Job Hunting for Librarians -Rutgers

Job Hunting for the MLIS Grad

Sarah Jewell, MLSReference Librarian

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

http://library.mskcc.org/

Resume

• LIS Jobs Resume advice• Power of Keywords• Cover Letter tips• Resume example• Crafting a winning resume• Common mistakes

http://www.lisjobs.com/jobseekers/resume-advice.asp

http://www.quintcareers.com/resume_keywords.html

http://www.libgig.com/coverletter

http://www.lisjobs.com/careerdev/demoresume.htm

http://www.liscareer.com/allen_resumes.htm

http://lisjobs.com/career_trends/?p=7

Tailor your resume for each job• If you have enough

experience, have one “ultimate resume” where you list everything

• Pick and choose items according to the job description

• Name each resume clearly

• Don’t leave gaps!

Tailor your resume

http://www.ehow.com/how_6505796_tailor-resume-job.html

If switching careers…

• Share lessons learned from previous careers• Transferable skills• Using Sales Skills in Library Work• Using Non-Librarian Skills in a Library

http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2012/02/opinion/backtalk/transferable-skills-stepping-afield-to-get-a-foot-in-the-library-door-backtalk/

http://liscareer.com/highlender.htm

http://liscareer.com/burns_skills.htm

Seeking out Mentors

• Touch base with references before you apply to a position so they can prepare better

• Finding a mentor• Mentors

http://www.bohyunkim.net/blog/archives/328

http://www.liscareer.com/brookover_mentoring.htm

Manage your online presence

• Professional Development• Managing your online image• Top 5 LinkedIn Groups• Blogging during the job search

http://libguides.metro.org/profdev

http://blog.reppler.com/2011/09/27/managing-your-online-image-across-social-networks/

http://inalj.com/?p=1369

http://www.youtern.com/thesavvyintern/index.php/2012/02/21/3-reasons-why-creating-a-blog-is-good-for-your-job-search/

Consider “the Gig”

• The Gig Economy• NPR’s story on the Gig Economy• Non-librarian jobs

• Part-time gigs and internships can lead to full-time positions

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2009/01/12/the-gig-economy.html

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100249858

http://infospace.ischool.syr.edu/2011/12/23/61-non-librarian-jobs-for-librarians/

Interview Preparation

• Library interview questions• Questions and interpretations• Interview questions decoded

http://mrlibrarydude.wordpress.com/nailing-the-library-interview/library-interview-questions/

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/questions-to-ask-a-potential-employee-in-an-interview.html

http://mashable.com/2012/01/15/interview-questions-decoded/

Do your Homework

• Mission statement• Departmental

Publications• Buzz words in job

description, i.e. teamwork

Storytelling

• You are the hero of your own story

• Tell me about yourself• Tell a story to ace your interview• Tell good stories- STAR approach• Common plots in job stories

http://www.theladders.com/career-advice/how-to-answer-tell-me-about-yourself-interview-question

http://www.sklarwilton.com/resource-centre/tell-a-story-to-ace-your-next-job-interview-or-at-least-sweat-a-little-less/

http://bitesizebio.com/articles/tell-good-stories-about-yourself-to-get-the-job/

http://www.glassdoor.com/blog/story-job-interview-part-1-plots/

Ask questions of your own

• Nailing the library interview• Questions to Ask Potential Employers• Best Questions to Ask in an Interview• Ask potential employers questions, too

http://mrlibrarydude.wordpress.com/nailing-the-library-interview/questions-to-ask/

http://ezinearticles.com/?Job-Interview-Questions-to-Ask-Potential-Employers---The-Dos-and-Donts&id=1650520/questions-to-ask/

http://www.careerbuilder.com/Article/CB-664-Getting-Hired-The-Best-Questions-to-Ask-in-the-Interview/

Career

Job Hunting for Librarians -Rutgers