CAREER ED PROJECT

By Sarah Mayo

Grade 11

WHO I INTERVIEWED

For this project, I interviewed my mom, Julia Mayo.

She is a Library Technician at the Marjorie Mews

library in St. Johns.

I hope you like the presentation.

Thank you

W H AT D O Y O U T H I N K T H E D E F I N I T I O N O F “ C A R E E R” I S ?

To me, a career is

different from a job, in

that a job is just a

paycheck and a career is

something that gives you

satisfaction outside your

workplace.

WHAT CAREER DID YOU WANT AS A KID?

When I was little I

wanted to be a teacher

more than anything in the

world, but I also loved to

read and I loved books so

I think working in a

library is fabulous.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WHEN YOU RETIRE?

My dream is to live in a

cabin, off the grid and

write children’s books.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE JOB YOU HAVE NOW?

The job I have now sort of just happened. I heard

they were looking for someone to fill in for the

Torbay library technician so I put in a resume. I got

the job, worked for a little while , another job came

open at the Arts and Culture Center Library I

applied, but did not get it. I was asked if I would like

to train to work at the main branch and I have been

working ever since.

DO YOU LIKE YOUR JOB? WHY OR WHY NOT?

I love my job. I get to

work with people of all

ages and I get to help

people find information

and books and materials

they are looking for. When

I help people it makes me

feel like I have made a

positive contribution.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WHILE LOOKING

FOR A JOB?

Never give up!

Follow your heart.

HOW LONG DID YOU WORK AT YOUR LAST JOB? AND DID YOU GET ANY

SKILLS FROM IT?

The job I had before I was at the library was in the

Navy. I think that I use many of the skills from that

job in the job I do now. Many of the leadership skills

and being able to talk to groups of people are some

of the skills I use every day. You too will find that

what you learn in your first jobs will be skills that

you can carry through to others down the road.

IS THIS JOB REWARDING?

Yes, the most rewarding

thing I think is when I am

able to help someone or to

have a child in our story

time be excited to take a

book home. It makes me

very happy.

HOW MUCH TIME IS INVOLVED IN YOUR JOB?

I work 35 hours a week. I prepare for my work

sometimes at home, but most of my work is done at

the library during my 35 hours.

WHEN/HOW DID YOU F IGURE OUT WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO FOR A

L IV ING?

I think a lot of it had to do with timing and

research. I paid attention to job ads, job search

websites etc…. And when I saw something I wanted I

went for it. In my case I also listened and asked

questions.

HOW DID YOU APPLY FOR YOUR JOB?

I sent a resume to the division manager for the

Eastern Library Division. I went on the library

website and looked under contacts. I had heard they

were looking for a substitute library technician, so I

found out who I should ask and I called him. He told

me to send in a resume , so I did.

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND YOUR JOB TO ANYONE? WHY OR WHY

NOT? EXPLAIN IN DETAIL .

I would recommend my job to someone who has

patience, is good with people especially children and

has a great love of the written word. Also if the

person is good with using computers and technology,

there are always changes in the library

DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF GOOD AT THIS JOB? WHY OR WHY

NOT?

I think I am good at my job, but I also know that I

have a lot to learn. I think that is why I like it so

much, because there is always things to challenge

me.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE YOUR WORK AND FAMILY?

I try to leave my work at work, but I do not do it as

well as I should. I am the type of person that gets

excited about something and I cannot stop thinking

about it until I get it done.

WHAT ARE THE POSITIVE ASPECTS AB OUT THIS JOB AND WHY?

Dealing with people. Helping people is a graet way

to feel like you have contributed to the world in a

positive way.

WHAT ARE THE NEGATIVE ASPECTS AB OUT THIS JOB AND WHY?

Dealing with people. Also the most negative

aspect, dealing with negative people is stressful and

unpleasant.

WHAT WOULD BE THE MOST DIFFICULT OR EASIEST PART OF THIS JOB YOU HAVE? EXPLAIN.

The easiest part of the job is probably putting away

the books and the hardest part is trying to remember

all the information about reference material.

WHAT WAS THE MOST INTERESTING/LEAST INTERESTING ASPECTS OF THIS JOB? EXPLAIN.

I like learning new things that I

never knew before. For instance,

while helping a lady look up

something about the American

Civil war I found out that there

were women called who fought in

the war with the men. The most

famous was a vivandiere called

Mary Tepe.

WHAT IS THE BEST P IECE OF ADVICE YOU GOT FROM THIS

INTERVIEW YOU CAN APPLY TO YOUR OWN CAREER?

What I got from this interview is that jobs can have

a lot of fun when you enjoy it. It is worth while doing

the job you love then a job you don’t love. Do the job

that works best with you.