Spare-time projects definitely get respect. You might also look into low-paying or volunteer freelance web development work for an organization with data management challenges. Schools, small businesses, and non-profits of all stripes can use your help, and in the process you'll pick up some skills.
On Fri, May 6, 2011 at 4:06 PM, Ceci Land <cl...@library.msstate.edu> wrote: > I like this. Maybe it's because it's what I was already thinking about > doing. I have 3 project ideas twirling around in my head at the moment. I > can't do them at work, but perhaps the systems department could give me a > dataset to play around with in my spare time. I already have a good dataset > for one of the projects that I harvested via OAI-PMH. > > Do these spare-time projects get any respect from the "real world" when it > comes time to apply for a job? ....particularly if you focus on really making > it as polished as possible (within the limitations of a non-work > environment)? I remember building my own darkroom as a teenager and doing > B&W and color slide and print processing. (yes, I still love the smell of D76 > and stop bath. I can bring up the smell purely from memory :) ). I did > manage to work for a while in photography because of my original personal > investment of time and energy into it as a hobby. I'm just concerned that > the things may not work that way any more. Life was not only slower paced > back then, but having an exact skill match wasn't required to get a foot in > the door. Plus, I'm no Mozart so it's not likely that I'll come up with > something uber creative or so nifty that it's used by a community at large. > But I do good technical work. I tinker...I make things "go". > > Thanks for the advice. I'm going to start playing with the projects I have > in mind. One is already done as a JSP, but I think I'll convert it to > something else and "clean up" the compromises I had to make to get it done in > a limited time. > > Ceci > > > >>> On 5/6/2011 at 2:31 PM, in message > <BANLkTi=jdvtmgs42dlmhe5+fqnn55kv...@mail.gmail.com>, Devon > <dec...@gmail.com> wrote: > > My answer to this question changes every time it gets asked. > > These days, my thinking is that focusing on skills/tools is backwards. > Instead, focus on a problems and solutions. Pick something you want to > do, then do it. Figure it all out on the way. If you don't know where > to start, build and deploy a simple website. Try a solution. If it > doesn't work, try a different solution. Keep trying. Don't be afraid > to toss all your work away and start over. Make the website more > complex as you go. Add a database. Switch the whole thing to jQuery. > Then switch to something else. Just keep going. > > /dev > > -- > Devon Smith > Consulting Software Engineer > OCLC Research > http://www.oclc.org/research/people/smith.htm > > On Fri, May 6, 2011 at 3:07 PM, Ceci Land <cl...@library.msstate.edu> wrote: >> Hello everyone. The recent thread asking people what they would like to >> learn if they had the time brought another question to my mind. If you were >> looking to get into "this side" of the profession, what would you recommend >> focusing on? >> >> IOW, suppose you were a current MLIS graduate student (that's me) who has a >> techy sort of inclination. But also assume that your current job as >> paraprofessional staff involves minimal computer skills, no programming or >> scripting and this situation will not ever change. Imagine that you've >> taken every programming and database class you can fit into your schedule, >> but you realize that course work will only take you slightly beyond a >> beginner level even if you make A's. (in an IS based program, not CS. I >> would have preferred the CS route, but work could not accommodate the >> class/lab time during the days) >> >> How would you choose to develop your skills from "baby" level to something >> useful to the profession? Will developing projects on your personal time >> and hosting them yourself be enough to get noticed when they day comes that >> you graduate with your shiny new diploma? What core skills would you choose >> to focus on? Would you give up a secure job with benefits to find an >> internship that could really challenge your programming, web development >> etc. skills? >> >> I see many people on this list with very strong skills, but in the job >> world, I don't see many 2nd string/entry level jobs that would allow someone >> to hone their skills to the level I often see here. I've been thinking that >> I should focus on further developing my abilities in: HTML/CSS of course, >> XML, XSLT, PHP, and MySQL (because they're all readily available for someone >> to play with despite not being employed in a systems department). It seems >> that anything I can learn about metadata transformations/crosswalks and RDF >> would be useful too. I also find some classification theories very >> compelling (ok, I admit that colon classification really got my attention in >> my first MLIS class) and found myself drawn to potentially being interested >> in taxonomies and controlled vocabulary. I know nothing about Drupal, but I >> wonder if I should include in my smorgasbord. How much is too much and >> where you y'all recommend I put my energy? >> >> Any advice is greatly appreciated. The more specific the better. :) >> Thx! >> > > > > -- > Sent from my GMail account. >
