Interview Skills Workshop, Melbourne - September 2013

Earlier this month students and jobseekers looking to begin or further their careers gathered in Melbourne to hear Hugh Rundle, Tanya Bramley and Genevieve Ward share their valuable first-hand knowledge of the interviewing process, and what makes for successful job candidates in the highly competitive information management sector.

From Boroondara Library Service in Melbourne, Information Management and Kew Librarian Hugh Rundle outlined key points to remember when preparing for job interviews. While framed in a public libraries context, many of Hugh's keen observations and recommendations are just as relevant in other workplace settings.

Manager of the Swanston Library at RMIT University, Tanya Bramley detailed some of the qualities interview panels look for in prospective employees, particularly those seeking employment in the fast-paced academic library sector. She also highlighted the importance of research in interview preparation.

Genevieve Ward, career coach and director of The Good Life Careers consultancy, explained the various types of employment screening that jobseekers can expect to face, and how they can perform at their best in every situation. Genevieve drew on her years of experience in human resource management and recruitment to give some great tips on communication skills that get winning results.  

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Resume and Key Selection Criteria Workshop, Melbourne - August 2013

Last Wednesday night, information management students and graduates from around Melbourne gathered at RMIT University's Swanston Library to hear from leaders across libraries, archives and records agencies. The audience heard more about these dynamic environments and found out how to prepare resumes and selection criteria statements that will help them gain employment in their chosen sector.
Katherine Gallen from RMIT University Archives used industry case studies and her own career experiences to give students and jobseekers valuable tips on how to secure their first information management role.

Hugh Rundle from Boroondara Library Service outlined some of the career opportunities for students and jobseekers in the public library sector today. He also helped demystify position description statements, and gave advice on how to write responses to key selection criteria that get results.

Kim Tairi from Swinburne University of Technology Library gave valuable insights into current directions for academic libraries, and discussed the important role creativity has to play in their future. She also took a 'plain English' approach to what it takes to impress a selection panel when writing to key selection criteria.

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Interview skills workshop, Melbourne, 18 Sep

So your job application caught the eye of a future employer and you’ve secured an interview. Great! What now? How do you convince the interview panel that you’re the best person for the job? What do you need to prepare, and why?

Find out the answers to these questions and more at the ALIA New Graduates Group interview skills event. The experienced presenters for the night are:

• Genevieve Ward (The Good Life Careers) 
• Tanya Bramley (RMIT library) 
• Hugh Rundle (Boroondara library) 

Not only will you gain insights from established professionals from a range of backgrounds: you’ll also gain a certificate of participation, points in the ALIA PD Scheme, and a chance to chat to other library folk.

• When:  Wednesday 18th September 2013, 5:45pm for a 6pm start, finishing at approximately 7:30pm
• Where:  Seminar Room 1, RMIT University Swanston Library, Building 8, Level 5, 360 Swanston Street, Melbourne. (Map)
• Cost: $3 for ALIA members and students. $5 for non-ALIA members.
• RSVP: Please email patrick.splawa.neyman@gmail.com by 13th September (places are limited).
  Please let us know if you are a student, and if you’re an ALIA member, include your membership number in your reply.

Hope to see you there!

Victorian ALIA New Graduates Group Committee (Pat, Jenny, Susannah, and Nyss)

Image: Flickr / alexfrance (CC_BY_SA)

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Resume and key selection criteria workshop, Melbourne, 14 Aug

If you’re a library and information student or new graduate wanting some insight into how to put together a great application, this event is for you! Professional librarians wanting to brush up on the process are also most welcome.

Our experienced panel will provide you with their unique perspectives on these important documents, which could make you stand out from the crowd next time you apply for a job.

• Hugh Rundle (Boroondara library)
• Kim Tairi (Swinburne University of Technology library)
• Katherine Gallen (RMIT archives)

Not only will you gain insights from established professionals from a range of backgrounds: you’ll also gain a certificate of participation, points in the ALIA PD Scheme, and a chance to chat to other library folk.

• When:  Wednesday 14th August 2013, 5:45pm for a 6pm start, finishing at approximately 7:30pm
• Where:  Seminar Room 1, RMIT University Swanston Library, Building 8, Level 5, 360 Swanston Street, Melbourne. (Map)
• Cost: $3 for ALIA members and students. $5 for non-ALIA members.
• RSVP: Unfortunately this event is full - please email the below address if you'd like to RSVP in case a place opens up
  nyssa.parkes [at] gmail.com by Wednesday 7th August.
  Please let us know if you are a student, and if you’re an ALIA member, include your membership number in your reply.

Hope to see you there!

Victorian ALIA New Graduates Group Committee (Pat, Jenny, Susannah, and Nyss)

Save the date:  On 18th September we will also host a seminar on interview techniques. Same time, same place …

Image: Flickr / e_walk (CC BY-NC-SA)  

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23 Moble Things - Starting really soon!

Have you heard of the 23 things?  How about the 23 Mobile things?  This updated course is a great way of learning new skills, and new things about old skills. 

So what is the NZ/Australian Cohort for 23 Mobile Things all about?  Read on.

What are the 23 Mobile Things?

1. Twitter
2. Taking a photo with a mobile device:  Instagram / Flickr app / Snapchat
3. eMail on the move
4. Maps and checking in: Foursquare
5. Photos + Maps + Apps: Historypin / What was there / Sepia Town
6. Video: YouTube and screencasts
7. Communicate: Skype / Google Hangout
8. Calendar
9. QR codes
10. Social reading: RSS / Flipboard / Feedly / Goodreads / Pocket
11. Augmented reality: Layar
12. Games: Angry Birds / Wordfeud
13. Online identity: FaceBook and LinkedIn
14. Curating: Pinterest / Scoop.it / Tumblr
15. Adobe ID
16. eBooks and eBook apps: Project Gutenberg / Kindle / Overdrive / Bluefire / Kobo, etc.
17. Evernote and Zotero
18. Productivity tools: Doodle / Remember the Milk / Hackpad / any.do /  30/30
19. File sharing: Dropbox
20. Music: last.fm / Spotify
21. Voice interaction and recording
22. eResources vendor apps
23. Digital storytelling

You can view the 23 Mobile Things on the official blog here -http://23mobilethings.net/wpress/the-things/

What is this NZ/Australian cohort all about?

simple; it is just establishing a group of librarians in NZ and Australia who are keen to do the 23 Mobile Things at the same time. This cohort will give us mutual support and contact with each other so that we can learn together and keep each other motivated. Hopefully it will help you grow your own personal learning network (PLN) and have fun and great collaborations throughout the course!

Who can take part?

Anyone! This is not limited to New Professionals, but is open to anyone who would like to take part - whether newer or older to the profession. I have just put the contact form on the New Professionals blog as that is a place where I know many people will find it. We are creating another blog specifically for this NZ/Australian cohort that will be the hub of our conversations and connections. So please sign up and let's all learn from one another and have fun playing with mobile technologies! Over 250 people have signed up already; this is going to be such a fantastic group to be a part of :D  (It's mainly NZ'ers at the moment so come on Australian's sign up!)

What do I need to take part?

• Access to a mobile device (e.g. iPad, tablet, smart-phone, etc...) - if you don't have one yourself, you could borrow one or use the PC applications to understand the general principles.
• Time to dedicate to investigating the 23 things - it seems most people are keen to do 1 Thing a week so you can dedicate as much or as little time as you need to exploring that thing and engaging in chatting and collaborating with others on the course.
• Willingness to collaborate, experiment, and support each other - it's going to be fun!

How do I sign up?

So you're keen? Great! Here's what you have to do to get involved:

•  fill in the contact form on the blog
• vote in the poll for best time-frame for the course
• share the news with friends/colleagues

·         follow our twitter account @anz23mthings or the hashtag #anz23mthings

I'll be in touch as we create a blog as a hub for the group, a Facebook group (if you are keen) and organize some online real-time events such as Twitter chats and Google+ hangouts so that we can chat and collaborate. It will also give us an opportunity to put into practice what we have been learning!

We are hoping to start with Thing 1 the first week of May. If the course runs for six months (approximately 1 Thing a week), it will finish at the end of November. 

So what are you waiting for? Sign up today and we will be in touch again a bit closer to the date.

If you want more information please don't hesitate to email me (Kate) atmailto:skeetakate@gmail.com.nospam (take off the no spam) or on twitter at@katejf.

Abigail Willemse (NZ) and Kate Freedman (NGAC) (AUS)

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Officially launched!

So, it's Library and Information Week (or LIW) for 2010

As part of LIW, we have launched this blog as a means of communicating news of events, interactions, and issues related to the ALIA New Grads Group. You'll read correspondence from our regional counterparts, reflections on hotly-debated and emerging topics, and all the latest gossip on upcoming excitement in the library world.

For example:

Last night, an envoy of young new graduate librarians were seen lurking in the wings at the 3rd Annual Library and Information Careers Night. Another NGAC committee member was unfortunately absent in person, but present in two-metre-high splendour on an RMIT banner, and on the front of their course information leaflets. After an series of informative talks from Margie Anderson, Mary Manning, and Marion Slawson, these new grads were spotted seeking out the most "librariany" of the audience members, and encouraging them to join our professional ranks. They also raided the university tables for mints and caramels, followed by a swift getaway for beer, dumplings, and pink walls.

So, may I welcome you all to the New New Grad News Blog, and I look forward to many posts, and many more comments in the future!

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