Got Jobs?

 Presented by:PSLA Students Committee

Susan Hefley

Session Overview

Session One:Getting you the job!

• Networking• Finding a job• Interviews• Portfolios

• What to know before you begin

Resources: Check everything out online in our Live Binder:

http://livebinders.com/play/play/64789

Introductions

• Susan Hefley Co-Chair PSLA Students Committee and an elementary librarian in the Moniteau School District

• Jenn Miller Co-Chair PSLA Students Committee and elementary librarian in the Gettysburg Area School District

• Session Attendees please tell us your name, if you are a student or looking for a job or have a job, where you would like to find a job (geography and age level), and if you know of any job openings.

Networking

Make them work FOR you, not against you.

Finding the Jobs

• Ten Steps to Get Started• PSLA Conference Job Board• Network at PSLA Conference• PSLA Students Job Board• Work your network,

expand your network• Expand your search

terms and definition of “librarian”

Have you walked around the conference and the exhibit hall asking: Do you know of any job openings? What about retirements? The reps know all the dirt!

Finding the Job Sites

PSLA Jobs Board

PSEA Ed Jobs

PA-REAP

PA-Educator

LIS Jobs

ALA's Job List

Library Journal Jobs

Schoolspring.com (mostly northern schools)

Teaching in PA

Library Job Postings: Compilation of even MORE sites

LibGig

SL Directory

Mansfield

Drexel

inalj.com (i need a library job; over 150 pages of job postings)

teachers-teachers.com (mostly southern schools)

Hiringlibrarians.com/ (interviews with people who hire librarians)

More Important Job Sites

Do your research (using the Internet, word of mouth, a phone book, ANYTHING) to list EACH and EVERY single school district you would consider working for. Find their websites and check back frequently.

Don’t forget! The small private, charter, magnet, or other special schools……they need librarians too. The Pittsburgh Consortium of Independent Schools has

a site with links to it's member schools. http://www.pittsburghindependentschools.org/.

Also check Pittsburgh Area Independent School Teachers Association it has links to it's member school siteshttp://www.paista.org/

Getting an Interview

The importance of Secretaries

Resumes

Cover Letters http://opencoverletters.com/ (actual cover

letters from librarians who got jobs)

RESEARCH

Polish your image

Preparing for the Interview

Practice, practice, practice Check out the MANY questions on the PSLA

Students Site. KNOW the answers to these 5 questions (*) Appreciate constructive criticism Check career service offices in your school or with

local library organizations to see if they offer Interview practice sessions or any other services

RESEARCH Know your audience Impress them with your FIT for their school

Interviews

What should you DO before your interviews?• Dress Professionally• Organize your portfolio (personalize it for EACH interview)• Google yourself

o Beware of MySpace, Facebook and Flikr and how you are represented online (it impacts impressions of you BEFORE you even get to the interview). Remove, add or correct all that you can to provide a positive impression.

o Search for yourself on the search engine PIPL……what comes up?

o Check out these articles about how to polish your online image: Career Enlightenment and Psychology Today.

o Also be aware that everyone has beliefs about acceptable behavior for a teacher, just because you think it is ‘ok’ and shows what a ‘fun person you are’ does not mean that everyone would agree with you, sometimes it is safer to prepare for conservative interviewers than to leave those ‘fun’ pictures on Flikr.

Portfolios and E-Portfolios

PSLA Students Website: Portfolio Page

What should be in it?

Electronic or Not? Hosted where?

How to use it!

iPad version?

What questions should a librarian candidate ask at the interview?

1. What is the job description?

2. Can I see/visit the library?

3. Fixed vs. Flexible and Would I have any time for collaboration?

4. Is there any clerical staff?

5. What is your vision for the library program?

* Don’t ask questions just to hear yourself talk.  The interview is not the place to ask any kind of salary question unless you are being offered the job then and there. If there is something you really need to know.  Ask. But you can find out a lot by talking informally to staff and teachers.

You DO want to show interest in their school, district and community. Anytime you can make a

connection and make that interviewer LIKE you you are gold.

Action PlanWhat do I do now?

1. Find all the jobs you can. Starting today. You are carrying a notepad writing down all these openings right? A trip through the exhibits should yield AT LEAST 5 openings

2. Research these and more jobs. Polish your resume and cover letter, personalizing it each time. Send it off.

3. Schedule those interviews. Do MORE research!

4. Use your research to personalize your portfolio and interview tricks.5. Practice for the Interview, lay out your professional outfit.6. Breathe!7. Ace the Interview and claim the best job.8. Come back next year and teach this session :-D

Break

There will be a short 5 minute break. Please feel free to use this time to ask questions or check out the show

and tell we have brought to share with you.During the break:

• Like PSLA on Facebook• Add your name to the PSLA Listserv for E-Newsletters at

www.pslastudents.webs.com• If you are a member of Linked In

o Look for people who can recommend you. 

o Most of all….PLEASE complete our short survey:http://tinyurl.com/4x3ewtt

Open Who Me PPT for next session.