This question is answered by our newest Library Career Person, Carrie Netzer Wajda.

Q: I am a 2007 MSIS graduate. A month after finishing library school I was able to start in a contract position with a large non-profit hospital. At the time I thought it was an amazing opportunity; now I’m not so sure. After marrying a member of the military I was able to continue in the contract position and transition to telecommuting. This is a part-time, non-traditional library position,  and I doubt I’ll have many further opportunities for growth or for learning new skills. I am concerned I missed out on the opportunity to start my library career off on solid footing. My job title is contractor and I don’t know how to make it more attractive a description to potential resume readers without raising questions. I’m now actively searching for a full-time position with benefits, but have had not succeeded in getting so much as an interview in two years. Could the non-traditional nature of my experience be hindering my search? I am very active in two professional library organizations, but my spouse is now planning a long-term military career, and I’m concerned that even if I get the chance to gain some experience in a traditional setting I’ll have to rebuild a professional network and job hunt every time we move. Is it time to consider leaving librarianship? Would more or different training help?

CNW: Careers are only one aspect of our lives, and balancing career and family needs is a challenge for many people. For the time being, it seems as though you have found a flexible role that can accommodate your spouse’s military career growth. There’s no reason to feel that you have gotten your career off to a bad start. It sounds like you have done very well in finding a role that makes use of your specialized training but is flexible enough to accommodate your family’s needs.

Since you have already been on the job market for two years and you’re not getting interviews for traditional library roles, it’s a possibility that your contract status is making you appear less attractive to prospective employers. However, you may also want to revisit how you are framing your skills and work history. Since employers want to hire the most qualified candidate, it would be a good idea to reach out to your professional network for help with framing your qualifications in the most attractive light. Note that I don’t advise fudging details of your employment or experience, but articulating clearly and concisely how your skills relate to the specific traditional library job you want. This means tailoring your resume and cover letter for each job application and telling the story of how your unique skill set qualifies you for the position.

Since you are still relatively early in your career, more training could benefit you in the long run but it won’t necessarily help your library career. I recommend that you look closely at your reasons for wanting a traditional library job. If you will be moving frequently, you will likely find it frustrating to uproot your career repeatedly – and in the long run this pattern could make you a less attractive candidate to traditional employers who value stability. It sounds as though you have outgrown your current gig and are ready for new challenges and professional experiences along with the benefits that come with a full-time job. Full-time, location-independent roles do exist for librarians, though you are more likely to find them in a nontraditional setting. Consider building on your nontraditional experience by looking for a full-time job that can flourish in tandem with your spouse’s career – wherever that may take you.

Q: I have been working in academic libraries since completing my MLIS nine years ago. I have worked in small and large academic libraries, and have gained experience in reference, instruction and access services. This past week, I received an unexpected invitation to interview for a position at a middle/upper school library. Although I really enjoy being around children/teens in my personal life, I have zero experience working with them in my professional life. If I had seen the position posted, I probably would not have considered applying due to this lack of experience.

But now that I’ve accepted the invitation, I’m up for the challenge of interviewing. I am wondering if you might be able to identify transferable skills in transitioning from academic to school librarianship — and also, if you have any suggestions for resources (articles, websites) that might be helpful to me as I attempt a crash course in school librarianship. Thank you in advance for your insights!

SM: An invitation to interview (without having to apply first) is something you cannot pass up, you are correct. In fact, it is something that many people only dream about (myself included). And, as I’ve said before, changing direction can be a rewarding thing — “opportunities will pop up, jobs will present themselves,” and you should have fun learning about, and experiencing different kinds of libraries and patrons and roles as you move forward in your career. And you should feel honored that someone has extended this invitation to you and thought that you could be a good fit for this job, as unexpected as it might be.

Transferable skills are abundant between academic and school librarians. Academic librarians get those same middle/upper school students immediately after they graduate. They see the impact of information literacy (or lack thereof) on the students. They help undergraduates find scholarly articles and create bibliographies. Middle school and high school students use many of the same resources and technologies (or very similar ones) as the college students use, and the library roles and services such as instruction, collection development, administration/supervision, technical services, interlibrary loan, etc., are similar as well. During your interview, you’ll want to highlight your experience with instruction and reference and access services. Basic information literacy skills and good customer service are valued in any library setting.

The differences that you may want to research or brush up on, include: working closely with teachers and school administrators, understanding and supporting curriculum requirements, getting used to fixed schedules within the schools, envisioning the library itself as a classroom, and the different needs of different ages/grades of the children. School libraries are smaller than academic libraries (for the most part) and probably have smaller staffs, so your role may be more diversified across many different types of jobs, which can be both intimidating and exciting. Best of luck on your interview!

Definitely dig around on the school’s web site and see how much information you can find. Possible questions to ask on your interview:

• What is the mission and focus of the school?
• What are the students like (ambitious, athletic, scholarly, creative)?
• Are you expected to be involved in school/building committees?
• How many staff will you supervise?
• Are there funds for professional development activities?
• Are you expected to oversee computer labs and keep equipment and software up-to-date?
• Are you expected to teach classes to all grades/levels?
• How involved are the teachers in information literacy achievement, in the library?
• What is the budget?
• What are the upcoming (and ongoing) budgetary priorities, for the administration, for the teachers?
• How are the electronic resources managed/accessed/promoted?
• What are the most popular library resources?
• What type of person are they looking for to fill this role?
• What about the summer months (expected or anticipated duties)?

Resources:

American Association of School Librarians

APPR Evaluation, NYS School Library Program Rubric Tool (and goals of the Common Core Standards)

Brace Yourself: SLJ’s school library spending survey shows the hard times aren’t over, and better advocacy is needed By Lesley Farmer, March 1, 2012

The Independent Library, by Sarah Clark, Windward School Library

Introduction to School Librarianship

Latest Study: A full-time school librarian makes a critical difference in boosting student achievement by Debra E. Kachel and Keith Curry Lance on March 7, 2013

School Library Impact Reports

What Makes a Good Private School Library? Collegiate School Librarian Maggie Dixon Talks About Her Program

100 Helpful Blogs For School Librarians (And Teachers)

 

This answer is provided by our guest author, Ellen Mehling.

Q: I spent seventeen years as a teacher of English in a high school and the past fifteen years as a secondary school library media specialist.  It has been a fantastic experience.  I want to share my experiences with the higher education world.  I am retiring in July from a wonderful career with the New York City Department of Education. I want to teach teachers or library students. I do not have a Ph.D.  Are unsolicited CVs frowned upon? I know where I would like to work, but don’t see any available positions.  What is the best way to approach this?

EM: As with any kind of a career switch, making the move from high school teaching to teaching in higher education is likely to take some time and effort.  Competition for such teaching positions is very strong right now, with dozens or even hundreds of applicants for a single posted opportunity, and employers prefer to hire those who already have the desired experience (in this case, teaching in college/graduate school). The burden is on you as the applicant to persuade a hiring manager or committee that you should be given a chance. Any kind of teaching at the college level would be beneficial for you to do to start getting such experience, on your way to your goal. You may want to try local community colleges first.

If you’re seeking an adjunct position, the lack of a Ph.D is less of an issue; that is more likely to be a requirement for full-time (tenure-track) positions.  Examine job descriptions carefully to see what the skill, experience and education requirements vs. preferences are.

The job market is slowly improving, but it can still be very difficult to get a response even if you are fully qualified and applying to a posted job opening.  Just sending an unsolicited CV in the hopes that the employer will hold on to it and then have you in mind if something does open up is not likely to be worth the effort as a job hunting strategy, especially if you are not otherwise known to that employer.

Start talking to those already in your network who are doing the kind of work you want to do, and seek to make additional new contacts in higher education.  Try to find online groups on LinkedIn or elsewhere of people who have made the switch you are looking to make.  The time it takes to expand your network in this way will be well-spent, as the benefits can be substantial: advice or mentoring, the possibility of hearing about opportunities before they are posted, and even possibly recommendations to hiring decision-makers.

Q: I’m considering making the shift to academic librarianship after 5 years of being a Research Analyst at a large global corporation.  Before my corporate position, I worked in an academic library, so I do have some experience.  The question I have is in the approach.  The corporate environment has given me a lot of confidence and has taught me to seek out what I want and to own my career.  This leads me to have a strong urge to simply call up the head of the local academic library and request a meeting with her.  I’d like to sit face to face with her to share my resume and tell her about my skills.  Note – there are no current openings at said academic library!  So, is this a potentially off-putting approach?  Would I potentially burn a bridge by being this direct?  Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide.

TA: I commend you on your confidence and for taking ownership of your career.  I also commend you for questioning whether or not your approach is potentially off-putting.  My response is, If you need to ask that question, you already know the answer.

Corporate libraries and academic libraries can be similar in many ways, and different in others.  Generally, the corporate culture that surrounds corporate libraries can be fast-moving and competitive, and for good reason—the livelihood of the company can hang on response time and accuracy.  Some of the associated traits, however, can come across as aggressive in other workplace cultures.  It’s a matter of recognizing what works for the specific situation or workplace.

To get a sense of the workplace, and the style of approach that a director might appreciate, I wouldn’t start with the director.  I would recommend you think about conducting two or three informational interviews with others in the library.  You mentioned there were no current openings at the library.  That’s great.  What that means is you are truly seeking information about the library itself, not about a specific job.  Perhaps there is someone you already know in the organization?  Buy that person a cup of coffee and compare and contrast your corporate experience with his or her academic experience.  Is there someone who is doing work similar to yours?  Invite that person out for coffee and compare notes on how the work you do is similar and how it differs.  Throughout these interviews, you should also seek information on the culture of the organization.  How does work get done?  Do people work in groups?  What’s the style of the director and how does he/she motivate, recognize and reward good work?  If this is a small enough organization, and you learn through your interviews that the director would be open to this kind of “cold call” then you might want to make the request for an appointment.  If, however, what you learn reinforces the reservations you already have, take a more cautious approach.  Maybe you can start with a letter and resume to introduce yourself, letting the director know that you’ve learned a lot about the organization and are interested in being a part of something so exciting… Include your contact information with an invitation to talk further, and wait for the director to reach out.  At best, you’ll get an invitation.  At worst, you’ll be a recognized name when a position actually opens up and your application comes across the desk.  What’s important, though, is that you haven’t burned bridges before you even entered the door.

Q: I am blessed to have a great job in a suburban school as a SLMS.  At my current placement, I have re-structured the entire program, am in charge of the budget, as well as serve 600+ students and 100+ faculty/ staff.  After six years, I am strongly considering moving to Manhattan and applying for a manager position in a city library.  What qualifications am I lacking as a school librarian as opposed to a manager position? What factors should I consider with this move?

SM: What incredible experience you have! It seems like you might be qualified for many different types of library management positions. I assume that by “city library” you mean public library, although you may want to also consider special or academic because your management skills are transferable and often highly sought-after. When applying for manager positions, you will need to emphasize your role as a manager in your current position (even if it isn’t in your title). After reviewing some of the job qualifications for library manager positions at NYPL (New York Public Library), the only qualification you seem to be missing (without reviewing your resume) is public library experience. Likewise, if you wanted to get an academic position, you may need to have academic librarian experience under your belt. Also, there are many independent/private schools in Manhattan that employ librarians. If living and working in Manhattan is your goal, then I recommend that you cast a wide net and see what’s out there, and what your skills and expertise qualify you for. If you have your heart set on working in public libraries, you should definitely apply for positions, and/or submit your resume for general consideration. You may also want to try to speak with public library managers (perhaps at your local public library) and get some feedback on what you can or should be doing to pump up your resume.

I wrote an article entitled “A Librarian’s Guide to Relocating to NYC” for METRO, which is an organization that you will find enormously useful as you look for jobs and get to know the city. Factors to think about when moving to, and looking for work in, Manhattan — other than the enormous variety of workplaces, are: cost of living, geography, transportation, networking, and using social media to help you connect with others. Best of luck!

Q: I searched your site but didn’t find an answer already on this subject. If I’m wrong, could you point me in the right direction?  My question:  I recently graduated with my BS in History. I have four years’ experience working first as a library page, then as a collections processor in Archives, and now I’m working as a Digital Projects and Oral History assistant in the Digitization Department of Special Collections. My next step is to get my MLIS. However, I am unsure of what to specialize in. I have most of my experience with Digitization and Archives but think I would be happier in a different area. I’d like to work with people more and love the hustle and bustle of reference and circulation. However, I am also in love with children’s literature and would love an opportunity to work with kids, set up reading programs in the library, etc. I feel that I can be happy in many capacities in the library. So I guess my question is what specialization do you feel is the most marketable? With library jobs being competitive, I’d like to choose a specialization in library school that will be widely marketable when I begin looking for permanent positions, but that will also be something I will enjoy doing for the long haul.

TA: I totally understand your question about finding ways to be most marketable upon graduation, but you also want to find a specialization that works for you.  You can be marketable and terribly unhappy, and that’s not where you want to end up.  Employers look for experience and potential, and library school is a great time to explore different areas of specialization and to try things on to see if they fit.  From taking a variety of classes, to different internships and volunteer opportunities, you can spend some time exploring librarianship.  According to ALA, the amount of academic credit hours required for an ALA-accredited MLS can vary from 36 semester hours to 72 quarter hours—this is both a lot of time, and time that flies by too quickly.  You should talk with an academic advisor at the school to chart your course, including which classes to take, how and when to register for field experiences, and identifying volunteer or paid work experiences.  Above all else, leave library school with the degree AND work experience.

Now is also a great time to join a few professional discussions lists.  You see if the discussion topics strike an interest.  You can also monitor the vacancy announcements that come across the lists.  Even though you aren’t on the market right now, you can see what’s in demand in terms of types of jobs, regions of employment, and desired skills and experience.  This information will be really useful when you are in library school and are deciding which classes to take or how to gain certain experiences.

Also, remember the power of the informational interview.  Elisa Topper, in her October 2003 “Working Knowledge” column in American Libraries, talks about all the potential benefits of the informational interview.  Her list includes: building a network of contacts; gaining information about internships, practicum experiences and other positions in the “hidden job market”; exposure to terminology and issues relevant to a specific field; and a glimpse into different organizational cultures.  Informational interviews are a great way to explore different areas of librarianship through the real-life experience of someone who’s doing it.  Be sure to read the rest of the Topper article, and refer to our other columns on Informational Interviews to learn more about conducting these types of interviews.

Q: I am a librarian currently looking for full-time public library work. Although I love working with kids and single-handedly run my library’s children’s department, my current position is only part-time. A full-time position in adult reference has just opened up in my area, and I am interested in applying. I have experience with working at the adult reference desk and took classes in graduate school in working with an adult patron base, but most of my 4 1/2 years of library experience come from working in children’s departments. Do you have any suggestions for what to highlight and emphasize in my resume and cover letter to show that I can work just as effectively in adult reference as I can in children’s reference? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

TA: This can be a tricky transition, moving from the children’s department to adult reference (although I have seen some adults in my lifetime behave much worse than children!).  You’re wise to acknowledge there’s a difference and to think about ways to make the transition, like your previous work experience and coursework—be sure to highlight these in your application materials.   Additionally, think about the transferable skills you’ve gained over the last several years working in the children’s department.  Have you managed a budget?  Supervised employees, students or volunteers?  Created a desk schedule and delegated work? Examined new products and trained others on how to use them?  Have you worked with parents on how to meet the literacy needs of their children?  Make your resume and cover letter an invitation to talk more about your interest in the position and your ability to do the work.  Also know that as an internal candidate, you’ve got a professional network inside the organization.  Be sure to make a positive impression in all of your interactions and have people prepared to speak positively on your behalf.

Q: Dear Friends at Library Career People:

I have a professional dilemma, and I would be so grateful for any insight or encouragement you might be able to offer me. In June 2011, I completed library school thinking that I wanted to be a public librarian. Actually, I was pretty certain of this, even though I had minimal experience working in public libraries. My background is actually in special (government/law and art) libraries.

Shortly after earning my degree, I was offered a part-time librarian substitute position at a local large urban public library system. I have worked as a public reference librarian for one year now, and I have decided that it’s not for me. In addition to this, I have applied for countless internal job postings within the public library organization and I’ve had no luck. I think someone is trying to tell me something that I’ve ignored for a long time.

I feel like a fool, and like I have to start over. However, I am eager to get my career back on the right path and continue to pursue something more personally fulfilling. For the last four years, I have been employed part-time at a government law library and I absolutely love it. Even though there may not be a full-time or professional position for me there, I want to continue to pursue a career in government librarianship, perhaps in a science or engineering library. Do you have any thoughts on how I might get started?

SM: I find that whether you like a job or not depends largely on the situation: the patrons, the setting, the demands/responsibilities/expectations, and the people you work with and work for… and less so on the job itself. I’ve worked in several types of libraries, in a variety of roles, and I’ve enjoyed aspects of each one of them. I’ve also disliked aspects of all of them. No place is perfect. And, I’ve figured out, along the way, what I am good at, what people expect of me, and what I really enjoy doing (and don’t enjoy doing). This information drives me onward to pursue my goals and tweak my job responsibilities and ultimately be a happier librarian.

If I had a dream job, it would be built from bits and pieces of all the jobs I’ve held: this supervisor, that location, those colleagues, these benefits, a mixture of duties, a scattering of clientele, the freedom to pursue my interests, and the structure to be held accountable for my actions and my progress and my commitment.

You shouldn’t feel like a fool. Not in the least. You are doing everything that you should be doing. You are exploring different roles and different libraries; you are discovering what you want to do and what you don’t want to do. You are learning about the profession and about yourself. Getting on-the-job experience in one role and in one type of library is the best way (or, perhaps, the only way) to figure out what path you want to pursue next. Yes, opportunities will pop up, jobs will present themselves (or not) and personal lives will intervene — and because of all these things, you may find yourself following an unplanned trajectory, and that’s OK. It is rare for someone to start out in their dream job, or dream location. You just need to keep moving toward your ultimate goal, and seek out anything and everything that can help you attain it. And remember that any experience you get is valuable.

So, don’t think of it as starting over, and don’t think of starting over as a bad thing. Sometimes starting over, or starting again, is the best cure for a deflated career. In the mean time, as you begin to steer  yourself onto a new career path, you should enjoy the part time position that you love and learn all that you can about the job and the institution and the needs of the patrons, and the skills and resources and tools that are used to meet those needs.

Fulfillment comes in many packages, and even if your current job does not provide the level you crave, you can do other things (while you wait) to boost it up as well as help you move toward the job that you really want. Here are a few tips:

• Make connections and utilize your current connections: talk to colleagues and librarians in related libraries to find out how to move forward, where to look for jobs, and what to get involved in (e.g., committees, social networks).

• Join associations that are specific to the type of library you want to work in: seek out local and state and national organizations and see which might work best for you. Take advantage of the resources and networking opportunities they offer.

• Visit libraries: identify libraries that interest you, see if you can speak with (or communicate with) a librarian who works there. Have a list of questions and ask if there are any internship or volunteer opportunities (if your schedule permits).

• Be relentless in your job search: and don’t only look for jobs, look for skills and requirements for the jobs that you want. Find out what employers are asking for and make a list of things you do not have. Also, broaden your search to include job sites other than library-specific ones. Some corporations and government jobs will post on their own sites (e.g., state government or agency site).

• Rework your materials: does your resume reflect the job you want? You may need to revise it, or change it into a different type (e.g., from chronological to functional). You may need to highlight transferable experience and skills from other jobs.

• Consider professional development opportunities: seek out programs, classes, workshops, webinars, conferences, that might enhance your resume and your skill set.

• Talk to your alma mater: you are a recent graduate, so use your school’s career center and its resources to help you pursue your dream job.

Potentially Useful Links:

http://www.sla.org/

https://www.usajobs.gov/

http://federalgovernmentjobs.us/

http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Reference-Shelf/Libraries.shtml

“How do I get there from here?: Changing jobs, changing roles, changing institutions”
by Susanne Markgren and Tiffany Allen

Q: I am changing careers after completing an LIS program. I have been working at a technical help desk in various roles using many of the skills taught to information professionals. For example, I have taught effective search techniques, researched technical issues using various technical resources, and practiced customer service through various communication paths. Is there an effective way to present these types of transferable skills when applying for a library position?

SM: This is a good question and an issue that many people have, especially those who are changing careers and those who are just entering the profession and have little or no library experience. One option is to use a functional resume, rather than a chronological resume. Functional resumes focus on skills and experience rather than work history over time. You might choose to organize your resume into categories such as: customer service, research, instruction, and technology. Within the categories you can list out the different skills and go into more detail about the jobs themselves. The skills you mention transfer nicely to the library world, and the job of working at a technical help desk is comparable to working at a reference desk, so this seems like a natural fit for you.

When you are writing cover letters, emphasize whatever skills are emphasized in the job description. For example, if the job is for a reference librarian, write about how you have assisted users both in person at the desk and online — and be specific about the tools/technologies/databases/media/etc. that you used. Employers like to know that you have experience (or expertise) with the same or similar tools that they have at their library. And they like to know that you are knowledgeable about current or emerging technologies and trends.

Resources that might be helpful:

Should You Use a Chronological or Functional Resume? By Roberta Chinsky Matuson

Crafting a Winning Resume by Tiffany Eatman Allen

JobStar Resume Guide (+ sample resumes)

Q:  I’m a recent LIS graduate and have been a reference librarian for two years, but I have long been interested in collection development. Prior to that, I worked as an assistant in a special library doing copy cataloging and collection maintenance, and in a university law library, also doing collection maintenance. Unfortunately, due to limited availability of a collection development class in my program, I never took it and only learned in my last quarter before graduation when I asked to have my practicum in collection development that the class was a prerequisite. Thus I was pushed into reference, and while I’m content in my role, I still often wonder about a career in collection development. I have no clue how I might one day make the transition, especially since it’s such a specialized area of work. Can you suggest any ideas for how a relatively new reference librarian might acquire the experience necessary to cross over into collection development post MLIS?

TA:  Several ideas come to mind when I think about your question of how to get into collection development after a couple of years as a reference librarian.  Here are a few:

• Seek specialized training through a professional association; attend workshops and professional meetings in the area of collection development.
• Take a continuing education course in collection development through an ALA-accredited library school.  Or, consider the possibility of a Certificate of Advanced Study (a post-MLS program) and specialize in collection development.
• Reference librarians know a lot about the collection, so look for ways to build opportunities into your current position.  In many libraries, the lines between reference and collection development are being blurred by the liaison or subject specialist role, where librarians are arranged by subject and not function.  If your current employer doesn’t offer enough opportunity to explore collection development, and you’re willing to dive into the job market, maybe a subject specialist or liaison type position is your bridge to a position that has exclusive responsibility for collection development.
• Look for a professional mentor who is already a collection development librarian.  And how do you find that kind of mentor?  Well, since you asked…
• Conduct a few information interviews—Ask others who have the job you want how they got there, what they love about their job, and what they would change.  Be sure to watch your vocabulary when describing your current situation.  What you’ve described above can be heard as a bit negative (I was “pushed” into reference) and perceived as less-than-careful planning in library school (I “only learned in my last quarter before graduation…”).  Focus on the future and your career aspirations.
• Pursue an additional degree that would support your move into a collection development position.  Many librarians engaged in collection development have an additional degree beyond the MLS that allows them to specialize deeply in a specific subject or discipline.
• If your current employer offers a sabbatical or research leave, develop a research project around the intersection of reference and collection development.  At the end you’ll know more about your areas of interest and have a deliverable that you can share with others.