The Information and Knowledge Professional’s Career Handbook: Define and Create Your Success - Ulla de Stricker and Jill Hurst-Wahl, Chandos Publishing 2011
Sometimes, an idea floats around for a long time, looking for a hook into reality. I can’t count the number of years it occurred to me vaguely “all this advice colleagues ask for and receive ought to be written down for easy reference” as I went about my usual practice of speaking to student groups and reviewing resumes. Then it hit me: Why do it alone? Who else do I know who regularly has conversations with new career entrants and career changers? Hello, Jill? We each had some publisher contacts, and the process of pitching the proposal unfolded. I encourage others who walk around with a “book in the head” to seek out a collaborator – having a sounding board is priceless, and mutual reviews of text makes for a very clean manuscript going to the publisher.
The book can be seen as a “recording” of so much we have said and keep wanting to say in public speeches and seminars and in private conversations. It sets out a foundation on which our interactions with colleagues can be that much more productive because we can focus on the situational specifics. Moreover, it’s a manifesto allowing us to be frank about some convictions we built over decades of experience.
For me personally, the book in addition represented an opportunity to speak about the very individual nature of our work lives: I believe it is important to factor one’s innate strengths and preferences into any planning for a career, and I hope readers will feel encouraged to take into account how powerful it can be when we do so. Sure, the first and second job out of school may be happenstance … but we still have every opportunity to put conscious planning in the mix.
I am grateful to Chandos for the opportunity to publish the Handbook – and do allow me a plug: The entire process of working with Chandos was smooth and efficient beyond my wildest expectations. I am blown away by the professionalism of that team!
Jill and I will be signing copies of the book in booth 306 on Monday June 13 between 11:30 and 12:30 in the SLA exhibit hall – meet us there!
References:
Facebook page: http://on.fb.me/hetqpD
Kim Dority’s review at http://bit.ly/jklN69
Robyn Stockand’s review at http://bit.ly/iWLnAF
Interviews with Ulla and Jill by Dennie Heye: http://twaud.io/qKwQ and http://twaud.io/qQ79
AMAZON listing and reviews: http://amzn.to/e285mO
Availability in Europe: www.woodheadpublishing.com/en/book.aspx?bookID=2101&ChandosTitle=1
