Rachel M.
About me
| Rachel M. | |
| English and Related Literature | |
| English | |
| Undergraduate | |
| Alcuin | |
| 2011 | |
| United Kingdom |
My employment
| Early Career Librarian | |
| An Oxford University College | |
| United Kingdom | |
| Library, museum and information services | |
| Medium-size business (50-249 employees) | |
| 2013 |
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A day in the life of a Early Career Librarian in the United Kingdom
Interested in a career as a library/information professional?
My career goals when I graduated
Completing my degree felt like such an all-consuming thing that it was a while before I actually began to articulate to myself the kinds of things I wanted from a career. I certainly wanted to do something that offered career progression but further study couldn't have been further from my mind!
My career history
Once I decided on librarianship I carried out voluntary work and was then successful in securing a graduate traineeship in an Oxford University college library. A maternity cover post in another Oxford University college followed, and then I stayed on in the newly-created Early Career Librarian post whilst studying long-distance for a Masters in Information and Library Studies. I am currently approaching the end of both the job and the degree.
What has helped my career to progress
A good, supportive employer. My boss also studied long-distance for her Masters and understands what it's like to juggle work and study. I have also had the opportunity to carry out a variety of tasks and to attend work-related training, meaning I have gained much experience and knowledge.
Courses taken since graduation
MA Information and Library Studies (long-distance through Aberystwyth University). An MA in Library and Information Studies is usually a requirement for more senior, higher-paid posts in the profession. The benefit of studying whilst working is that each informs the other.
I have attended all sorts of work-related training which has enabled me to increase my skills in and knowledge of the profession.
How my studies have helped my career
My BA in English and Related Literatures instilled in me the importance of a keen attention to detail, a passion for scrutinizing ambiguity, and the skill to approach texts critically. Librarians and information professionals don't just help you to find the right book, they are able to help you to evaluate and understand the information you are encountering. In a world of so-called 'alternative facts' this is an increasingly vital skill.
What surprised me about my career so far
The variety of library and information professional posts that exist, and in a variety of places, too.
Where I hope to be in 5 years
As my Early Career Librarian post is coming to an end I am in the process of exploring options for the future. I am particularly interested in positions in schools and health. Whatever I am doing the most important thing to me is job satisfaction.
My advice to students considering work
Spend time crafting your CVs and applications. Ask for work experience in the sectors you are interested in. In less-well funded sectors employers will always be grateful for an extra pair of hands in return for an insight into what they do. Have confidence in your knowledge and skills.
My advice about working in my industry
Don't be put off by boring or routine work at the start, but equally don't be afraid to move on/change direction if you don't think there's any hope of it getting more interesting.
Other advice
Don't be afraid of changing direction. Just because you might have spent a year or more of your life following one path does not mean you have to dedicate your life to it.
Contacting me
I am happy to answer questions from anyone considering a career as a library/information professional. I am also happy to mentor any student who thinks I have the knowledge and experience to help them to achieve their goals.
What I do
I am involved in all aspects of work in an academic library - user enquiries, user education (e.g. information literacy), cataloguing, management of journal subscriptions and, of course, shelving!
Skills I use and how I developed them
I have the kind of job where skills develop just because you are constantly employing them in your day-to-day work: a knowledge of available resources for students, speed of responding to user enquiries, cataloguing, etc.
What I like most
I am passionate about helping people to access information and helping them to approach information critically. I want to give students confidence in their own knowledge and abilities, a confidence that should lead them to be constantly evaluating the information they encounter. Just because information has been published does not mean it is beyond interrogation.
What I like least
There are some routine, administrative tasks that are not so exciting.
What surprised me most
The unwavering belief that librarians and information professionals have in their own value and the importance of the skills and expertise they have to offer.
Next steps...
If you like the look of Rachel’s profile, the next steps are down to you! You can send Rachel a message to find out more about their career journey. If you feel you would benefit from more in-depth conversations, ask Rachel to be your mentor.