Throughout my education and professional career, I have developed many skills. Some of these are more technical, while others are what you might consider “soft skills”.

Hard skills

This word cloud represents the collection of technical or “hard” skills that I have acquired over the years. These skills often required months if not years to learn, often through specialized training or coursework. These skills are also notably practical, often associated with data analysis through specialized computer software.

Soft skills

Soft skills can be a bit more difficult to pinpoint, since these are rarely associated with specific software or applications and therefore can be harder to measure. Rather, these skills inform on personality, work ethic, interpersonal communication, and emotional intelligence. Here are 5 soft skills that I have demonstrated in my professional career:

  • Collaborative
    • My colleagues at work know that I am always willing to help them out on a project or offer my advice if they need someone to talk to. I have made a conscious effort to integrate myself in the Library team by coordinating team-building activities, such as the Library Expo and the Biblio Family Feud staff week events, and am joining the Training Week Committee for 2019.
  • Open minded
    • When mediating a patron’s request, I have found that it is important to keep an open mind about what their needs are and making a conscious effort to put yourself in their position.
  • Systematic
    • Being in an academic library, it is imperative that you have a systematic and clear approach in almost everything you do. From sitting in on a reference meeting, to developing a new workshop, to organizing shared data collections, all these tasks benefit from being organized and having a clear process to follow.
  • Enthusiastic
    • I think coming to work every day with positive energy and enthusiasm is infectious and helps everyone be more productive in their work. I know I am lucky to be where I am and I always want to keep that forefront in my mind when I take on projects and assist users.
  • Dedicated
    • Ultimately, working at an academic library requires dedication and commitment, since some projects do not always progress the way you might imagine, and training sessions and activities can often be improved through evaluation and reflection. Being dedicated to provide the best quality service means constantly learning, challenging yourself, and accepting the fact that you are not perfect and to be ok with failure.