I am often asked why I like to keep my admin job despite having a masters. There are a few reasons/answers  I give to explain why money isn't my focus.  I think that administrative offices are apt environs for my profession. I can catalog and file, run tech, create interdisciplinary content and documents. Yes, I would really, really like to work more reference in a "real" reference environ. But, I can and do find opportunity to run reference in the office a fair amount. Yes I would like to do more instruction, but I am a believer that faculty and admin will figure out that librarians embedded in their course structure is how things will eventually be because it is freaking mandatory to push more biblio and literacy instruction if you expect information and knowledge at such high volumes are going to flow into students/learners.

 

I have always known that admin structures resist changes from non-classified employees. I also know that, if you give up your identity or assume that anonymity is neutral instead of detrimental, you can effect change all across an entire organization by being overqualified for that silly "fill in" job. The pay is not great, but it and the satisfaction of imposing a helpful and followable and adaptable order on all too often ad hoc filing schemes is enough for me. I also like marmite, so what can I say.