be discouraging when we realize we have made a mistake in our career path, but it does not have to be the end of the line. Thinking positive is a cliché, but all clichés have some truth to them!
Staying focused on the positive and learning from all experiences gives us the resilience we need in these fast-moving times. We already have the skills we need in the information economy; it is time we put them to work for our own benefit. Ready to get moving?
For more information contact Leslie Zampetti at leslie.wood@paconsulting.com
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