I spotted an advert for the CILIP Careers day back in January 2019. On the day there were a wide range of ages and stages of career represented and this was testament to a programme that appealed to the whole profession and not to those just starting out in their careers.

What did I hope to get out of it? When I booked the event I was looking for some inspiration. I’ve been feeling in a bit of rut lately and I wasn’t really sure how to get back on track.

How was it organised? There were two keynotes from CILIP President David Stewart and CILIP CEO Nick Poole that everyone attended and a choice of four workshops out of six.

What sessions appealed and why? I could have chosen sessions on retirement and identifying skills.

I selected:

1. Digital skills for libraries – keeping up. Skilling up and avoiding shiny object syndrome Kate Lomax
2. Have you considered…a portfolio career? Sonia Ramdhian
3. Mid career crisis Jo Cornish
4. Moving on up! Looking at ways to make that leap into a leadership / managerial role Jayne Winch and Tracey South

The session that appealed above all at the time and the one that I’ve found myself thinking about the most since the day was the one organised by Sonia. The central theme, or at least the theme that was interpreted by me, is that there are multiple pathways to acquire skills and not all of them will be in the formal workplace. Inevitably not all of us will pursue traditional leadership roles and that’s okay too. In the end, as Sonia said, it’s our career, our future and our balance.

What connections were made? There was ample opportunity for meeting fellow professionals over coffee and lunch and it was this part of the day which really made the difference. I was really impressed by how friendly everyone was. Although it sounds clichéd there were few uncomfortable moments, which is great after an early start, long train journey and all the effort involved!

CILIP Careers Day 27 March 2019 #CILIPCareers