changing sectors – developing skills and experience by amanda poulton
DESCRIPTION
Amanda Poulton gave this presentation at the Career Development Group's National Conference 2011. The theme this year was : "The Practical Professional", Monday 21st November 2011TRANSCRIPT
CHANGING SECTORS – DEVELOPING SKILLS AND
EXPERIENCEAMANDA POULTON
ABOUT ME• Qualified in 1997• Chartered in 1999• Worked in three sectors
– NHS, Academic and Public• Involvement in a range of CILIP activities• Further qualifications
– Teaching , management and health & safety
WHY CONSIDER ALL SECTORS?
• Capitalizes on your skills• Develops a broader range of skills and
experience• Opportunity to work in wider variety of
work areas• Increases employability in an uncertain
job market• Keeps your professional life interesting
INTERESTED IN MOVING SECTOR?
• Research your target sector• Talk to contacts/follow Twitter people in your
target sector• Contact CILIP, a Special Interest Group e.g.
UC&R, PLG or HLG, or your local CILIP branch for advice
• Arrange to visit a local library in your target sector
• Consider work experience • Join an appropriate professional group
CROSS-SECTORAL JOB HUNTING
The role will include research enquiry work, current awareness, supplier liaison and
intranet development. We are looking for candidates with excellent communication
skills, capable of working flexibly and independently, and with excellent online and
general IT skills.
CROSS-SECTORAL JOB HUNTING
The role will include research enquiry work, current awareness, supplier liaison and
intranet development. We are looking for candidates with excellent communication
skills, capable of working flexibly and independently, and with excellent online and
general IT skills.
Commercial law firm
CROSS-SECTORAL JOB HUNTING
Candidates must have well developed verbal, written and communication
skills, with a flexible attitude, along with enthusiasm for delivering information
skills training and using ICT
CROSS-SECTORAL JOB HUNTING
Candidates must have well developed verbal, written and communication
skills, with a flexible attitude, along with enthusiasm for delivering information
skills training and using ICT.
Academic library
CROSS-SECTORAL JOB HUNTING
The successful applicant will be expected to actively promote the library service
and assist with the practical management of the library collections
including electronic resources and databases.
CROSS-SECTORAL JOB HUNTING
The successful applicant will be expected to actively promote the library service
and assist with the practical management of the library collections
including electronic resources and databases.
NHS Library
CROSS-SECTORAL JOB HUNTING
You will be experienced and enthusiastic with excellent
communication and IT skills enabling you to deliver a high quality service.
CROSS-SECTORAL JOB HUNTING
You will be experienced and enthusiastic with excellent
communication and IT skills enabling you to deliver a high quality service.
Public library
APPLYING FOR A JOB IN A NEW SECTOR
• Identify your skills• Match your skills to the Person Specification• Demonstrate how your experience gives you
the necessary skills• Consider how you can adapt your skills to meet
the needs of your target sector• Do you have a Unique Selling Point you can
bring to the sector?• Find out what the key priorities are for your
target sector
AT THE INTERVIEW
• Focus on your skills and how they can be applied to the sector
• Demonstrate you understand the sector by using appropriate examples– E.g. Reference to key issues
• Don’t overwhelm the panel with your research• Be prepared to explain why you wish to
change sector – Focus on the benefits of the new sector
SKILLS AUDIT• Carry out a skills audit• Identify skills needed from your research or by
studying job adverts in your sector• Match your skills and experience against the
skills required• Is there anything missing?
• Consider specific skills if you have a sector in mind
• Identify ways to fill in the gaps– E.g. Volunteering for a particular project– Training/qualification– Job shadowing– Work experience
Skills Audit for Sector Change – Current Skills
Skills/Competences/Experience List specific examplesConsider how you might
demonstrate application to another sector
Training/teaching skills Training the public how to use the Internet – demonstrates
ability to teach students how to find information
SKILLS AUDIT FOR SECTOR CHANGE – SKILLS TO
ACQUIRE Other professional
skills/experience neededHow might you acquire
these?
Liaison/negotiation skills (for liaison with academics)
Join a professional committee, get involved in a working party, work
shadow a subject librarian
KEEPING YOUR OPTIONS OPEN
• Maintain knowledge and awareness of developments in the sector you have left– Reading/Twitter– Professional involvement e.g. CILIP groups and
networking– Training and visits
• Maintain skills valued by the sector you have left• Consider how you might further develop your
transferable skills• This may not be possible in your new role so
consider other activities e.g. committee work
TRANSFERABLE SKILLS• Communication and negotiation skills• Enquiry skills• Staff management• Budget management• Collection development• Teaching/training• Marketing and promotion• IT skills• Team working• Problem solving• Planning and organising
CONTACT
Amanda PoultonAcademic Team Manager
(Learning and Skills Development)
De Montfort University
Twitter - @rangtang