Q: I have been a school librarian for over 15 years. I would love to work in the public sector and do have 10 years PT experience in a public library.  How do I craft my resume to: (1) Show that the only difference between school and public libraries are the clientele? (2) Show that what I have done running school libraries are the same skills required for being a reference librarian? And (3) explain why I would accept such a pay cut?  Any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

TA:  Your full-time experience in a school library, as well as your part-time experience in a public library should position you well for making a transition.  As we’ve discussed in previous articles, you’ll want to use your application materials (cover letter, resume and references) to address transferable skills (skills that you’ve learned in one context that will serve you well in another).  Be sure your cover letter expresses a deep interest in and enthusiasm for the public library position and draws parallels between your experience and the needs of the position.  Your resume should also do the same by highlighting experience and accomplishments that relate to your current and previous positions, as well as the position you are applying for.  And finally, use your references wisely.  Be sure to prepare them in advance for the fact that you are applying outside of school libraries and ask them if there’s anything you can provide that will prepare them to speak about your ability to work in all kinds of contexts. 

Also in your application materials, you will want to talk about the core values and responsibilities of libraries (collection building, access, facilities, technology, instruction and research assistance, and connecting with a constituency)—all of these will be relevant regardless of setting (i.e. school versus public).  Be careful to avoid basing your comments on assumptions; be sure to base your comments on data gathered via experience in both public and school libraries.  For example, it’s really not well received when someone external to the operation makes a “Sure, I could do that” statement without any experience to back it up.  So tread carefully with things like “the only difference between school and public libraries are the clientele.”  I would bet there are many other differences (maybe funding, collections, access, and responsibilities) so go in with confidence in your experience, but also with an intellectual curiosity to explore those differences. 

And about the salary issue, this seems like something you could address (lightly) in the cover letter.  I wouldn’t advise making any firm statements about salary requirements in the cover letter, but in this case, since you have a concern about making it past the initial review due to the salary differences, you could use the closing paragraph of your cover letter to touch, reassuringly, on the subject.  In the closing paragraph, reiterate your interest in and enthusiasm for the position, and acknowledge the obvious with something like “I’m also aware of the considerable differences in salary for public librarians as compared to school librarians, and remain interested in switching fields, particularly because this position, and the missions of public libraries, are so appealing to me.”

Q:  In December of 2008, I completed an MLIS degree from a fairly well-respected state university. The whole time I was in library school (2.5 years) I worked as a circulation clerk in a medium-sized public library which is part of a three county system. When it came close to graduation, I started applying for professional jobs in that system. I got interviews, but no offers. At least once, I was never extended the courtesy of a phone call to tell me I had not been chosen. I ended up getting a good job with a five county library system in a small town an hour south of where I had been living. Reluctantly, I moved there. I am used to living in a vibrant college town which is full of culture and stimulating activity. I was bored and lonely in the small town. The library’s director was a tyrant who treated her employees in a condescending manner. I quit in three months after an unexpected personal tragedy, and moved back to the town where I went to college.  Since, I have been doing some teaching, receptionist work, bartending, and working in a greenhouse. I want to be a public librarian. I wouldn’t mind working in children’s, teen services, circulation, or reference. I am confused as to why the system I worked for during school won’t hire me, and no one else will either. I don’t think it’s my resume, which has been looked over at state conference by a library branch manager and met with approval. Maybe it is my interview skills. Maybe it is the fact that I quit the job in the small town so suddenly and it has affected my reputation negatively. My question is two-fold. What can I do to better my chances at landing a job in a library? Is there a way I can get more library related experience to put on my resume that would possibly help me in the future?  Sincerely, Bummed Bookworm

 
TA:  Dear Bummed Bookworm, I am sorry you are feeling dissatisfaction with your current situation.  I hope that I will be able to assist you in moving forward with a few thoughts and action items. 

First, you need to lose the negative attitude.  I can certainly understand your frustration at not having a library position, and having to make ends meet by teaching and bartending.  You did have a librarian position, but quit after three months in the position.  You described the library director as “condescending” and “a tyrant” and you added that there was also a personal tragedy that influenced your decision.  I acknowledge it may not have been perfect, but it’s time to get angry and get over it, because your negative feelings about the past seem to be influencing the present.  You need to find a way to describe your previous experience in a concise, honest, positive and professional way.  If you disparage one employer to another, their fear is that you’ll do the same to them when you’ve moved on.  And it’s just not professional. 

You’ve got a lot of things working for you, and that’s what you need to focus on.  First, you have a couple of years of solid public library experience.  Second, you’ve had your resume reviewed by others and feel pretty good about it.  Your interests are also wide (“children’s, teen services, circulation, or reference”), which broadens your opportunities. 

Your “To Do List” from me also has a few items to consider.  First, look at your cover letter and make sure its tone is positive and professional, and that it ties your experience to the needs of the position.  Your cover letter should project enthusiasm and confidence, and should be tailored to each position you apply for.  Second, you should consider going back to your supervisors at your first library system and asking them what you can do to make yourself a more competitive applicant for their positions.  Do you, for example, need to brush up on technology or repair any relationships from your previous employment?  If you ask someone to serve as a reference for you, be sure you ask them if they can be a GOOD reference for you for a SPECIFIC position.  Ask them to discuss with you their assessment of your strengths and weaknesses for the position, and ask if there’s anything they need from you to better prepare for the reference.  Make it easy for them to talk well about you.  Third, work your professional network to see if there are any volunteer positions available.  You will need to work carefully to build this into your already-busy schedule, but a volunteer position will allow you to keep your skills current, build a wider professional network, and rebuild a professional reputation.  Prove yourself to be trustworthy, reliable, professional and invaluable as a worker and a colleague.

Q:  A few months ago, I went to my supervisor to tell her I was unhappy with my job. She is the branch manager and I am the assistant manager. About a week after that she and her supervisor put me on a performance improvement plan.  I have been doing what I need to do and I own that I needed to improve in several key areas.  I hope I have shown that I’ve improved.  I am still unhappy. I feel I am not suited for management and would like to move into the part of the library world that will allow me to better help people access information–which is why I got into the field in the first place. I do not feel like a successful supervisor, leader or manager.  I am starting to research jobs and my biggest fear is that when I apply, the prospective employer will call my current supervisor and find out all about the PIP.   Have you got any suggestions about how to handle any questions?

A: There are a few things you need to do here.  First, you need to have a candid conversation with your supervisor.  Talk with her again about your job, but not in the context of “I’m so unhappy”—YOU are in charge of your own happiness, not your boss.  You should frame the conversation in terms of your career aspirations, or, as I tell others, what you want to be when you grow up.  If you really do not enjoy management positions, tell her that.  Tell her that while you were honored to be named Assistant Manager, you want to refocus your career on dealing more directly with the patron, and reposition yourself to be more on the front lines.  Now, you must know, that if you have an MLS, it is likely you will be in charge of people at some point in your career…it’s a natural progression of responsibility, especially with the extra credentialing.

And that brings me to point number two:  You may want to consider training opportunities that will develop and strengthen your management, supervision and leadership skills.  Even if it’s informal management of a project team, supervising volunteers or leading a library-wide committee, you will need these skills throughout your career.  Don’t shy away from it just because it’s uncomfortable.  Work hard and it will serve you well.

Point number three: If you have a very open relationship with your supervisor, and she is a supportive and understanding person, as part of your career aspirations conversation with your supervisor, let her know that you will continue to work hard in your current position, but that you also realize in order to make some changes, you may need to look for other positions.  And while you are applying for other positions, you will need someone who can give you an excellent employment reference.  Ask her what you can do now to earn her trust and confidence, and an excellent employment reference when the right position comes along.

If your supervisor is not a very understanding person, then you may not want to tell her that you are looking for work elsewhere. This can be a very tricky situation and if you do not find a job in a timely manner, the knowledge that you are looking elsewhere (and intending to jump ship) can cause tension and resentment. And this, in turn, can create a stressful and unhappy work environment.

If a job application requires that you provide references up front (some will and some will not), then do not use her name.  Once you get to the interview stage and you have a good feeling about the position (i.e., you would take it if they offer it to you), then you can approach your supervisor to see if she would give you a good reference.  Potential employers will understand if you do not use the name of your current supervisor on your reference list, and you can explain why in your interview with them. They will still, however, most likely want to speak with your most recent supervisor at some point, so so be prepared to have the conversation with her (see above).

And I’ll conclude with your final question, How do I handle questions from prospective employers about my job performance?  If they hear from your supervisor that there were performance problems, a lot will depend on how she has conveyed the information (which is why it’s really important to have a good conversation with her.  See points 1 and 3).  What you need to do is be honest, direct, brief and positive.  Try to convey what you learned from the situation.  And never, never, never disparage your current institution or supervisor.  For example, if the situation involved supervision of other staff (perhaps you were too lenient), what you would say in response is something like: “I acknowledge there were some challenges with supervision in my current position.  I was new to supervision and wasn’t really comfortable telling employees with more experience what they could or could not do.  I am working with my supervisor now to improve these skills, and feel I’ve made a lot of progress in this area.  Additionally, I’ve taken a couple of management and supervision training classes through Human Resources and really feel like I’ve strengthened my knowledge of management styles and approaches, and gained some confidence with supervision.”