Thank you, thank you everyone! Your advice has been really helpful. The pep
talk will help me get through this period that feels like the equivalent of
practicing your scales (ugh) when you're first learning music. I want to play
real music, write my own songs, but I still have more drills
I would take yoga, because, in my experience, the most useful job
skill you can have is flexibility.
Every technology has a finite lifespan, but unfortunately like our own
lifespan, its term is usually impossible to forecast with accuracy.
For that reason, I would suggest that you try to take
] If you were starting over, what would you learn
and how would you do it?
On Fri, May 6, 2011 at 2:07 PM, Ceci Land cl...@library.msstate.edu
wrote:
How would you choose to develop your skills from baby level to
something useful to the profession?
I'd pretty much follow the plot of Batman
But having actual users is a really different mode of working: you have
to figure out what the problem is (often the hardest part of a project)
and if your solution actually solves the problem or not.
-Esme
Seconding Esme and several others. Technology work supports human
endeavor.
[mailto:CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf Of
Nate Vack
Sent: Friday, May 06, 2011 4:47 PM
To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU
Subject: Re: [CODE4LIB] If you were starting over, what would you learn
and how would you do it?
On Fri, May 6, 2011 at 2:07 PM, Ceci Land
wrote:
How would you choose
Dear Ceci,
From what you've said here (already done some OAI-PMH harvesting and
implementing a personal project as JSP), it sounds to me as if you're
light years ahead of most people in your situation. So my first bit of
advice to you is not to sell yourself short.
In addition to all of the
Ceci,
When I was getting my MLS, I tried to turn every class project into a
programming exercise whether for class or outside of it. I knew that I
wanted to be doing software development, so took every opportunity I
could find. For instance while I was in cataloging class I learned how
to parse
Hi Ceci,
I hope you don't interpret this as a glib throwaway, but the best
answer I've seen so far was blogged by Dan Chudnov a while back. Here
it is:
http://onebiglibrary.net/story/advice-to-a-library-school-student
Worth a read, IMO!
Best of luck to you,
-Mike
On Fri, May 6, 2011
Thanks Mike. That's exactly the straight up kind of answer I'm looking for. I
presently work in cataloging so I find myself really interested in what I'd
call the intersection of cataloging and systems work. But at my present
library, that intersection doesn't exist, the two worlds are kept
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
On May 6, 2011, at 3:11 PM, Michael J. Giarlo 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?
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
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
Ceci,
I'd honestly recommend just continuing to play, experiment and try
things. You don't mention programming/scripting in your initial post,
but I can promise you that it's at the core of the cat/sys intersection
you speak of.
There's a wealth of information out there on trying to start
Volunteer work can often be a good way to build your skill set on real
world problems without having to quit your day job. Since they aren't
paying gigs they usually are happy with entry level programmers. I've
used idealist.org in the past to find work.
M
On 05/06/2011 03:07 PM, Ceci Land
Here's my take on whether or not the projects are going to be useful
in job hunting. It's a bit of a gamble and honestly they may not. On
the other hand, I certainly would take a portfolio as a very good sign
of a candidate in my own hunts. But realistically, the job market's
just too wild at
On Fri, May 6, 2011 at 16:24, Jon Gorman jonathan.gor...@gmail.com wrote:
Here's my take on whether or not the projects are going to be useful
in job hunting. It's a bit of a gamble and honestly they may not. On
the other hand, I certainly would take a portfolio as a very good sign
of a
As others have just said, a portfolio may or may not matter.
The polished product isn't the issue, though. It's skills, principles
and knowledge you pick up while experimenting.
Whether or not you share a spare-time project with a potential employer,
having spent a bit of time on your own
Agreed: Patience, Elbow Grease, Trial and Error plus stick-to-it-itivenes (to
use a word from Seymour Skinner).
Mark
- Original Message -
Ceci,
I'd honestly recommend just continuing to play, experiment and try
things. You don't mention programming/scripting in your initial post,
Hi Ceci,
I have 3 project ideas twirling around in my head at the moment...
Do these spare-time projects get any respect from the real world
when it comes time to apply for a job?
Yes they do -- at least they do at the type of place you would probably want to
work. Over the years, I've
On Fri, May 6, 2011 at 1:17 PM, Gabriel Farrell gsf...@gmail.com wrote:
Spare-time projects definitely get respect.
They can make a monstrous difference. Most of the time, what you can
convince people you know is far more important than what your pedigree says.
Employers want to know what
Oh, and though this might be orthogonal, the most important part:
attend conferences like Code4Lib and make connections. I've met a few
of my employers throughout the years this way. Buying a round of
pints on occasion pays off.
-Mike
On Fri, May 6, 2011 at 2:07 PM, Ceci Land cl...@library.msstate.edu wrote:
How would you choose to develop your skills from baby level to something
useful to the profession?
I'd pretty much follow the plot of Batman Begins as closely as possible.
Wait, useful to *this* profession?
-n
Ceci-
I'll echo what others have said: spare time projects definitely count for me
when I'm looking at resumes, and they show initiative and genuine interest.
The one other thing I'd add is to encourage you to find underserved users,
either at work or in your personal life. When I was in your
That may apply to this profession, too. I've often been convinced that
someone in the c4l community *was* Batman.
On 5/6/2011 4:47 PM, Nate Vack wrote:
On Fri, May 6, 2011 at 2:07 PM, Ceci Landcl...@library.msstate.edu wrote:
How would you choose to develop your skills from baby level to
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