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Jeannette [email protected]
http://windriverconsulting.com1
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You can Use your LIS skills to be a more effective job
hunter. Reduce the time youre unemployed Emerge with your self-respect and new 21st
century skills.
You can keep this crisis from ruining your life
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Public, Academic,School and SpecialLibrarians
New Grads Mid-career librarians Senior librarians Other LIS professionals
Jobless librarians Insecure librarians
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About 80% of the information ingood career guidance booksapplies to library jobs
The other 20% is unique to libraryculture
Important to understand that
culture, know the territory Example
Action verbs Vitae vs. Rsum
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Outside the library Information broker
Inside and Outside the Library Database specialist or trainer
Web developer
LAN coordinator
Digital Services
Electronic Access
ILS (Integrated Library System)
Systems 5
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Resurgence of vitality. Digital archives Competition keen
Employment expected toincrease 20 percent in
decade (pre-recession prediction)
Less demand for print-based archives
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Austerity budgets and challenging times Libraries will have plenty of problems
Library administrators will seek out problemsolvers
Problems must be perceived by outsiders Problems must impact users directly Problems may arise from complaints or
pressure from above
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Computerization
means less emphasis
on DOING and moreon MANAGING
Businessmanagementskills/courses lookgood
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Focus on users, not materials
Responding to change: Societal, institutional, or technological changes
Example: Young adult services Working mothers No transportation to after school activities Decline of established youth organizations like
little league High cost of daycare Safety concerns
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Jobs closely tied to printresources
Jobs that have beensimplified or dumbeddown by automation
Jobs involving assistancewith and interpretation ofresources to users
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Bad news Inexperience
Weak resumes First to be let go
Good news Viewed by older librarians as computer
experts and problem solvers
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Bad news LIS courses irrelevant
Computer skills assumed to be poor Ageism: If youre out of work, its more
difficult to get a job
Good news In an aging profession, age is relative If you have a job, youre more likely to keep it
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Bring home important papers Resumes
job descriptions Accomplishments Awards Recommendations and
commendations Promotions Forward email automatically
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Contacts Networking is a big part of job hunting
Get addresses and phone numbers for allprofessional contacts
Keep or copy your Rolodex
Export Microsoft Outlook data Keep communicating Socialize with colleagues Stay connected to the grapevine.
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Begin collecting information Create a system for keeping track Scan as much as possible
Create a database to track openings
Deadlines
When you applied
Information about the library, director, and staff
Responses received
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Where will you find yourinformation?
Identify ALL the best LIS
jobsites
Submit your information toALAs JobList
Become an active member ofLinkedIn
Bookmark and check themdaily
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Identify the job titles thatinterest you Research job market
Identify the job titles for whichyou are best qualified Can probably survive the first cut
Research geographical areas Can you relocate?
How far?
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Unemployment = high stress Talk to your family
Have fun. Enjoy family and friends Stay connected, dont isolate yourself Get in shape Share with other endangered or unemployed
LIS professionals
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Let friends andcolleagues know yourare looking for work
Network with friendsof friends.
Cold calls are easier ifyou can say Cynthiasuggested I call.
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Dont tell off your ex-boss
Keep your boss inyour network and takeadvantage of her
network too
Stay in touch withother colleagues
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Improve your computer skills
Sign up for relevant computer courses Local community college
College or university
Online LIS Program
Choose courses that are as advanced as youcan handle
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Check your home office
Recent computer
Scan and photocopy Office supplies
Landline with features Cell phones are risky
Professional-soundingvoice mail message
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Identify the librarys focus and priorities
What is this job really all about?
How does the director see the library?
How do search committee members andother staff see the library?
Whats the problem that needs solving?
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How are librarians hired in your type of library? Who opens applications?
Human resources? Secretary or administrative assistant?
Library director or committee chair?
Who is involved in the decision? Will there be a search committee? How much input will staff have?
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You have total control
Emphasize most appropriateskills and experiences Entertain the reader
Edit carefully. Many librarians are English
majors
Make the letter work for you
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Goal: Make your rsumlook like the others, onlybetter
You want to stand outonly for the right reasons.
Professionally printedrsums restrict yourfreedom.
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Control your image. Dontlet the rsum format
interfere
Emphasize achievements De-emphasize negatives Remove unrelated
verbiage Never lie
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Put your strongestqualifications at the beginning
Focus on for this specific job
Use terminology in the job adwhenever possible
Remember that HR or a clerk maymake the first cut
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Employers are looking for a story they canunderstand
Your resume must look reasonable
A clear direction
Steady progress toward this particular job
A reasonable number of jobs
A reasonable amount of time in each one
Gaps should make sense
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Sculpt your resume
Make your resume tell a
story Use the resume format that
works best.
Dont worry about shoulds
Beat the slush pile on thefirst page
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New Grads
Many library directorsbelieve new grads have a
computer chip embedded intheir brains
Encourage this belief
Become the problem solver Take classes, learn to talk
the talk
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Senior librarians
Must battle poor computer skills stereotype
Emphasize your strong skills Strengthen computer skills
Learn to talk the talk
Less age discrimination than an issue than inother professions
Library administrators are older
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Two basic types Face-to-Face Telephone interviews
Skype interviews
Most libraries conduct morephone interviews Theyre free They take less effort They can more easily be
standardized
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One Person
Real ConferenceCalls
Group calls with onemicrophone
Skype calls
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The selection group or search committee ismeeting around a table.
A microphone or speaker phone has beenplaced somewhere on the table.
Half the group cant be heard.
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Interviews arent about you
Theyre about the library
Theyre about how you will fit in
Theyre also about theinterviewers
Do they like you? Will they like working with you?
Do you like them?
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Interpersonal rapport ismore important than you
think
The more you have incommon, the better your
chances
Interviewers have a vision
You must share that vision
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Look at camera, notcomputer monitor.
Place your notes nearcamera but out ofview.
Practice, Practice,Practice
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Stay calm, cool, and collected
Smile!
Let people know you likethem.
Know your demons and be
prepared .
Plan ahead and use a check-off list
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Be prepared for hardquestions.
Know yourweaknesses.
Admit what must beadmitted and moveon.
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http://windriverconsulting.com/http://windriverconsulting.com/