As a young information professional, I understand the eagerness of other newly minted librarians to jump right into their first professional positions. Unfortunately, for a field that likes to highlight the impending librarian shortage, little is actually done to bring these new professionals on board. Many hiring managers tend to focus on the lack of experience instead of the innovative ideas and potential that these applicants can bring to their organizations.
In order to help hiring managers better understand the strengths of the new professional, I wrote an article about it for Information Outlook last year. In short, here are five strengths of the young, new professional:
- Experience and comfort with technology
- Eagerness and energy
- Interest in professional growth
- Flexible schedules
- Innovative thinking
For those of you responsible for hiring at your organization, I encourage you to read my article and give that new librarian’s resume a second look. Their addition to your organization may be one of the best hiring decisions you’ll ever make.