Presentation given at CDG 2011 Conference: The Practical Professional at Future Inns, Bristol on 21st November 2011. See http://www.cilip.org.uk/get-involved/special-interest-groups/careerdevelopment/cdg-benefits/events/Pages/national-conference-2011programme.aspx for more details or #cdgpp on Twitter.

1. CHANGING SECTORS –
DEVELOPING SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
AMANDA POULTON

2. ABOUT ME
• Qualified in 1997
• Chartered in 1999
• Worked in three sectors
– NHS, Academic and Public
• Involvement in a range of CILIP activities
• Further qualifications
– Teaching , management and health & safety

3. WHY CONSIDER ALL SECTORS?
• Capitalizes on your skills
• Develops a broader range of skills and
experience
• Opportunity to work in wider variety of
work areas
• Increases employability in an uncertain
job market
• Keeps your professional life interesting

4. INTERESTED IN MOVING SECTOR?
• Research your target sector
• Talk to contacts/follow Twitter people in your
target sector
• Contact CILIP, a Special Interest Group e.g.
UC&R, PLG or HLG, or your local CILIP
branch for advice
• Arrange to visit a local library in your target
sector
• Consider work experience
• Join an appropriate professional group

5. CROSS-SECTORAL JOB HUNTING
The role will include research enquiry work,
current awareness, supplier liaison and
intranet development. We are looking for
candidates with excellent communication
skills, capable of working flexibly and
independently, and with excellent online and
general IT skills.

6. CROSS-SECTORAL JOB HUNTING
The role will include research enquiry
work, current awareness, supplier liaison and
intranet development. We are looking for
candidates with excellent communication
skills, capable of working flexibly and
independently, and with excellent online and
general IT skills.
Commercial law firm

7. CROSS-SECTORAL JOB HUNTING
Candidates must have well developed
verbal, written and communication
skills, with a flexible attitude, along with
enthusiasm for delivering information
skills training and using ICT

8. CROSS-SECTORAL JOB HUNTING
Candidates must have well developed
verbal, written and communication
skills, with a flexible attitude, along with
enthusiasm for delivering information
skills training and using ICT.
Academic library

9. CROSS-SECTORAL JOB HUNTING
The successful applicant will be expected
to actively promote the library service
and assist with the practical
management of the library collections
including electronic resources and
databases.

10. CROSS-SECTORAL JOB HUNTING
The successful applicant will be expected
to actively promote the library service
and assist with the practical
management of the library collections
including electronic resources and
databases.
NHS Library

11. CROSS-SECTORAL JOB HUNTING
You will be experienced and
enthusiastic with excellent
communication and IT skills enabling
you to deliver a high quality service.

12. CROSS-SECTORAL JOB HUNTING
You will be experienced and
enthusiastic with excellent
communication and IT skills enabling
you to deliver a high quality service.
Public library

13. APPLYING FOR A JOB IN A NEW SECTOR
• Identify your skills
• Match your skills to the Person Specification
• Demonstrate how your experience gives you
the necessary skills
• Consider how you can adapt your skills to
meet the needs of your target sector
• Do you have a Unique Selling Point you can
bring to the sector?
• Find out what the key priorities are for your
target sector

14. AT THE INTERVIEW
• Focus on your skills and how they can be
applied to the sector
• Demonstrate you understand the sector by
using appropriate examples
– E.g. Reference to key issues
• Don’t overwhelm the panel with your research
• Be prepared to explain why you wish to
change sector
– Focus on the benefits of the new sector

15. SKILLS AUDIT
• Carry out a skills audit
• Identify skills needed from your research or by
studying job adverts in your sector
• Match your skills and experience against the
skills required
• Is there anything missing?
• Consider specific skills if you have a sector in mind
• Identify ways to fill in the gaps
– E.g. Volunteering for a particular project
– Training/qualification
– Job shadowing
– Work experience

16. Skills Audit for Sector Change
– Current Skills
Skills/Competences/Experience List specific examples
Consider how you might
demonstrate application to
another sector
Training/teaching skills Training the public how to use
the Internet – demonstrates
ability to teach students how to
find information

17. SKILLS AUDIT FOR SECTOR
CHANGE – SKILLS TO ACQUIRE
Other professional How might you acquire
skills/experience needed these?
Liaison/negotiation skills Join a professional committee, get
(for liaison with academics) involved in a working party, work
shadow a subject librarian

18. KEEPING YOUR OPTIONS OPEN
• Maintain knowledge and awareness of
developments in the sector you have left
– Reading/Twitter
– Professional involvement e.g. CILIP groups and
networking
– Training and visits
• Maintain skills valued by the sector you have left
• Consider how you might further develop your
transferable skills
• This may not be possible in your new role so
consider other activities e.g. committee work

19. TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
• Communication and negotiation skills
• Enquiry skills
• Staff management
• Budget management
• Collection development
• Teaching/training
• Marketing and promotion
• IT skills
• Team working
• Problem solving
• Planning and organising

20. CONTACT
Amanda Poulton
Academic Team Manager
(Learning and Skills Development)
De Montfort University
apoulton@dmu.ac.uk
Twitter - @rangtang