I’ve been thinking for some time about moving back to the branches to do a different kind of librarianship. I haven’t got a lot of experience (two and a half years in this job, a few more months in other jobs in the same system, a year before that in another professional position. Not much compared to many.) and practically no managerial experience.
Librarian jobs in this system go by number - there’s an ass-ton of Librarian 1’s, precious few 2’s, and even fewer 3’s, which are branch managers and such. (There are higher ones, but that’s not what we’re talking about here - that’s promotion out of the cockpit.) A week ago I applied for a 2 position, which is not out of the realm of possibility. However, with my lack of experience and being as I’m not in a branch now (there’s a bit of tension between main and the branches) I doubt I’ll get it. The preponderance of 1’s means that there are tons of extremely experienced people at that level - most librarians live and die without ever advancing, although of course not all of them would ever want to. So the 2 is unlikely but not at all out of the realm of possibility for me.
Well, now I look and there’s an opening for a 3, a branch manager (at a smaller branch.) I can’t imagine they’d ever hire me for it, but what if they did? It’d be a huge challenge, but not one that I wouldn’t welcome. And I’ve been told by one of the people in extension services that if you want to get somewhere, you need to apply for stuff and get noticed.
But, I mean, really? Aren’t they going to laugh at me? I’m 28 years old. I’d quite possibly be the youngest librarian in the branch. (I’m the second youngest librarian in all of the main library, I think, and that’s a lot of people.) I feel really conflicted about the whole thing - I mean, I think that’s what I want, but what if it’s not? What if I get it and fail? What if I don’t get it and applying hurts my chances with other jobs because they think I’m laughably overestimating my ability and experience?
Interviewing is a two way street. Unless you’re an excellent bullshit artist, if they don’t feel you’re qualified, then they won’t put you in that slot.
What I would do during the interview is ask what experience they’re looking for, what the job entails, etc, so you’ll know what to work towards.
Do you honestly believe you can do the job? If you do, then my advice before holds. And when I say honestly, I mean just that. I don’t know you well enough to know if you have self confidence issues or the like but be honest with yourself about your capabilities.
And don’t let your age hold you back, being younger than the average shouldn’t even be entering your thinking here. If you’re up to the job…you are. At 28, 38, 48 or whatever.
I’ve made such applications a couple of times. Once worked and once not, but it put me on the short list for the next opening, so I was asked to interview for that one before it was posted.
Two things many people don’t realize: If you are a good employee, others in the company want to please you. On the other hand, they won’t know what sort of thing would please you unless you bring it up.
Why? I’ve worked for managers of all ages who managed people of all ages. Age differences will usually only become an issue if you allow them to become so.
Ugh, I just found out that my evil ex-best-friend is on the staff list at that branch. (She must be there part time, as I know she works full time at another system.) Pardon me as I barf.
I’d rather manage a million opinionated grandmas than one evil she-thing. Kind of makes me REALLY want to get the job so she sees me being a bright up-and-comer while she continues to suck the goat ass (and, I might add, last time I saw her she’d gotten so fat.)
The thing is, I don’t know if I can do the job. I want to, I think, but I’ve just never been in a situation to find out. I’ve never managed anybody. I’m senior staff one night, but that’s hardly the same thing. Also, I struggle with self-motivation - if I’m the boss, would I be better?
Whatever happens, this gives you an opportunity to meet with people who can guide you in the direction of what skills you need to work on before becoming a manager. If they don’t hire you this time around, a reasonable question would be, “What experiences and skillsets should I be developing now in order to be a better fit for this type of position in the future?”
It’s not applicable in the case for your current application, but my advice to people who want to be promoted in to selectively volunteer for projects (think short term, if possible, so you don’t get overwhelmed) which give you experience in the areas you need for the promotion.
If you do well on the projects, the organization will be happier about putting you in a higher slot.
Go for it.
I applied for a job several levels above the one I had purely for the experience of going through the testing and interview process at that level. And damned if I didn’t get it.
Good! Glad you applied. The worst thing that can happen is you’re doing the exact same thing you are now. The best thing is you get to be a level 3 gangsta! Good luck. Let us know what happens.
I don’t play D&D, but a Level 3 Librarian sounds like it would whoop all kinds of ass!
Eh, it’s not as cool as you think. Books, books, books; when do we get to kill something? Oh, look. Another mysterious book has arrived with no return info. Whatever could it be? :rolleyes:
Hah, if only that’s what it was like! Actually, with a level 3 librarian, you have paperwork paperwork paperwork screaming patron paperwork vomit paperwork lawsuit.
Good luck! I know in my particular field (Transit) I’m currently working in the ‘Operator’ pool, which you need to be in order to get hired internally for other positions. Most of them have set requirements (Vehicle Operator for 2+ years, 2 years w/o chargable accidents, etc) but my own plan is once I fulfill those requirements to agressively apply for better positions, even if they are a stretch.
Why? Because I never know if I’m the most qualified at the time. My job has a lot of employees, but I’ll never know unless I try. I just got the job and its not like I hate what I’m currently doing, but it would be nice to have a change of surroundings (and pay :D) every other year or so.
Allow me to second that. Most of my employees are old enough to be my mother, and only one (of twenty six) is actually younger than I am.
If you’re good at your job, youth should actually be one of your selling points in your interview: a hiring manager may look at you as someone with more energy/fewer family commitments/ greater ability to be molded in a management position.
What’ve you got to lose, really?
I’ve never been a manager, per se, but I have been “in charge” of making sure the construction at explosives testing sites proceeded as planned. Although I wasn’t technically in a supervisory position, I was the only one on site who knew what needed to be done, although I didn’t necessarily know the best way to do it. A lot of these guys had been working there longer than I had been alive!
Some of the workers were happy to work with me. My favorite was a guy who was trying to become a certified crane operator. He asked me a question about trig just about every time he saw me*, and we taught each other a lot within our areas of expertise. Another favorite was a guy who asked a question of my boss, which I answered. I was told to shut my mouth unless I was spoken to, and a short but heated argument ensued. He reported me to the big boss, and we were both eventually called into the office and given verbal warnings. In the end, we ended up truly respecting each other.
My point is that some people will try to make age and seniority an issue, but with a bit of confidence and professionalism, these “special challenges” aren’t any more difficult than any other aspect of the job. My direct boss was only 26 or so, but he had more respect out in the field than many older engineers, simply because of the way he projected himself, and the respect he showed to those he was the boss of.
Good luck in getting the position, I’m sure you’ll do well!
*I made sure to teach him Some Old Hippy Caught Another Hippy Tripping On Acid, among other gems.
PS to Zsofia: I start the MSF (Motorcycle Safety Foundation) course tomorrow, It’s a three day, 14 hour deal, so I’ll be sure to tell you how it goes.
Good luck. Let us know what happens.