New MLIS Same Old Job Hunt

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 Librarylibrarylady16@yahoo.com

Autumn Luscinski, Pepperdine Universityluscinski@yahoo.com

Patty Wong, Yolo County LibraryPatty.Wong@yolocounty.org

Darla Wegener, Long Beach Public Librarydarla.wegener@lbpl.org