Your Essential Guide to Career Success (2nd edition)

Citation

Turner, R. (2004), "Your Essential Guide to Career Success (2nd edition)", New Library World, Vol. 105 No. 5/6, pp. 233-234. https://doi.org/10.1108/03074800410536685

Four years on from the first edition of Your Essential Guide to Career Success comes a timely and thorough update from Pantry and Griffiths. In that time the economy and job market have obviously changed fundamentally.

Each chapter clearly states its aims in bulletin points and there is a natural flow through the various aspects of employment that are covered. At the end of the chapter there is a similarly lucid and concise summary.

The opening chapter is an overview of the employment market, considering the concept of a “job for life” and the expansion of information work to different sectors of the economy. An interesting discussion is about working in a different country, with case studies of Canada, the USA and France. However, the strongest emphasis is on the need for continuing professional development.

From the general, this study proceeds to the individual's career plan and how to start a career in library and information work. Again there is a strong emphasis on continuing professional development, stressing the roles of professional bodies and the often overlooked strategy of professional mentoring.

Further chapters consider actually applying for a job, interview techniques and getting feedback from interviews. An interesting section within this practical advice looks at promotion both within and beyond your current organisation. The CV section is probably familiar to many readers, but I have to confess that I did still write curriculum vitae at the top of mine until I read the authors’ advice here about not doing so.

Throughout the work Pantry and Griffiths also state that the employee should always look for positions that interest and motivate them. It is easy to fall into the situation where a job appears, especially within the organisation where you work, some people feel almost obliged to, or are expected to, apply for it. The authors urge you to question where you would like to be in three, five or even ten years time, and the importance of getting the work‐life balance right, which is no mean feat.

Other factors considered in Your Essential Guide to Career Success are trends in pay, returning to work after a break, flexible working and considerations of the whole package, such as holiday entitlement.

The concluding chapter is a fascinating insight into individual career case studies. Each of the four professionals was asked the same questions about how their career has panned out and draws on the lessons learned. Pat Gallaher explains her move from laboratory technician in Sheffield, UK, to working in public libraries in Australia; Irja Laamanen describes her path from qualified geneticist to health librarian; an anonymous information specialist from the USA offers a candid consideration of the information profession; finally, Jan Parry gives an entertaining and informative history of her progression to being a performance and change manager at the Home Office.

A very useful appendix covers typical questions on an application form and the common errors in completing an application. A further appendix creates a possible CV for a library or information professional, with guidance notes on each part.

An excellent bibliography and adequate index round off what is certainly an essential read for anyone looking for a first career job in library or information science, and also for the more seasoned veteran looking to take the next step.