The Relevance of Library and Information Science Graduates’ Competencies to Non-Linear Careers: A Phenomenological Study of Graduates from the State Islamic University of North Sumatra

Abstract

The phenomenon of non-linear careers is increasingly observed among university graduates, including Library and Information Science graduates who pursue careers outside the librarianship profession. This study aims to examine the relevance of Library and Information Science graduates’ competencies to the non-linear career paths they undertake. A qualitative approach employing a phenomenological method was used in this research. The participants consisted of seven graduates from the Library and Information Science Study Program at the State Islamic University of North Sumatra, Class of 2017, who are currently employed in various non-library sectors. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation, and were analyzed using the Miles, Huberman, and Saldana model. The findings reveal that the competencies acquired by Library and Information Science graduates possess a transferable nature, enabling their application across diverse occupational fields. The most frequently utilized competencies include information management, records management, communication, information technology, and managerial skills. The study also found that graduates were able to develop adaptive career identities through continuous learning and adjustment to new work environments. Furthermore, success in non-linear career trajectories is influenced not only by the competencies gained during higher education but also by individuals’ capacity for self-directed learning after entering the workforce. These findings suggest that the relevance of graduate competencies is not solely determined by the alignment between academic discipline and occupation, but also by the ability to transform and apply acquired competencies across a variety of professional contexts.

Abstrak

Fenomena karier non-linear semakin banyak ditemukan pada lulusan perguruan tinggi, termasuk alumni Program Studi Ilmu Perpustakaan yang bekerja di luar bidang kepustakawanan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis relevansi kompetensi alumni Ilmu Perpustakaan terhadap karier non-linear yang dijalani. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan metode fenomenologi. Informan penelitian terdiri atas tujuh alumni Program Studi Ilmu Perpustakaan Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara angkatan 2017 yang bekerja pada berbagai sektor non-kepustakawanan. Data dikumpulkan melalui wawancara mendalam, observasi, dan dokumentasi, kemudian dianalisis menggunakan model Miles, Huberman, dan Saldana. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kompetensi alumni Ilmu Perpustakaan memiliki karakter transferable yang memungkinkan penerapannya pada berbagai bidang pekerjaan. Kompetensi yang paling banyak dimanfaatkan meliputi pengelolaan informasi, pengarsipan, komunikasi, teknologi informasi, dan manajemen. Penelitian ini juga menemukan bahwa alumni mampu membangun identitas karier yang adaptif melalui proses pembelajaran dan penyesuaian terhadap lingkungan kerja baru. Selain itu, keberhasilan dalam karier non-linear tidak hanya dipengaruhi oleh kompetensi yang diperoleh selama perkuliahan, tetapi juga oleh kemampuan belajar mandiri setelah memasuki dunia kerja. Temuan ini menunjukkan bahwa relevansi kompetensi lulusan tidak semata-mata ditentukan oleh kesesuaian antara bidang studi dan pekerjaan, tetapi oleh kemampuan mentransformasikan kompetensi yang dimiliki ke dalam berbagai konteks profesional.