NextGen: Where the Jobs Are
By Rachel Singer Gordon -- Library Journal, 07/15/2004
Let's go where the jobs are. How should NextGens prepare to move into management and other upper-level posts? How do we improve our attractiveness to search committees and recruiters? I'm not talking here about job-hunting in general but about developing the skills and gaining the experience that will make us desirable candidates for upper-level openings.
Voices from on highProfessional library higher-ups, who are not completely oblivious, have noticed the need to encourage "new leaders" and "new voices." Their advice, though, often seems designed to shoehorn up-and-comers into comfortable boxes (talking, for example, about "molding" future leaders and managers). They fail to focus either on giving NextGens the experience we need now or on building on our unique strengths.
Current administrators' views of the qualities needed by future leaders hang heavily on their own experiences moving up the ranks—in a much different environment. For example, a sense of humor, interpersonal skills, and commitment to explaining decisions are listed among other bottom-ranked personal leadership qualities in a May American Libraries article. This is how directors and assistant directors at larger academic and public institutions see it. Oddly enough, NextGens are frustrated by their current administrations' lack of just these types of qualities, which largely boil down to skill in building relationships and encouraging participation at all levels.
How will such molded leaders of the future deal with our own younger hires, who will rightly expect some change in the status quo? Why is no one asking our opinions about the leadership qualities of our current managers and how we will learn from both their positive and negative examples? But I digress….
Staying putOf course, some of us would rather have a root canal sans Novocain than go into library management. Whether you have a formal management title or not, you need to use these same skills when overseeing projects, working on teams, or riding herd on a group of overly sugared story time preschoolers.
Every NextGen will inevitably have occasion to lead. It is incumbent upon each of us to take on either formal or informal leadership positions in order to transform our institutions. If we want a say in the direction of our profession, we need to step up and be heard.
Movin' on upFor those of us who do want to advance or who recognize that your careers need a little push, there are a number of ways to gain the skills and attributes that will let us get ahead. April's column, for example ("Is Association Membership Worth It? " LJ 4/15/04, p. 56), discussed some pros and cons of association membership; one big pro for those who want to manage is the opportunity for résumé fodder. Associations large and small desperately need committee chairs, volunteers, and help on various projects. Jump in, hit the ground running, and get some experience to refer to when an interviewer asks about your leadership skills.
In your own institution, volunteer to spearhead a project, lead a team, or just quietly start taking care of what needs to be done. True story: in 1996 I started as an entry-level reference librarian in a public library that happened to be in desperate need of help with technology. In 1997, I started unofficially taking care of some of those technical issues. In 1998, I was promoted to computer services librarian, in 1999, to head of computer services. Being proactive can help any NextGen career.
Make a name for yourselfMake a conscious effort to build your name recognition, either locally or in the profession as a whole. Be willing to share your experiences, ideas, and skills, through presenting, leading workshops, or answering questions on email lists. Participate in local groups. Share handouts and program ideas. Create or contribute to newsletters. Write for the professional literature. Create an online library-related resource.
Active members of this profession, in whatever arena, show that they have the commitment and the enthusiasm to lead libraries of the future. The best way to move up is by moving forward, taking charge of our own careers. Avoid boxing yourself in; keep your options open, and hone the skills you will need to lead and to manage throughout your career.
| Author Information |
| Rachel Singer Gordon is webmaster of the library careers site Lisjobs.com and author of The Accidental Systems Librarian (Information Today, 2003) and The Librarian's Guide to Writing for Publication (Scarecrow, 2004). She is LJ's Computer Media columnist |
