After a few members of my PLN (personal learning network – ie; Twitter contacts and fellow library students) mentioned that they’d like to hear more about my professional development over the last year, I decided to present a lightning talk. I called it shameless self promotion, because frankly, those who are new to the industry don’t necessarily have a network of people to sing their praises for them. Who’s going to hire you or contact you if they don’t know you or understand where your interests lie?
We as a profession don’t always self-promote. Maybe we’re too modest. Maybe we’re too busy. Maybe, in this industry full of perfectionists, we don’t think we’re all that special. Whatever the case, professional development isn’t just about upskilling or taking classes. You need to get yourself out there, be involved, and let people know you’re ready to take on challenges! In less than three minutes, I presented an unrehearsed account of what I’d been up to in library land, and I included some suggestions for others to try in the coming months.
Here are the essentials:
- Professional development? You can do it!
- Use your strengths – writing? speaking? researching?
- Use your network and your PLN Blog, tweet, take part in online communities
- Go to events (professional AND social!) and library tours
- Submit to journals and InCite, enter contests, apply for funding – you never know!
- Keep track of what you do and what you learned, even if it’s just for yourself to see
- Find a mentor to get you on track and give you encouragement
- It’s all up to you! Be accountable for your own development.
Unconferences may seem like more fun than work, but they are definitely worthy of being included in your professional development. If you took the time and effort to come to Library Camp, you’re awesome! And if you presented, or shared something in a session, WOW! You are amazing!
I’m not saying you need to be conceited, but soon, you’ll be competing in the job market, and that’s no place to be modest about your skills and experiences. Start thinking about what makes you stand out, what you want to be known for, and what you can do to reach your personal and professional goals. And remember… it’s all up to you!
**originally blogged at Seeker. Finder. Reader.
I can hardly believe that I stood up in front of more than 100 people and spoke - enthusiastically, unrehearsed, with conviction - without backing down. After just one year in the LIS program, I've become more confident and self-assured. As an introvert, I've had to work at it, but it's been a very worthwhile journey. Now that I'm sure I'm on the right track professionally, it's becoming easier to put myself out there and give 100% to my new industry.
Adding to my bewilderment was the live-tweeting of my talk. If the tweets were any indication, self-promotion is a topic that new grads and library students are interested in, and I was inspiring them to consider investing in their own professional development. There was one naysayer who was following the tweets but wasn't present, and my tweeps immediately leapt to my defence, saying I was not "full of myself" but trying to present achievable tasks to shy students.
In the coming months, I'll continue to seek out opportunities to develop my public speaking skills. In particular, I'd like to grow more comfortable speaking to large groups, and also learn techniques for podcasting and video blogging. Attending a conference (or unconference) is ideal for networking, but it's not fiscally possible for everyone, so I hope the future of Australian conferences will include live-streaming. Getting involved in the conversation with Twitter is a great step forward, but if we're dreaming big, long-distance attendees should be able to see and hear the speakers in real time. I hope to present at a conference within a year of graduation, and the last thing I want to worry about is how I sound or look when I'm speaking.
