I've just submitted my bio for the New Librarians Symposium, where I'm delighted to say I've been invited to take part in the leadership panel.
As a relatively new graduate who does not occupy a job with any sort of impressive title, I've been forced to ask myself what "leadership" contributions I might be able to make, given that my co-panelists are an AUL, a previous chair of CAPAL, and someone who single-handedly turned the Canadian archival community into a rebel faction for a few years.
I guess you’ll have to attend to find out! Luckily, it’s free.
Malapit na naman ang pasukan sa mga estudyante. Buti na lang at teacher ako, kasi kapag bakasyon ang estudyante, bakasyon din kami. Kamusta na kayo? Na-enjoy niyo ba ang bakasyon?
Pangalawang taon ko na sa trabaho pagpasok ng June. Ang bilis ng panahon. Parang kelan lang January pa, tapos ngayon kalagitnaan na ng taon. Marami na ring nagsipagtapos noong March, at alam kong yung bakasyon na ito ay naging season for job hunting at pagbuo sa kanilang next step — from being a student to a young professional. Inaamin ko, napakahirap nung first year ko bilang isang teacher. Para kasing naninibago pa ako sa sistema. Dati pumapasok lang ako para mag-aral, ngayon pumapasok na ako para magturo. Dati, nanghihingi pa ako ng baon, ngayon, ako na ang nagbibigay ng baon sa mga pinsan ko. Dati, simple lang ang buhay — gising, pasok, uwi. Ngayon — gising, work, uwi, tulog, mapapanigipan mo yung work mo tapos bigla kang magigising, work na naman and the cycle goes on. Mga kabataan, I just want to share a point that I realized matapos ang isang madugong school year ng pagtuturo — na madadala mo ang iyong school habits sa workplace. Dadalhin mo iyan sa trabaho. Kaya ako nahirapang mag-adjust dahil ang utak ko ay nakasentro at nakafix pa sa buhay estudyante. Sa nakasanayang buhay for almost ten years. Payo ko sa mga gaya kong kabataan (kasama pa ako ah!), ayusin niyo itong areas na ito habang estudyante pa kayo para di kayo mahirapan sa pagtatransition sa workplace.
Teka lang kuya, ibig sabihin ba, pag sinunod namin ito, wala nang hassle ang aming transition from school to work? Sorry ha. Pero hindi. Hindi pwedeng walang hassles. Hindi pwedeng walang pains sa transition. What do I mean is that some of these hassles and pains can be minimized if not avoided. Talagang may transition.
So here are some of the things na I think dapat iayos na ninyo habang estudyante kayo. :)
Time Management. Tol, pag pumasok ka sa pagiging Young Pro, marami ka nang pera — wala ka namang oras. Sure yan. Blessed ako na ang work ko ay mula 7 am to 2:30 pm lang. Pero paano kung talagang yung mga bigating office work like 8 am to 5pm? Isa pa. Uso sa mga bagong hire sa trabaho na pressured siya sa mga bagay bagay kasi nag-aadjust siya. Kung dati, kaya niyang pakiusapan si teacher pag di nakapagpasa on time, sa trabaho, ibang usapan na. You must know how to use your time wisely habang estudyante ka pa lang. Promise. Madadala mo yan. My personal story in this is that dahil na rin sa pagiging sanguine-phlegmatic ko, suki ako ng “mamaya na” habit. Noong college ako, paborito ko ang adrenaline rush at kape. Bukas ipapasa, ngayon ang gawa. To cut the long story short, nakaraos sa kolehiyo. Pagdating sa trabaho, nadala ko ang aking “mamaya na” habit. Maya maya na lang, tambak na ang mga papel na kailangan kong checkan. Nag-mega adjust ako in terms of time management. Kaya sa inyo na estudyante pa lang, try na to manage your time. Three truths on time — it can’t be stopped, stored or stretched. Tatakbo siya relentlessly on. Ikaw ang mag-aadjust, and do it now. :)
Financial Management. Noong estudyante ka pa, wantusawa ka sa baon (lalo na kung “burgis” ka). Pag may project, lalapit lang kay Nanay. Sa thesis, lapit lang kay Daddy for money. Nakakapagpaload ka pa ng unlitext para kay “crush” (ayieee.) Pero isa ito sa mga kailangan niyo nang matutunan habang nasa estado pa lang kayo ng pagiging estudyante. To budget your money and to live within your means. Pag nagkatrabaho ka na, siyempre, pera mo na iyon. You earn your money. Cold cash. Anong gagawin mo? Lilibre mo ang lahat. Tapos you just realize you’re broke. Lapit ulit kay Nanay. Utang. Bayad. Vicious cycle. Kapag natuto tayo ng financial management habang nasa estudyante period pa lang tayo, mas magiging hassle free ang financial management kapag nasa workplace ka na. Unang una, habang estudyante ka pa lang, develop the spiritual discipline of tithing. Kasama iyan sa financial management. Kung sa maliit na pera pa lang na baon ay hindi ka pa nakakapagtithes, sure ako, struggle yan pag lumaki ang pera mo dahil sumasahod ka na. Promise, cross my heart! (Kasi dumaan ako diyan.) Habang estudyante ka pa lang din, magsimula ka nang mag-save at umiwas sa kakautang. Be faithful stewards while on your youth. :)
People Skills. Isa ito sa mga bagay na dapat ding madevelop ng isang estudyante. Kaya nga, may advantage ang nasa school ka rather home schooling. Kasi sa eskwelahan, nadedevelop mo ang iyong kakayanang makihalubilo sa iba. Ang mga extroverts naglalabasan. Ang mga introverts, kailangang makicope-up lalo na kapag may group activities and dynamics. Your abilities to reach out people will ultimately flourish in your student days. Mahihirapan ka sa workplace kung sa eskwelahan ka pa lang ay emo emo ka na at hindi nakikisama sa ibang tao. Kaiinisan ka palagi. Baka masabihan kang “walang pakikisama.” Isa rin sa laging ibinabandera dapat kapag ikaw ay nag-aapply ng trabaho is that you must be a good “team player.” Hindi lahat mapupunta sa business side, where ikaw ang may-ari. Kahit nga sa business kailangan din ng communication skills. Your people skills will enable you to survive the student days (lalo na kung friendly ka, malamang magsurvive ka through your friends) and ultimately in your workplace and in your life as well. No man is an island. No worker is a lone ranger. Lagi kang may kateam. Habang nasa estudyante mode ka pa lang, smile always. Be friendly and develop your people skills.
Integrity. One of the core values that a student must have is integrity. Hindi na to usapin ng skills but of character. Integrity is standing up for the truth no matter what the crowd says. You stand firm in your convictions and your beliefs. You know what is right and what is wrong, and most usually, integrity is developed by the child first and foremost, in the school. Opo, sa eskwelahan. Nadadala niya ang mga experiences mula sa bahay papunta sa eskwelahan, at ang eskwelahan ay may impluwensya rin na nadadala niya sa kanyang bahay — and when they grew up — until to their workplace. Mula sa simpleng pagkuha ng ballpen ng kaklase at hindi na pagsasauli hanggang sa pangongopya sa exams dahil gipit na at baka bumagsak ka, makakaapekto on your work attitudes. If the student did not develop integrity while he/she is a student, he/she would have a hard time at the workplace. Not just hard time kasi mapapagbintangan siya lagi sa work, pero yung mismong attitude niya. Pwede niyang dayain ang data ng accounting para magswak at walang nawawalang pera. Pwedeng iadjust niya ng kaunti ang grade ng bata para mapagbigyan ang magulang na binigyan siya ng cash noong Pasko. This rises and falls on integrity — the values of the heart that is mainly developed in the school. Isipin mo, 10 years ka mahigit sa school. Kung sa simula’t simula ay nakasanayan mo na ang isang bagay na ginagawa mo, mahihirapan ka nang baguhin ito dahil halos nakaimprenta na sa iyong sistema ang mga bagay na may sabit at mali, hanggang madala mo ito sa trabaho. Integrity is one of the core values that one must have in the student life that is very much essential sa workplace. Promise yan.
Culture of excellence. Isa pa ang excellence sa mga core values na dapat matutunan mo bilang estudyante pa lang bago ka makarating sa iyong dream job. Ako pa naman nung estudyante ako kasi member nga ng rush team ay may paboritong linya “Pwede na yan.” This phrase undermines what we can do. Mula sa pwede na yan, pwede naman kasi nating i-level up. Nagiging pwede na yan kasi wala nang oras. Pero kung mahaba-haba yung oras na ginawa mo iyan, magiging mas excellent ka pa. Kung noong estudyante ka, mahilig ka sa ganung liner, malamang hanggang work madala mo yan. Siguro, may mga 99% chance na madala mo iyan. In short, sure na sure. Pagpapasahin ng report ni boss, imbis na best, makagawa na lang. Nasanay kasi noong estudyante na maka-75 lang sapat na. If we will hone the culture of excellence inside of us, we will have a much meaningful work experience. Kaya habang estudyante ka pa lang, simulan mo nang maging excellent sa kahit anong ginagawa mo. Hindi dahil gusto mo ng mataas na grade, pero dahil you are called to be excellent and not a mediocre. Give your best to whatever you do. Tandaan mo, God gave his excellent sacrifice to save us, Jesus. We are creatures made by an Excellent God. :)
Five things that you should develop while you’re in the student life. Para madala mo sa trabaho iyan. Pag nadala mo sa trabaho yan, hindi ka mahihirapan masyadong mag-adjust. Before I end this, I can summarize all of the points in one single statement, habang estudyante ka, Honor God. Siguro ito na yung umbrella ng lahat ng iyan. If you put God IN THE CENTER of everything that you do (emphasize ko yung term na “in the center”, iba kasi kapag “si Lord ang number one” at si “Lord ang center”), everything else will follow. You will be faithful stewards of your 3T — Time, Talent and Treasure. You will cultivate the fruit of the Spirit, which in turn help you develop your integrity and excellence. If you truly honor and love God, it will reflect in how we do what we do, and this will give real essence and meaning on why we do what we do. :)
One thing, what you do today as a student — madadala mo sa trabaho. Dadalhin mo iyan sa trabaho. You decide now as a student, you will reap in the future. God bless kabataang pag-asa ng bayan!
Don King Ocampo Evangelista.
Nation Builder.
Leader.
God-lover.
Minister.
Forever in Him.
"You are an orchid. it takes a lot of time for orchids to grow and mature into the beautiful flowers they are. if you are in a place that isn't willing to feed you, love you, water you, give you space for sunlight, and sometimes replant you in spaces that help you continue to grow.... and you whither, shrivel, your pigments start to fade... then it's time. it's time to go. because you're precious and rare. and they need to cultivate you so you can grow more and plant new seeds. that's what you do for people like you."
contributed by a new professional, advice they received from a SSAO mentor. Beautiful advice! Thank you for sharing.
Is it career suicide to start looking for a new position a year after you start? ESPECIALLY as a new professional? I took the first job that was offered after grad school, and am miserable--my supervisor is less than incompetent, there is no real interest in change, and when they do ask for my opinion, I'm shot down before I even get my ideas out. What few transferable skills I could gain from this position cannot be honed anymore, and I feel I'm stagnating. How can I escape? Should I even try?
Sure, if you really can't grow any more - absolutely start looking for a new position. I'd personally hesitate to leave a position after less than a year, but after that - do what you need to do! You are the only one who knows what's best for you. Leaving a position after one year, especially when you are a new professional, is common enough that most people I know wouldn't consider it a red flag. (Of course, if you had a record of consistently leaving positions after one year or sooner - and they weren't designed as interim positions - it might be a different story.)
I'd recommend sticking around while you are searching for a new position - but don't be one of those people just going through the motions. You still need to be committed enough to do your job well. Otherwise, you're not doing anyone any favors and should just quit. You can choose to be open about the fact that you're searching, or not - whatever you're comfortable with.
In the meantime, are there additional responsibilities you can take on in your current position? Committees, projects with other departments, or other opportunities outside your typical day-to-day (but still close enough to do it during the work day) that will provide an opportunity for professional growth?
This is a great time to think about your professional goals and where you'd like to go next. Take the opportunity to have (private) conversations with mentors and friends to help you figure it out - if you're currently at point A, and you want to be at point B, how can you get there? Can you go directly there, or do you need to have more experience in C - or build connections along point D, or whatever else? Getting an outside opinion can be very helpful - whether it's someone you know well, or a career counselor or coach you're meeting for the first time.
You may also like this post from the archive, Knowing When to Fold 'Em.
What do others think? Should our writer take the leap, or tough it out another year or two?
Society for Scholarly Publishing Conference Travel Grant for students or new professionals 2012
Society for Scholarly Publishing (SSP) Conference Travel Grant Program
If you are a student in a publishing or library/information science
program, or have been working in this field for three years or less,
please consider applying for a grant to attend the SSP's Annual Meeting
(see details below). If you're not a potential candidate, but know
someone who is, please share this announcement with your
fellow-student, colleague, or protégé.
SSP's travel grant program has grants for up to ten successful
applicants. The awards will support travel to and attendance at SSP's
34rd Annual Meeting in Arlington, VA, and membership for 2012. The
travel grant program is designed to introduce students of publishing
and information science and early career publishing professionals to
the many educational and networking opportunities available at the
popular and informative SSP annual meeting.
Successful applicants will be granted free registration at the Annual
Meeting and will be eligible for reimbursement of up to $1,000 for
travel and lodging expenses incurred to attend the meeting.
Applications must be completed online (see the link to the online
form:
http://sspnet.org/Professional_Development/Travel_Grants/spage.aspx
The application deadline is March 18, 2012. Grant awardees will be
selected and notified by March 31, 2012.
The SSP Board has developed several supporting programs that will help
grant awardees optimize their experience. Awardees will be paired with
mentors who hold senior management positions within SSP member
organizations. Mentors will help grantees plug into the educational
and networking opportunities available at the Annual Meeting.
Additionally, the meeting program will offer several opportunities
designed to engage those who are relatively new to the industry.
SSP Annual Meeting May 30-June 1, 2012
The 34rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Scholarly Publishing will
be held at the Marriott Crystal Gateway, Arlington VA. This year's
program theme is "Social, Mobile, Agile, Global: Are You Ready?".
Join colleagues from around the world and get a step ahead of what's
happening in scholarly publishing!
Meeting Highlights Include:
* Opening Keynote Presentations:
How Social Media Might Transform Scholarly Publishing, by Dan Cohen,
Associate Professor, Department of History and Art History and
Director, Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media at George
Mason University;
The Business of Social and Mobile, by Larry Schwartz, co-founder and
President of Newstex
* Plenary Address:
The Rise of Networked Information, by Lee Rainie, Director of the Pew
Research Center's Internet & American Life Project
* Pre-meeting seminars, offering in-depth discussions and practical
advice on areas of interest.
* Concurrent sessions, presenting new ideas and cutting-edge
information on a range of important topics in scholarly publishing.
* Exhibitors' Marketplace, providing a central area to learn more
about new products, programs, services and solutions for your
scholarly publishing needs.
* Evening receptions, interactive lunches and many other networking
opportunities.
For more details of session abstracts, speakers, and hotel details,
see the SSP website at http://www.sspnet.org.
SSP is a dynamic membership organization, working to advance the
development of members through education and networking.
Marion E. Sparks Award for Professional Development to Attend SLA 2012
2012 Marion E. Sparks Award for Professional Development
The Chemistry Division of the Special Libraries Association (SLA) is sponsoring a student/new member travel award to defray the costs of attending the 2012 SLA Annual Meeting 15 -18 July at the McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. The award is intended to encourage the professional development of student members and new members of the Chemistry Division and encourage their participation in Chemistry Division activities.
TRAVEL AWARD: $1,500 stipend to attend the 2012 SLA Annual Conference. The winner will also receive a certificate of achievement and will be introduced at the Chemistry Division Business Meeting & Breakfast.
ELIGIBILITY: All student members of the SLA Chemistry Division and all new members of the SLA Chemistry Division (individuals who have joined since January 2011) are eligible. All applicants must have joined the SLA Chemistry Division by February 15, 2012. See below for how to join.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
Please submit the following:
-A brief essay that: a) clearly articulates your objectives for professional development; and b) indicates
what you hope to gain from attending the SLA Annual Meeting. Maximum length: 2 pages.
Registration in a Chemistry Division or other Continuing Education (CE) course is recommended, but not required.
DEADLINE: All applications for the award must be received by March 1, 2012 (all applicants must have joined the SLA Chemistry Division by February 15, 2012. The winner will be notified March 16, 2012. Essays will be judged by the SLA Chemistry Division Awards Committee.
HISTORY: The award is named to honor Marion E. Sparks, a chemistry librarian at the University of Illinois from 1913 until her death in 1929. Ms. Sparks contributed a great deal to the field of chemical information, her achievements include teaching courses on chemical information, and authoring and publishing what is argued to be the first book to formally address chemical literature and library instruction.
SUBMIT APPLICATION VIA EMAIL TO with a subject line of "Sparks Award Application":
Not a member of SLA? Use this link to join SLA: http://www.sla.org/content/membership/joinsla/index.cfm
When you join SLA, you can also join one division for free, additional divisions are $20/year.
Already an SLA member? To join the Chemistry Division either: 1) Download the SLA Change/Add Units form: http://www.sla.org/content/membership/unitchange.cfm and fax or mail it to SLA. Or 2) Call 1-703-647-4936 and pay with a credit card. When you join SLA, you can also join one division for free, additional divisions are $20/year.
Thing 15: Attending, presenting at and organising seminars, conferences and other events
As a graduate trainee, I only joined the profession late last year. I like to think I’ve made the most of the opportunities I’ve had throughout my traineeship, and have some idea of what I’d like to achieve during my masters degree. One of the things I’d like to achieve is both attending more events and organising them. First though, I’ll look at the events I’ve been to this year.
I attended:
the New Professionals Information Day in Newcastle – this came at a good time as I had only been in my job for a couple of weeks so didn’t really have much of a clue about the wider profession. It was good to be introduced to some of the issues that new professionals are involved in.
the New Professionals Conference in Manchester – I felt this was quite similar to the information day. By the time the conference came around, I was honestly a little sick of hearing that I should definitely have a blog, be on Twitter, market myself to the wider profession, etc. etc. These are things I have heard a lot throughout the year, I’m not entirely sure I agree with them, and I think it’s time to hear new something new. So for me the conference didn’t add anything in those areas. I did however really enjoy the presentation from the best paper winners, Katie Birkwood and Naomi Herbert. I thought it was original and gave me inspiration for the future (as well as wanting their jobs!). Overall the NPC was a mixed bag for me.
the LISNPN meetup in Leeds – great as it was very informal and a good opportunity to have a chat and a drink.
our University’s internal teaching conference – most of this went over my head, but it was good to see some of the issues in the wider University.
part of the ARLIS conference - I found the ARLIS conference particularly interesting as I got to see behind the scenes a little. I volunteered to assist at the conference and wrote some posts for the conference blog. I also got to chat to the exhibitors, and found the guys from Demco Interiors particularly nice (they have some great products, which I want for my house!).
Next steps:
In the next year I hope to attend more events, and maybe even submit a paper for the New Professionals Conference. One of my main interests though, is organising more events. It seems like in the north there is a dearth of professional events and training opportunities (despite the ones I’ve highlighted above!). So I’ve started talking to another librarian in the area who is also interested in events management about organising our own training/networking/information events.
One of the first things I’m doing is organising a meet up for trainees. As a graduate trainee I’ve found that there haven’t been any events aimed specifically at my level of knowledge. Luckily there are a number of trainees in my area, and we get together for dinner and chats to share experiences, which has been invaluable. I had a vague idea for us to pass this network along to our successors, and this is taking shape with a trainee event planned for October (details to follow!).
Other ideas we’ve had so far include a careers talk and an information session about working overseas (inspired by a librarian at Bradford University). Whilst these are in the ideas stage at the moment, I think we’re aiming to hold an event (or maybe more than one) before Christmas. Hopefully writing that on this blog will serve as motivation to really get these events off the ground – watch this space!
