A presentation given at the CPD25 career development day for library & information assistants: http://www.cpd25.ac.uk/index.php?option=com_jcalpro&Itemid=99999999&extmode=view&extid=577

2. Developing yourself for an ‘alternative’
career
Bethan Ruddock @bethanar
CPD25, Feb 2013
mimas.ac.uk

3. Bethan Ruddock
Content Development Officer,
Library and Archival Services,
Mimas,
University of Manchester
mimas.ac.uk

4. Bethan Ruddock
MCLIP
CILIP Mentor
Member, CILIP Future Skills Project Board
Board member, SLA Europe
SLA Europe ECCA 2009
SLA Rising Star 2010
Author, New Professional‟s Toolkit
mimas.ac.uk

5. What is an „alternative career‟?
Depends what you think of as traditional!
Can be:
• A traditional role in a non-traditional environment
• A non-traditional role in a traditional environment
• A non-traditional role in a non-traditional environment
Whatever it is, it will use your librarianly skills and knowledge – and
you might get to learn interesting new ones, too!
mimas.ac.uk

6. How did I get here? Mimas
Graduate Trainee, University of Manchester Library, 2006-7
MA Library & Information Studies, MMU, 2007-8
Copac Challenge Fund Officer, Mimas, 2008-9
Content Development Officer, Library & Archival Services, Mimas 2009-now
How did I get this job? I took a chance, and applied!
mimas.ac.uk
Image used under a CC licence from http://www.flickr.com/photos/wes2theg/2913960324/

7. What do I do?
Take in data from libraries & archives in the
UK, to make them searchable from a single interface.
My job includes:
• Communications
• Data handling (MARC, EAD)
• Data manipulation (XML, XSLT, json, javascript)
• Cataloguing knowledge (library & archival)
• Project management
• Teaching/training (archivists & archive students)
• Presenting
• Writing (articles, blogs, columns)
• Enquiry handling
• ...
Could I do most of these when I started? No!
mimas.ac.uk

8. My job requires me to be...
A good communicator
Teach & train
Technically literate
Enough to know what can and can‟t
be done, and work with programmers
Flexible
Work on different projects & need to
switch quickly
Willing to learn
Don‟t be scared of trying new things –
always ready to have a go
Proactive
I need to identify and take
opportunities
An expert
And willing to use that expertise
Image used under a CC licence from http://www.flickr.com/photos/jessicafoley/4270697958/ mimas.ac.uk

9. Finding an alternative career
• Decide what you want to do!
• Skills audit
• Write down everything you can
do!
• Think about:
• What can you do?
• What do you enjoy doing?
• How can you do more of the stuff
you enjoy?
Look at job adverts for jobs you‟d enjoy – CILIP Professional Knowledge & Skills
in 1/5/10 years time Base:
http://www.cilip.org.uk/jobs-
What skills/experience are they asking
careers/professional-knowledge-and-skills-
for?
base/pages/professional%20knowledge%2
What are you missing? Plan to fill gaps. 0and%20skills%20base.aspx (free to
members, or £25)
Image used under a CC licence from http://www.flickr.com/photos/squeakywheel/296747265
mimas.ac.uk

10. Finding an alternative career
• Look for jobs that use the skills you
identified in your skills audit
• Try different keywords
• Look in professional press for the
area/sector you‟re interested in
• Look beyond “librar*”
• Information
• Communication
• Research
• Training
• Data handling
• Outreach
• Support
• Metadata
Image used under a CC licence from http://www.flickr.com/photos/boliston/3966640589/ mimas.ac.uk

11. Applying for jobs
• Tailor your application to that job.
• Speak the language of the organisation
• Don‟t use librarian/info pro/sector jargon!
• Be explicit, not implicit.
• Don‟t expect them to make the
connections between your experience and
their needs – lay it out for them.
• Prepare to be Googled
• Have a good online reputation that
showcases your professional skills
• Be brave! A job application costs you
nothing, except a little time and effort, and the
rewards can be huge.
• Evidence doesn‟t just have to come from the
job
mimas.ac.uk
Image used under a CC licence from http://www.flickr.com/photos/timothygreigdotcom/4975771901/

12. How did I get here? Awards & Professional
Involvement
The power of the network!
Found out about the SLA Europe
ECCAs though my network
Expanded network
before/during/after conference
• Tweeting, blogging, talking!
Say „yes‟!
Images used under CC licence from
http://www.flickr.com/photos/benmurphyonline/6873894062/, http://www.flickr.com/p
hotos/joeshlabotnik/3584172834/, http://www.flickr.com/photos/renaissancechambar
a/4604071067/, http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyefruit/179553810/, http://www.flickr.co
m/photos/chrisjohnbeckett/5970945748/
mimas.ac.uk

13. Building your networks
• Good professional networks are
based on trust & respect
• Be generous – give and receive
• What can you do to help them?
• Make new contacts
• Talk to people at conferences –
attendees and vendors
• Online social networking can
make you more comfortable
approaching people
• You will often find out about jobs and
opportunities through word of
mouth, rather than adverts.
• Don‟t be scared of asking for help!
• People feel valued
mimas.ac.uk
Image used under a CC licence from http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobbygreg/168206195

14. How did I get here? New Professional‟s Toolkit
Share, care, dare
the work about to take
you do helping chances on
others in yourself &
their work others
mimas.ac.uk

15. Looking for something even more alternative?
How about a career in a related field? You could try
Archives
Teaching
Technology
Research
Publishing
Cultural heritage
Knowledge management
Communications
Community relations
mimas.ac.uk
Image used under a CC licence from http://www.flickr.com/photos/duncan/99863704/

16. So what do I do next?
Skills audit: think about what you can do and what you want to do
Look for job adverts – use the skills you‟ve identified as keywords
Identify skill gaps and think about how you can fill them
Create an online presence. Expand your network.
Make the most of what you do by sharing it – blog, put papers &
learning objects in repositories
And take time to appreciate what others share
Take a chance! Contact someone, apply for a job, volunteer for a
committee
And don‟t feel bad about asking for or offering help
mimas.ac.uk

17. bethan.ruddock@manchester.ac.uk
@bethanar
http://lisnewprofs.com
Sign outside Boise State University Library, from mimas.ac.uk
http://www.flickr.com/photos/travelinlibrarian/223839049/ 17