Library Career Pivot: Leaving the Profession

Welcome!  It’s good to have you with me today. 

Have you felt recently that being a librarian wasn’t as satisfying as it once was?  Or have you perhaps felt the lure of other professions calling you?  Or perhaps, like many of us, have you lost your library job and are now thinking it might be fulfilling to try a new field?  

If so, you’re not alone and it’s perfectly ok.  In today’s episode, I’m going to give some tips and winning strategies for making a career pivot out of the library profession. This is the first in my series called “Library Career Pivot”. I’m also providing a list of great career shift resources. You can find that list and the complete show notes at masterfullibrarian.com/ep7.

Not that I want any of you to leave libraries – but sometimes it happens.

My hope is that if you’re looking at pursuing a new field, it’s voluntary on your part. And not because you’ve been laid off, furloughed, or threatened with lay-offs.  I hope it’s simply because you’re ready for a new adventure. 

There’s no shame in feeling drawn to do something new.  I myself am on my sixth significant career iteration.  I’ve been a hotel sales rep, a medical librarian, a travel agent, a school librarian, a public librarian, and now a coach, consultant and trainer.

In her book, I Don’t Know What I Want, But I know its Not This: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Gratifying Work”, 3rd edition, Julie Jansen says this “There is no age limit on searching for happiness and fulfillment in work and life”.  I love this quote. I love it because it’s so true.  

If you’re feeling like now is the time to pursue a new career interest, I’d like to offer some tips to get you started.

For complete show notes, join me at Masterful Librarian Podcast/ep7