Tactics for Library Job Hunting in a Tough Market

8/3/2019 Tactics for Library Job Hunting in a Tough Market

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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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Tactics for Library Job Hunting in a Tough Market

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