Thing 7: real-life networks
I have always been and I continue to be a big fan of online
networks, if I am honest I am also very interested in how people network and
“work a room”. Since the beginning of my
career I have been involved with Cilip, when I undertook my chartership back in
2005, my mentor encouraged me to get involved with the Career Development Group
(CDG) at a local level and since 2010 at national level organising the national
conferences.
This was hugely
beneficial to both personally and professionally, as I was able to not only meet
people from other sectors, but to expand and learn new skills – some of which I
would not have been able to do in the “day job”. The skills which I learnt include networking,
minute taking, organising, delegating, chairing, liaising, promoting, and
getting articles published.
Affect on my
career
I have learnt new skills, which I have been able to showcase
at job interviews; it has helped me to expand my C.V and led me to get more out
of my membership with Cilip. It has also led me to visit other sectors and get
a broader knowledge of the issues which affect other sectors and see how other
professionals are dealing with the same issues albeit in a slightly different
context. It has also helped my
confidence and I am more willing to comment in meetings and put my point of
view across.
I have always been very heavily involved in Cilip, as it has
been my main professional body – I realise that there are many other
organisations and associations which I could investigate further and widen my
knowledge. One of the main issues which
I have with some organizations is that they are very heavily centred in and around
London and South East area – and I can’t afford the train fare or time away
from work to go up and visit them. Locality is a very key problem (as I live in
a rural part of Somerset) in being able to visit and speak to people who are
nearby.
As my career has developed I have also become a member of
the Institute for Learning, which has been very beneficial in helping me to
keep up to date with the teaching and learning sector. Although I am not an active
member, I do try and read all of the information which they send me and keep
abreast of the latest developments.
As I have to pay for my memberships out of my own money, I
am very selective as to what groups I join and how it is going to benefit
me. This post has made me realise that
there are other groups which I could investigate and see what other
opportunities are available. I looked at the SLA but I think I may ask
colleagues what groups they belong to and what they get out of them. I will
also look at other posts for this thing and see what comments others have made
about various groups.
Thing 8: Google calendar
I will admit that online calendars are an excellent way of
organising yourself but are helping for colleagues to know where you are and
when you are free if they want to arrange a meeting with you. My work place
uses a shared online diary and once to get use to and remembering to fill it
in, it works well. Although saying this we are a small team there are four of
us, so the majority of the time we tell each other where we are and what we are
doing. I can see this system working well in larger teams and services.
The use of the calendar also means that you can use it to
your advantage when trying to organise your time and your work load. As you
would be able to block out a particular time so that you can work on a
particular project. I try and use my
online calendar to block out time in my diary to work on a project- but as many
of all know – you never know what will come through your door and demand your
attention.
