by infonistaadmin | Oct 18, 2016 | Job Hunting, Networking
Yep, asking your network for job-hunting help can sometimes feel awkward.
But did you know that experts say less than one in three jobs results from an online application? That one statistic alone should quickly vault “reaching out to my community of colleagues” to the top of your job-hunting tactics list.
In order to give your outreach efforts (and your contacts) the best chance of actually being able to help you find a job, however, it’s important to do some prep work first.
Do these three things first
Before you send that first e-mail or make that first phone call request, you need to: (more…)
by infonistaadmin | Oct 11, 2016 | LIS Career Strategy, LIS Skills
If we peer into the future of LIS careers, are there indicators that might signal what types of LIS jobs are most at risk for being automated or taken over by smart machines? (See Will smart machines compete for LIS jobs for more background on this issue.)
Although automation is likely to impact different areas of LIS work in terms of when, and by how much, these changes disrupt our assumptions, authors Thomas Davenport and Julia Kirby suggest 10 job characteristics likely to result in worker replacement (or displacement) through automation in their Only Humans Need Apply: Winners and Losers in the Age of Smart Machines (HarperCollins, 2016).
Job characteristics that lend themselves to LIS job automation
According to the authors, the 10 job characteristics most likely to suggest it’s time to start watching your back are: (more…)
by infonistaadmin | Oct 3, 2016 | LIS Career Strategy
In my work with LIS students and practitioners throughout the country, we often focus on where the new jobs and career paths might be emerging – which is a smart, useful approach. But the corollary question, and especially important if you are considering building a specific LIS skill set, is where the disappearing jobs and career paths are likely to be.
Will automation affect LIS jobs? Without question. Perhaps a more realistic question to ask might be what aspects of LIS work are likely to be replaced by automation or robotic intelligence?
Because if recent studies are any guide, the question isn’t if automation will replace information work, but rather how soon, and by how much. (more…)
by infonistaadmin | Sep 27, 2016 | Job Hunting, Professional Branding
Yeah, yeah, yeah – you keep hearing that you should have at least a few recommendations from significant others (like previous bosses, not your spouse) on your LinkedIn profile page, but really – is it that important?
Actually yes, and the reason it is that important is a concept called “social proof” – which is when someone respected by others affirms your worth or value to them. In the same way you’ll try a new restaurant because your friend the foodie swears it’s terrific, social proof lets us substitute the judgment of a trusted friend, colleague, or professional for our own first-hand knowledge. Based on their (knowledgeable) judgment, we’ll give it a go.
Forms of social proof
In the online world, there are a number of ways to provide social proof. For example: (more…)
by infonistaadmin | Sep 20, 2016 | LinkedIn and Your Career, LIS Career Strategy, Professional Branding
In the old days, people would arrive for interviews with printed copies of letters of recommendation. Resumes would state “references available upon request.”
Now, however, as a jobseeker you have a much better and more effective way to showcase your strengths. When someone submits a recommendation for your LinkedIn profile, that recommendation can be seen 24/7, without you having to “present” it to an interviewer. (This is especially important when the majority of hiring managers will check out your LinkedIn profile before making a decision to interview you.)
Are LinkedIn endorsements and recommendations the same?
Not even close. (more…)
Yep, asking your network for job-hunting help can sometimes feel awkward.
