new mlis same old job hunt
Post on 21-Oct-2014
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Are you a recent graduate frustrated with the job hunt and trying to get your foot in the door? Our panel of recent MLIS graduates, employers, and agencies will discuss how to best use the experience you have, craft yourself to meet the needs of the public library market today, and use temp or agency work to your best advantage. Sponsored by the UCLA Career Forum Series and the Public Libraries Interest Group presented at the California Library Association Conferences November 2013TRANSCRIPT
NEW MLIS! SAME OLD JOB HUNT . . .
Sponsored by the UCLA Career Forum Series & the Public Libraries Interest Group
JOB HUNT BINGO
Fill the page to get HIRED!
Homework Interview Resume Experience Dress
Community Answers Complete Qualified Clean
Organization Confident Readable Knowledge Neat
Questions Talk Work Appropriate
Preparation Listen Organized Education Professional
Application You Available Applicable Groomed
EVERYDAY HOMEWORK
Patty Wong, Yolo County Library
The Recruitment – Doing Your Homework
Analyzing the Job Description:
CAVEAT: Public vs. Private institutions, higher ed, school and public libraries and civil service
Where did you find the announcement and what does that indicate about the employer?
The most valued characteristics or skills are normally identified first
Do you meet the Minimum Qualifications? What actions to take if you don’t meet them or are just shy of qualifying?
Any supplemental questions? Employers use these to:
Evaluate writing skills, analyze thought process and experience, establish and prioritize candidate pool, get good ideas, advance their need or philosophy
Job Satisfaction
Applying for a position is an investment, for you and the employer.
Does it meet your criteria for a good fit? Benefits, hours, location, responsibilities, role, agency reputation, training opportunities, advancement opportunities, advanced learning, mentoring
What does the agency value?
Library document review
Do you know anyone who works here? Visit them, job shadow, interviewing all staff/volunteers, secret shopper
Preparation
Prepare questions and answers
Why do you want this job?
Understand the culture.
Anticipate
Be calm
Be yourself, know your self
Share aspirations
Emphasize strengths
Have a last question or value added response at the end
Be flexible
Defer when needed and go back
Respond as if you were already in the position.
References DO count!
TELLING YOUR STORY-NONTRADITIONAL EXPERIENCEHillary Theyer, Torrance Public Library
HIDDEN LIBRARIAN-NONTRADITIONAL JOBSAutumn Luscinski, Pepperdine University
Typically, when MLIS students begin their program, their idea of career paths is limited to libraries: public, school or university. Students begin to think about the types of jobs within a library that interest them: Children’s or Reference Librarian at a public library, School Librarian or Media Specialist, Reference Librarian at a university or college. There are certainly openings in these types of libraries, but there are many more jobs that need the skills of an information professional.
Jobs in the private sector are increasingly looking for the skills of a Librarian or Information Specialist.
Other job possibilities for those with an MLIS are: Usability Engineer. Competitive Knowledge Analysis/Research, Taxonomist/Ontologies, Records Manager, Database Administration, Digital Manuscripts Project Manager, Freelance Researcher, Systems Analyst/Administration, Chief Information Officer, Digitization of Information, Digital Curation, Web design and maintenance, Information Architect and much more, Technical Information Specialist.
SO MUCH INFORMATION TO ORGANIZE!
As technology is increasingly adding to the amounts and types of information that is being sought, the need to prioritize, categorize, sort and store this information is one that we as librarians can capably fulfill. Jobs which require those skills in which we were trained are available in consulting, publishing, education, non-profits and more.
What’s your passion?
Background or interest in sales and marketing? Working for Library Vendors (ExLibris, Baker Taylor, Ebsco) is a good option. You will speak the librarians’ language when talking to them about programs, software etc.
If you love art, there are many museum jobs that rely on a knowledge not just of art, but how to organize it both virtually and physically. You’ll be around paintings all day long!
Entertainment? Many studios and networks now have librarian jobs as all of their programming needs to be organized and/or digitized.
Wine’s your thing? How about working as a Wine Librarian at the Sonoma County Library.
Combine your MLIS training with your other passions or experience to find a position just right for you.
HIRED
Darla Wegener, Long Beach Public Library
Why I should I hire you?
Application, Cover letter, Resume, and Supplemental questionsQualifications
QualificationsAnswers to questionsKnowledge
DressInterviewReferencesAttitude
At the end you should feel you were your BEST!
You’re Hired!
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
AIIP: Association of Independent Information Professionals
SLA: Special Libraries Association
ASCLA: Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies
ALA: American Library Association
PLA: Public Library Association
CLA: California Library Association
CONTACT INFORMATION
Hillary Theyer, Torrance Public [email protected]
Autumn Luscinski, Pepperdine [email protected]
Patty Wong, Yolo County [email protected]
Darla Wegener, Long Beach Public [email protected]