meeting the challenges of the ever-changing workplace: how to future-proof your skills

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MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF THE EVER-CHANGING WORKPLACE: how to future-proof your skills Laura Woods, Research & Information Officer, Brake @woodsiegirl #biall2014

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Presentation delivered at the BIALL conference in June 2014, on using transferable skills outside of the legal information sector.

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Page 1: Meeting the challenges of the ever-changing workplace: how to future-proof your skills

MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF THE EVER-CHANGING WORKPLACE: how to future-proof your skills

Laura Woods, Research & Information Officer, Brake

@woodsiegirl#biall2014

Page 2: Meeting the challenges of the ever-changing workplace: how to future-proof your skills

I am an imposter!I am not...A law librarianA librarianA knowledge managerAn information manager

...or am I?

Page 3: Meeting the challenges of the ever-changing workplace: how to future-proof your skills

Who am I?Former law librarian– Gray’s Inn 2007-08– Davies Arnold Cooper 2009-11– Addleshaw Goddard 2011-2012

Currently research and information officer for a small charity

Page 4: Meeting the challenges of the ever-changing workplace: how to future-proof your skills

About BrakeCampaigning road safety charitySupporting the victimsCampaigning for safer roadsEngaging with fleet and road safety

professionals

Page 5: Meeting the challenges of the ever-changing workplace: how to future-proof your skills

What I do at BrakeA bit of everything!Keep on top of road safety researchBuild a network of expert speakers/writers and

organisation case studiesResearch, write and edit guidance for employers,

police, and support literatureTalk to the media – written quotes and TV/radio

interviews

Page 6: Meeting the challenges of the ever-changing workplace: how to future-proof your skills

Am I a librarian?No! No resources to manage (print or

electronic), no information service either internally or externally.

Yes! I am an information professional – I produce and disseminate information and connect others with the knowledge they need.

Page 7: Meeting the challenges of the ever-changing workplace: how to future-proof your skills

What “traditional” jobs do I do?Abstracting and summarisingEvaluating information sources (CRAAP test)Tracking down open access publicationsReference interviewingWeb content managementOrganising and presenting information

Page 8: Meeting the challenges of the ever-changing workplace: how to future-proof your skills

How did I get here?Wanted to move to the charity sectorTraditional librarian jobs in charities are few and

far betweenLooked for jobs that would use my skills but

weren’t considered librarian jobs

Page 9: Meeting the challenges of the ever-changing workplace: how to future-proof your skills

Looking for jobsIdentified where to look– Charityjob.co.uk, Guardian jobs page, notifications

from individual organisationsIdentified keywords for the jobs I wanted– Information, communication, research, content,

editor, knowledge

Page 10: Meeting the challenges of the ever-changing workplace: how to future-proof your skills

Explaining myself at interviewMy interviewers weren’t librarians......hadn’t hired librarians......and weren’t looking to hire a librarian!I had to explain my skills and experience without

any of the shorthand I was used to.

Page 11: Meeting the challenges of the ever-changing workplace: how to future-proof your skills

Exercise: Taboo!Explain your job without using these words...

Library

Journals

Databases

SubscriptionsCurrent

awareness

Legislation

Case law

Enquiries

Research

Page 12: Meeting the challenges of the ever-changing workplace: how to future-proof your skills

What skills can you bring?The first step is knowing what you can doHow do your skills/experience match up to the

jobs you want to do?Skills audit – look at what you do and what skills

your job involves

Page 13: Meeting the challenges of the ever-changing workplace: how to future-proof your skills

Exercise: skills auditJob role Skills Where developed?

Build a network of expert speakers/writers

NetworkingKnowledge managementWritten and verbal communication

Attending law firm practice group meetingsProfessional qualificationProfessional networking

Research, write and edit guidance for fleets and support literature

Writing and editingSummarising complex infoLocating info from various sourcesEvaluating sources of info

Professional qualificationSummarising legal and business researchDeveloping practice group specialisation

Talk to the media Written and verbal communicationPresentation skillsMarketing

Running training sessionsSpeaking at professional eventsVolunteering with professional bodies

Page 14: Meeting the challenges of the ever-changing workplace: how to future-proof your skills

Exercise: skills auditWhat do you do in your job?– E.g. Tracking legislation progress

What skills does this involve?– E.g. Information literacy, knowledge of relevant

sources, summarising and presenting informationHow did you develop these skills?– E.g. In work, in volunteering roles, from

professional qualifications

Page 15: Meeting the challenges of the ever-changing workplace: how to future-proof your skills

Developing your skillsWhat do you want to do vs what can you do– What skills will you need for your next move?

Avenues for development– Can you develop within your current role?– Opportunities/funding for development?

Soft skills vs hard skills– Do you need to know how to do specific tasks? (e.g.

cataloguing)– Or do you need specific skills? (e.g. delivering training)

Page 16: Meeting the challenges of the ever-changing workplace: how to future-proof your skills

Finding your dream jobDifferent circumstances

– Are you actively looking?– or just lost your job and need a new one quickly?

What do you really want to do? What are your priorities?

– Job type– Organisation type– Hours– Location– Pay– Compromise?

Page 17: Meeting the challenges of the ever-changing workplace: how to future-proof your skills

In the job – proving yourselfHow do you introduce yourself to colleagues?– By your job title?– By what you do?

How do you explain what you do?

Page 18: Meeting the challenges of the ever-changing workplace: how to future-proof your skills

Exercise: Elevator pitchCome up with a one-sentence “pitch” to explain

your role and your skillsThink about the Taboo game from earlier – try

and avoid the same buzzwords!

Page 19: Meeting the challenges of the ever-changing workplace: how to future-proof your skills

My elevator pitchesI’m an expert in finding and evaluating

information, so we have the most accurate, robust evidence on which to base our work.

I connect the people who know things with the people who need to know them.

I’m immersed in road safety information so I know what information and developments we will need to act on.

Page 20: Meeting the challenges of the ever-changing workplace: how to future-proof your skills

In the job: finding new opportunitiesAlways look for where you can add valueWhat could be improved?– E.g. Is your intranet organised and structured

efficiently? – Is knowledge capture happening? – Are information laws being followed?

Don’t assume people will know to ask for your help – be nosey!

Page 21: Meeting the challenges of the ever-changing workplace: how to future-proof your skills

Sum upInformation professionals have a wide range of

skills...but not everyone knows this!Learn the organisation’s language and explain

what you do in their wordsAnalyse your skills – you can do more than you

think!Always look for opportunities to develop

Page 22: Meeting the challenges of the ever-changing workplace: how to future-proof your skills

Any questions?

Laura [email protected]@gmail.comhttp://www.slideshare.net/WoodsieGirl