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Home > Press > Press Releases > Sharpening Skills; Acquiring Knowledge
2nd April 2004
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"Sharpen Skills to Reach for the Top" Says New FreePint Report
A new report published today by FreePint, 'Sharpening Skills;
Acquiring Knowledge' by Sylvia P Webb, features interviews with leading
information professionals including Lynne Brindley Chief Executive of
British Library, and Julie Morgan, KPMG's head of learning and
development. The report features three individuals who demonstrate the
importance of transferable skills.
Sharpening Skills, Acquiring Knowledge is available to purchase online
from the FreePint shop <http://www.freepint.com/shop/report/> and is
essential reading for graduates starting out on a career in the
information sector. It also provides inspirational tips for mid-career
information professionals who may want to change direction.
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What Employers Want
The report pinpoints exactly what today's employers are looking for.
Continuous learning, keeping up to date with new ideas and cultivating
skills beyond subject knowledge all emerge strongly both in the
featured case studies and in recent surveys by the Association of
Graduate Recruiters.
The report says that Chief Executive of the British Library, Lynne
Brindley, "... has never ceased to embrace new ideas and activities in
both the fields of information technology and business management".
Brindley says that she has reached the top of her profession by
combining many skills but most notably, "Powers of persuasion ...
the ability to communicate with and influence many different
stakeholders" and "a knowledge of the practical with a vision of the
possible future direction and culture of the organisation". The
report also asks Brindley what key aptitudes, experience and training
she looks for in her own staff.
Transferable Skills and Career Change
The report demonstrates the value of transferable skills and features
Anna Atkinson, a librarian turned web manager who has grasped
technological opportunities to follow very varied career path. Anna,
like many information professionals has embraced IT to arrive at her
current post as Web Manager at EMAP. Still only half way through her
career, she has already found that you have to "seek opportunities and
be prepared to work at keeping up to date" to achieve job
satisfaction.
"Jane" started out as an Information Officer for the Business
Information service in a leading firm of London accountants. She moved
into stock-broking as head of information systems and then as a
research and investment analyst. She is now an investigator for a UK
statutory enforcement agency. "Jane" says:
"I see my early career as having given me an excellent grounding ...
it has equipped me with an enquiring mind, and a logical and objective
approach to the gathering and analysis of information."
Although written from the perspective of the library and information
profession, the report also covers general management skills essential
to all professions and business sectors and provides insight into job
hunting, employer research and interviews.
Notes for Editors
"Sharpening Skills, Acquiring Knowledge". Sylvia P Webb.
Free Pint Limited, 2004. ISBN 1-904769-04-7
Press copies are available for review.
Press Contact: Annabel Colley
Telephone: 0870 141 7474 (Int: +44 870 141 7474)
Mobile: 07730 972 733 (Int: +44 7730 972 733)
Email: <annabel.colley@freepint.com>
Sylvia P Webb BA(Hons) FCLIP
Sylvia is a well-known consultant, author and lecturer in the
information management field where she has lectured internationally.
Her first book "Creating an information service", has sold in over 40
countries. She was College Librarian and lectured in behavioural
sciences at Ashridge College. Her second book was "Personal
Development in Information Work" Her most recent research looked at
the introduction of knowledge management in legal firms. Other
published research includes business information, quality issues in
corporate libraries, and professional education in the finance sector,
as well as continuing professional development in the library and
information field. She was the founding editor of the Know How series,
originally published by Aslib, but now part of Europa Publications'
list. She has served on a number of government advisory bodies; been
regularly involved in professional education and training, and active
within the library and information professional associations,
especially as Chair of CILIP's Accreditation Board.
FreePint
Established in 1997 and now with more than 67,000 subscribers
worldwide, FreePint is the largest community of information searchers
in the world. FreePint is a free email newsletter, Web portal and
online discussion area (the FreePint Bar). The newsletter is packed
with tips and articles on using the Internet for work and serious
research. In the six years since FreePint's launch, our expert
consultant authors have helped business users find reputable Web
sources on a very diverse range of topics. FreePint also publishes
information-related jobs, book reviews, events and interviews with
key industry figures. It commissions and sells original research
reports, and hosts interactive exchange seminars on hot topics like
search engines, knowledge management and electronic copyright.
FreePint's sister company Willco Limited <http://www.Willco.com>
provides modular community hosting technology to online communities
and member-oriented Web sites. Willco technology runs the FreePint
site and over 50 other network sites. Willco also provides the popular
URL shortening service DigBig.com.
PRESS CONTACT: Annabel Colley. To set up interviews with FreePint
Managing Editor William Hann or Paul Pedley contact Annabel Colley,
email <annabel.colley@freepint.com> or call 07730 972733.
Useful Addresses
http://www.freepint.com
http://www.Willco.com
http://www.vivaVIP.com
http://www.DigBig.com
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