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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Management - Moderator
, Member
Joined: 1/2/2008
Posts: 181
Points: 549
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
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In order to help those that are striving for management positions, I ask that those that are already in management share your career path. I will get the ball rolling. As of September of this past year I was promoted to Head of Reference for my library. It occurred less than 3 years after earning my MLIS, which is a couple years earlier than I could have imagined. Why did it happen, other than being in the right place at the right time? When I finished my MLIS I already had 10+ years as a student worker and a paraprofessional in an academic library. As a student worked that stayed my entire undergraduates years, I was assigned many project tasks including filling the role of an interim paraprofessional position as a transition occurred. I than moved on in the same organization as a paraprofessional and eventually transition into their Corporate Services Division, which meant working in a 2-person corporate library. It required me to be able to run the library when ever my boss was out for personal reasons or travel. It provided a real world training and mentorship opportunity that I believe accelerated my career advancement. What else did I do: Networking, including committee work & conference attendance Demonstrated ability to take a risk Looked for opportunities to be unique professionally Learned earlier on that management is about learning your personal leadership style and team philosophy
Alright guys, lets hear some more stories and advice!
Brian C. Gray Head of Reference & Engineering Librarian Kelvin Smith Library Case Western Reserve University http://blog.case.edu/bcg8bcg8@case.edu
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Member
Joined: 1/9/2008
Posts: 1
Points: 3
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
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Well, I cannot say I have had management experience because I haven't - but I have been trying for a couple of years now. I received my MLIS in 2003 and have worked in a library since I was a student at college, earning my Bachelor's degree. I actually changed jobs a couple of years ago, thinking I would have more opportunities for management experience, but every time a management position has come open, I get "you just don't have enough experience". It is frustrating because how am I to get the experience if no one will give me a chance?
Jamen
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Management - Moderator
, Member
Joined: 1/2/2008
Posts: 181
Points: 549
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
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I have been lucky to work for a couple organizations now that allowed people to take on progressively more responsibility from the non-management positions as a chance to improve and eventually prove myself. If you are not given these opportunities, you must propose them yourselves. Make suggestions, do research of what others have done, come up with a thorough plan, and hopefully you will be given a chance to try. The organizations that allow employees to take risks will be stronger manager and specifically LEADERS. Also, look for organizations that have mentoring programs, internal training programs, support outside educational opportunities, or offer smaller increments of advancement so you are given more opportunities.
Brian C. Gray Head of Reference & Engineering Librarian Kelvin Smith Library Case Western Reserve University http://blog.case.edu/bcg8bcg8@case.edu
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Member
Joined: 1/10/2008
Posts: 1
Points: 3
Location: Rochester, MN
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My experience with moving into management is that someone took a chance on me! I went from doing tech. support and training for a regional library system to becoming the manager of library services for a large hospital (and am now back as Assistant Director at the regional library system I'd left!) At that point, I hadn't had much management training, save for a course in library school. I think, in addition to what Brian has written, is to be able to look at the big picture. If you can provide a vision from the 10,000 ft. level while still appreciating "the trenches" that will allow you to move in management and leadership roles. Finally, bone up on the management and organizational development literature. A good way to discover this literature is to see what books are on your boss' desk or what articles he or she is reading. That can tell you so much right there (good OR bad.)
Michael Scott Assistant Director Southeastern Libraries Cooperating (SELCO) 2600 19th Avenue NW Rochester, MN 55901 mscott@selco.info
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Member
Joined: 1/5/2008
Posts: 3
Points: 9
Location: Casa Grande, Arizona
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I moved to increasingly responsible position by being in the right place at the right time. I've worked in some environments where no one wanted to take on a supervisory role and being able to step up was key. I tried to build experience managing others in every job I had before taking on my current position as Library Manager for the City of Casa Grande Public Library. A lot of moving up is getting someone to take a chance on you. If you are interested in moving up, let your boss know about it. Tell him or her that you want to be mentored and would like more opportunities to manage. Ask to be left in charge while they are away on vacation. Good organizations will typically want their managers to groom others to move up. It is commonly referred to as succession planning.
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Rank: Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 1/5/2008
Posts: 16
Points: 48
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I too was in the right place at the right time: working in a busy branch as a paraprofessional and an opening came up for assistant branch manager--actually there were two openings. I was 5 months away from my MLS and interviewed for both openings. I got the one at the branch at which I was already working.
If I had it to do over, I might have waited just a little bit longer. Working as a supervisor when you've been a peer before is filled with headaches.
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