Maximize Your Value for a Successful Job Searching and Transitioning

-- Insights & tips from a new librarian

Min TongUniversity of Central FloridaCALA MW Annual Conference, 2010

About me….

2007, MLIS, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

2007- present, Reference/Instruction Librarian, University of Central Florida (UCF), Orlando, FL

Some facts about UCF

UCF is one of the 11 public state universities in FL

2009 Enrollment: 53, 644

12 campuses

UCF library collection: 1.8 million

What helped me land the current job…..

Library working experience during MLIS years

Positive & Confident Attitude (reflecting in the cover letter & during interview process)

Geological flexibility

I got the job, now what?.....

Be Adaptable

Be Open

Be Realistic

Be Perseverant

Be Proactive

If you are facing promotion/tenure like me…..

Promotion

Job

Scholarship

Services

A Successful Promotion Requires…

Data-driven research

Professional conference poster/presentation

Scholarly journal publication (field, peer-reviewed, etc.)

Scholarship consists of elements including….

Where to start?

Put ideas into action…

ACRL 2009, Seattle, WA

Put ideas into action…Contd.

FLA 2009, Orlando, FL

Put ideas into action…Contd.

Georgia Conference on Information Literacy 2009 Savannah, GA

Put ideas into action…Contd.

Tong, M., & Kisby, C.(2009). A Partnership approach to multi-campus library services. Collaborative Librarianship, 1(4), 133-144.

Lessons learned…

Start from something that you are confident to talk or write about

Leap before you think (occasionally)

Collaboration -- a “Must” for most new librarians

Accept the imperfection

All in all….

You have much more potential than you think you do. Maximize your value and potential and you will see the difference!