I always get the best advice from Project Runway’s Tim Gunn. Upon my graduation from library school, I was antsy to find a job right away. This did not happen for me, despite having prior experience in the field and a library technician’s diploma. Self pity would not have me for long, as Tim Gunn’s famous words lulled me into optimism: “Make it work, Katie, Tim Gunn would”. I pumped out resumes like mad, and did some library work for free. After moving back to Nova Scotia from Quebec, I spent six months in total on the job hunt before landing my first full-fledged librarian gig as an Outreach Services Librarian. Fast-forward one year and some change and I am in my second full-fledged librarian position with Capital Health as Librarian Educator.
In any new position, like most things in life, making it work isn’t an option, it’s a requirement. Starting a new job is daunting because you inherit a structure designed and used from a unique perspective. Below, I’ve come up with some tips for starting a new job and making it your own.
Respect the way things were done prior to your arrival, and change things slowly
A very smart lady once told me “don’t change anything for the first six months”. This is extremely solid advice. Upon starting my position as an Outreach Services Librarian I had inherited a restructured department, and a service that needed to be updated to be fiscally viable (bookmobile, books by mail, institutional deliveries). While it was tempting to want to change things immediately, it was clear that I could not do so without the trust and support of the people I worked with. I followed this advice, and although I was only in the position for about one year, I feel that the changes I slowly made were the practices that worked. Staff saw that they worked and these practices were kept.
Be organized and have a plan
Even though for roughly six months you should not change anything drastically, this does not mean that you can’t prepare for change and develop a guide for how it will take place. In my current position, I am working on an information literacy plan for the training and education program offered through the library to Capital Health staff. This allows me to currently work in the pre-established framework that had been set prior to my arrival, while at the same time developing a document and method for making it my own.
Use all of your knowledge and ask friends
Avoid the tendency to approach things from the sole perspective of the degree that got you the job. Maybe you have other degrees, diplomas, or life experiences that can aid you at work. I have a social science background, and it has helped me a great deal in planning/writing policies and using both qualitative and quantitative measures to test the success of changes and programs. I also use my friends as test subjects for my ideas. Talking with friends who have different professional perspectives can give you solutions you’d have never come up with on your own.
Squirrel away ideas
If you have ideas but it’s not the right time to bring them to the forefront, develop them in a document and file them away for a rainy day. You never know when a great opportunity will arise for you to use it. I’ve had several ideas in past jobs that I could not carry out for whatever reason, but I followed through with documenting the idea and planning it. Having this type of document in a portfolio for future interviews is never a bad idea either.
Be diplomatic
In any new job, you are entering a new microcosm of society for which you have no map or guide. Treat everything, including others’ opinions, neutrally. Your main goal is to make the position work for you, just as others’ goals are to make situations work for them. Treat your colleagues equally and remain diplomatic regarding past practices.
It can be very challenging to find a full-time job in your field and once you do the challenges just keep coming. Use every opportunity to your advantage, look at things in a new light, and above all else make it work!
Related Info: Bohyun Kim, a Digital Access Librarian at Florida International University Medical Library, has an interesting interview series with brand-new libraries at her blog Library Hat.
I’ll be at the brown bag lunch Thursday, February 10th, and I look forward to providing what insight I can and fielding any questions.