http://tenured-radical.blogspot.com/2011... "The Social Network: Or; Does Networking Really Matter To An Academic Career?" ... I think the part about networking making you more effective at the job you have, not necessarily getting you jobs you don't have, is true for libraries as well.
Angel R. Rivera
liked this
LSW convos have made me better at my job, fo sho.
- Aaron the Librarian
i am nothing without my network.
- jambina
If the State of New York up and goes insane and I lose my job next month, it's my network that's gonna find me another one.
- Jenica
Jenica, I have to disagree. It's your record of success that would find you another job. Your network would help get other people to pay attention to your record of success.
- Mark Kille
I'd go insane without my network.
- Mary Carmen
But, Mark, I think that's the same thing -- if no one's paying attention, my record of success doesn't mean anything!
- Jenica
Your social networks work the same way both digitally and analog. They help you do what you do better and can help you get the inside track on another job if necessary. And if you consult on the side like I do, social networking is the only great way to get clients who not only know you but trust your judgment and skill.
- ♫Maurice the Dolphin♫
A record of success with few people knowing about it is better than everybody knowing who you are, and even liking you, but viewing you as ineffectual...I've seen a record of success overcome obscurity. I've never seen connections overcome mediocrity. Of course, it's better to be both known and awesome, like Jenica. :)
- Mark Kille
*nods in agreement with what others have said* I would like to add that my social network played a very important part in getting me my current job. =)
- Laura
*starts humming "Popular" from _Wicked_*
- DJF
"I've never seen connections overcome mediocrity." You must have gone to public colleges, then?
- laura x
I won't comment on how much being known can help when looking for a new position. I suppose "doing social networking wrong" may have something to do with it.
- walt crawford
Clarification: I have never seen connections overcome mediocrity *in libraries*.
- Mark Kille
Further clarification: By mediocrity I mean "it's not clear whether they are meeting the baseline competence needed for this job." Certainly there are times when a known quantity gets picked over an unknown quantity that might have greater potential. But I've never seen a hiring manager deliberately shoot themselves in the foot for the sake of personal connections.
- Mark Kille
Dorothea, are you calling yourself mediocre? *boggle*
- Mark Kille
Steve, I have no idea. My pull-it-out-my-rear hunch is that your profile guarantees that you'd get a job *somewhere*, but there could be some places where it would disqualify you out of hand. Stupid places. But the world is sadly full of stupid.
- Mark Kille
I agree with the blog post but I think it's missing a bigger point - your physical and virtual network can help guide your career and bring attention to your skills to a wider audience. For T&P it's required - you have to provide outside letters of support.
- Elizabeth Brown
And I just got a "network with us/fill out a profile" email from the National Academic Networking Association....
- Hedgehog
Dorothea, to me that seems like lumping all the medical researchers working on cures for various still-incurable diseases under the heading "ineffectual."
- Mark Kille