Beyond the square: career planning for information professionals in the new millennium Available to Purchase

Employment is changing. Many organisations are downsizing. The notion of a lifelong career in one profession is seriously challenged. Employability now means an awareness of the changing world of work, responsibility for your own career and personal development, managing your relationship with work and taking control of lifelong learning needs, the ability to read the market for work opportunities, perhaps in areas not previously considered. The future in which we will be operating is likely to be “Me & Co.” in a future which will see us increasingly responsible for our work, career planning and development. Career planning is about getting clear about what you want in your life, your knowledge, skills, abilities and your values, aspirations, wants, needs, dreams, personal style. It involves self‐analysis and self‐reflection, preferably with the involvement of someone else who can help you. Some people are strategists who are on a career path and very clear about what they want, others want a quick fix, others want a methodical step‐by‐step process, and others want to ponder their options. These preferences can be related to personal style. Some people have not yet caught up with the realities of the 1990s, let alone being prepared for the millennium. Information professionals are in a privileged position to have maximum flexibility in their careers. Reference librarians have highly‐marketable skills.