Comments on: John Berry & Sarah Dribin on Experience http://tametheweb.com/2008/05/29/john-berry-sarah-dribin-on-experience/ Libraries, Technology and People Sat, 10 Jan 2009 03:26:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Richard Anderson http://tametheweb.com/2008/05/29/john-berry-sarah-dribin-on-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-4637 Richard Anderson Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:25:25 +0000 http://tametheweb.com/?p=2940#comment-4637 After getting my MLIS from Dominican University in 04 at the age of 25 I immediately joined the Peace Corps where I got the necessary experience for my current job as a school librarian in an international school. It was by chance that my two year stint as a volunteer involved libraries and technology, but it paid off considerably as six months before returning home I was hired via a mobile phone interview from Nanga-Eboko, Cameroon. After getting my MLIS from Dominican University in 04 at the age of 25 I immediately joined the Peace Corps where I got the necessary experience for my current job as a school librarian in an international school. It was by chance that my two year stint as a volunteer involved libraries and technology, but it paid off considerably as six months before returning home I was hired via a mobile phone interview from Nanga-Eboko, Cameroon.

]]> By: pollyalida http://tametheweb.com/2008/05/29/john-berry-sarah-dribin-on-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-4300 pollyalida Thu, 29 May 2008 22:29:06 +0000 http://tametheweb.com/?p=2940#comment-4300 I've been lucky, I haven't heard the "we tried it, it didn't work" too many times. And I hope I'm not guilty of having said it myself, though I probably have. Here's what I promise to say the next time I have the opportunity: "When we tried it before, it wasn't a great success. Here's why we think it didn't work. What's your take? How can we do better? Let's try again." As for the "experience required" job descriptions, my empathy for job seekers. The job announcements said the same thing 30 years ago when I was a new grad with zilcho experience. I used the old trick of translating every volunteer, part time and summer job into skills that could be used in a library, got points from some places just for creativity. At the very least, it got me in the door. I think the other "e" words - energy and enthusiasm - are more important. I’ve been lucky, I haven’t heard the “we tried it, it didn’t work” too many times. And I hope I’m not guilty of having said it myself, though I probably have. Here’s what I promise to say the next time I have the opportunity: “When we tried it before, it wasn’t a great success. Here’s why we think it didn’t work. What’s your take? How can we do better? Let’s try again.”

As for the “experience required” job descriptions, my empathy for job seekers. The job announcements said the same thing 30 years ago when I was a new grad with zilcho experience. I used the old trick of translating every volunteer, part time and summer job into skills that could be used in a library, got points from some places just for creativity. At the very least, it got me in the door. I think the other “e” words - energy and enthusiasm - are more important.

]]> By: Melissa Dessent http://tametheweb.com/2008/05/29/john-berry-sarah-dribin-on-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-4296 Melissa Dessent Thu, 29 May 2008 21:48:07 +0000 http://tametheweb.com/?p=2940#comment-4296 I'm a newer student at Dominican and am really worried about the experience factor for when I graduate. I have over 20 years worth of work experience in many different types of settings and jobs, but can't get even a part-time page job at a library. I have no idea what I'm going to do when I graduate if I can't get a job in my new field. I’m a newer student at Dominican and am really worried about the experience factor for when I graduate. I have over 20 years worth of work experience in many different types of settings and jobs, but can’t get even a part-time page job at a library. I have no idea what I’m going to do when I graduate if I can’t get a job in my new field.

]]> By: Brian Kenney http://tametheweb.com/2008/05/29/john-berry-sarah-dribin-on-experience/comment-page-1/#comment-4283 Brian Kenney Thu, 29 May 2008 19:56:42 +0000 http://tametheweb.com/?p=2940#comment-4283 When John Berry is right (which is, ok, a lot of the time) he really gets it right. Thanks for posting this Michael, that highlighted quotation is so true! I think the emphasis on experience in so many library job ads is just code for "please don't make us think." When John Berry is right (which is, ok, a lot of the time) he really gets it right. Thanks for posting this Michael, that highlighted quotation is so true! I think the emphasis on experience in so many library job ads is just code for “please don’t make us think.”

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