Good things to learn, before you return: Public libraries
LIBRARY RETURNERS
by Ms Library Returner
3y ago
If you’ve taken a career break of two years plus, you’ll find that the traditional skillset of the public librarian has expanded. All the same, it’s unlikely to take you by surprise that part of that development has been in relation to information technology (IT), even if some of the tools that are being used at the moment may not have been part of the public librarian kit the last time you were in the workplace. Photo by Fas Khan on UnsplashDigital skills and public librarians Strong IT skills are closely aligned with the role of public librarians. Before lockdown, perhaps that affinity with ..read more
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Staying upbeat – how library returners can job search in the age of COVID-19
LIBRARY RETURNERS
by Ms Library Returner
4y ago
Those thinking of returning to library work in 2020 face the toughest job market. Unemployment figures are beginning to climb nationally. The uncertain situation in many libraries, the majority closed, operating a greatly reduced face-to-face service, staff redeployed into non-library roles or providing services via libraries from home sending unclear signals about whether organisations are going to be hiring anytime soon. While some information and library posts continued to be advertised throughout the crisis, this appears to have slowed down in line with recruitment in other sectors. Despit ..read more
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Guest post: Catherine Finch
LIBRARY RETURNERS
by Guest Blogger
4y ago
It’s a real pleasure to share the blog with good people who understand the highs and lows of being middle-aged, mid-career librarians, job searching in a highly competitive environment. I was thrilled when Catherine Finch, a fellow information professional, accepted my invitation to share their feelings about their job search with libraryreturners.com readers. I know you will too. Rejection hurts: the difficulty of finding high-quality, professional, part-time librarian jobs I had a rejection email this morning for a job interview I had last week. Photo by Steve Johnson on UnsplashIt was one ..read more
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Lesley: a three-month travel career break
LIBRARY RETURNERS
by Ms Library Returner
4y ago
This is the first in what I hope will be a series of guest posts. It is called Your Voices because it comprises library career break stories written by librarians for librarians. Each story in the collection features a career break, some a few months, others taking much longer periods of time. There are many different types of career break available. Follow the blog to hear about the various kinds. If you have a career break story to share, please do get in touch. Photo by William Hook on UnsplashIn this guest post, Lesley shares her experience on taking a three-month travel career break from ..read more
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Guest post: Jessie
LIBRARY RETURNERS
by Guest Blogger
4y ago
I was very pleased when fellow information professional, Jessie, accepted my invitation to write a blog about her personal experience of returning to work after having a career break. From connecting with Jessie on Twitter (@soyjessita), I knew that the piece would have direct relevance to libraryreturners.com readers, building as it does on previous blog discussions of part-time professional roles for librarians (see Rejection Hurts, for example). Jessie reflects openly and honestly about the way she chose to respond to circumstances. While a lack of opportunities at the right level has place ..read more
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Interview: Simon Burton
LIBRARY RETURNERS
by Ms Library Returner
4y ago
Have you considered turning to recruitment agencies on your path to career renewal? Or do those of us who have had a career break have little to gain from working with a recruiter? Simon Burton, Director of knowledge and information management recruitment agency CB Resourcing, agreed to be interviewed about the recruitment business and share this wisdom with library returner readers. It’s not surprising that Simon is favourably disposed to the work of recruitment agencies. However in this interview he describes exactly how having knowledgeable and supportive people guiding you through your jo ..read more
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Job shadowing and the career break candidate
LIBRARY RETURNERS
by Ms Library Returner
4y ago
I had my first taste of job shadowing recently so it seems entirely natural to write a quick post for the blog about the general benefits. I’ve written up an outline of my actual visit for the NLPN website and you are welcome to access that here. Photo by LinkedIn Sales Navigator on UnsplashWhat is job shadowing and who is it for? Job shadowing is where you spend some time with an individual who has a different job to you in order to learn about their job or some aspect of it. It is usually for students, those undertaking internships and/or gap year students. It can also be used to address the ..read more
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The many different types of library returner
LIBRARY RETURNERS
by Ms Library Returner
4y ago
What type of returner are you? Following a period of economic inactivity, many library returners will try to go back to the workplace. However as discussed in a recent blog post, significant personal and other hurdles may make this return less straightforward. Despite the considerable professional and / or managerial experience gained previously, the long period of absence stands as a hefty barrier to returning to a job or career at the level they were before. Are you a librarian who Changed career and found a completely different line of work? Does not work in traditional library role but use ..read more
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Returning librarian?
LIBRARY RETURNERS
by Ms Library Returner
4y ago
Re-examining your library and information career while on a career break Up until now there has been an expectation that library professionals taking a career break will want to return to information work after that break ends. After all, it is likely that before the break, they will have made quite an investment in the profession in terms of experience, qualifications, and the wide range of expertise and skills they gained. Few may go back to exactly the same job they had before. Many more will look to turn an aspect of their previous career into a different but similar paid role. They do thi ..read more
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Balancing summer @ libraryreturners.com
LIBRARY RETURNERS
by Ms Library Returner
4y ago
Unfinished business Recently I have researched subjects, organised information and prepared arguments for several blog posts. Photo by Anastasiia Ostapovych on UnsplashBut after reaching a certain point in the development process, I give up before I complete them – they’ve become too big, too unwieldy, they resemble a university course assignment rather than an article for a blog. Instead I save them, file them away for another day until life seems less busy, work seems less arduous. The hectic run up to the holidays I think this has something to do with the time of year.  Although I work in a ..read more
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