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I have just moved to a completey different part of the United States. I am on a 6 month unpaid leave of absence from my County job back in the state that I am originally from, just in case anything happens.
This is the question: Should I apply for clerical/ibrary assistant jobs that I am technically over-qualified for, for the sake of
1: not being unemployed and 2: still be able to maintain library employment? I have never been in the position of not having a job, but my husband was accepted to medical school here on the East Coast, so we had no choice but to move.
I see getting a clerical job as a temporary way to give me experience working in the area, and it could also serve as a bridge to an eventual librarian position, or at least another way to network. Is this the general opinion? Or do others disagree? Additionally, I would assume that the interview/hiring process for paraprofessional jobs are less lengthy, so I may be able to attain one quicker. I know that the ALA code of ethics discourages hiring MLIS people into clerical jobs, but, because of my situation, I am unsure how I feel about this. I am also looking at substitute librarian job openings, but just want to keep my options open. Any advice is appreciated!
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librarian_1 wrote:I have just moved to a completey different part of the United States. I am on a 6 month unpaid leave of absence from my County job back in the state that I am originally from, just in case anything happens.
This is the question: Should I apply for clerical/ibrary assistant jobs that I am technically over-qualified for, for the sake of
1: not being unemployed and 2: still be able to maintain library employment? I have never been in the position of not having a job, but my husband was accepted to medical school here on the East Coast, so we had no choice but to move.
I see getting a clerical job as a temporary way to give me experience working in the area, and it could also serve as a bridge to an eventual librarian position, or at least another way to network. Is this the general opinion? Or do others disagree? Additionally, I would assume that the interview/hiring process for paraprofessional jobs are less lengthy, so I may be able to attain one quicker. I know that the ALA code of ethics discourages hiring MLIS people into clerical jobs, but, because of my situation, I am unsure how I feel about this. I am also looking at substitute librarian job openings, but just want to keep my options open. Any advice is appreciated!
You should do what is best for you. Some libraries would hire you and others will not. You will not know until you try. Temporary or substitute librarian jobs sound like a better fit for your desired career path. Some libraries did not give much credit to clerical work when interviewing potential librarian candidates. It depends on the level of work and if you can "sell" yourself well.
Brian C. Gray Head of Reference & Engineering Librarian Kelvin Smith Library Case Western Reserve University http://blog.case.edu/bcg8bcg8@case.edu
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If the position is in a small library where you will be doing "everything" you can easily use this as great work experience. If you are looking at a position in a larger library where you will be locked into only one type of work, I would be more concerned. I personally would be more likely to hire someone who has worked in a library, even at a "lesser position" than someone who just sat at home. But I have been in similar positions and so see this as a positive personal trait, not a professional detriment.
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bcgray wrote:
You should do what is best for you. Some libraries would hire you and others will not. You will not know until you try. Temporary or substitute librarian jobs sound like a better fit for your desired career path. Some libraries did not give much credit to clerical work when interviewing potential librarian candidates. It depends on the level of work and if you can "sell" yourself well.
I am in a similar position as the original post. Was a finalist for a professional job at a university library. They went with the other candidate. Now there is a non-professional position open and i was encouraged to apply. I am getting to the point where i just need a job, and it wouldn't be a bad thing to be in the system. But it would be awkward working with the person who beat me for the job I wanted. Would they really hire me with my MLIS and years of para-professional experience, knowing I would likely leave the first chance I get? One thing I think about is that my job experience is not in academic libraries, and working the associate job could be a good way to get academic experience, if that is what I really want to do. But it just seems like a step backwards. I guess my question is, which is worse: showing a succession of non-professional jobs on your resume, or extending your employment gap, which in my case is already approaching 4 years (broken up with internships and part-time work)?
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Librarylad wrote:I am in a similar position as the original post. Was a finalist for a professional job at a university library. They went with the other candidate. Now there is a non-professional position open and i was encouraged to apply. I am getting to the point where i just need a job, and it wouldn't be a bad thing to be in the system. But it would be awkward working with the person who beat me for the job I wanted. Would they really hire me with my MLIS and years of para-professional experience, knowing I would likely leave the first chance I get? One thing I think about is that my job experience is not in academic libraries, and working the associate job could be a good way to get academic experience, if that is what I really want to do. But it just seems like a step backwards.
I guess my question is, which is worse: showing a succession of non-professional jobs on your resume, or extending your employment gap, which in my case is already approaching 4 years (broken up with internships and part-time work)? Who encouraged you to apply? If it was the hiring organization, they must be open to considering you. Neither situation (paraprofessional or gap) is more negative than the other. People are in both situations all the time and are still considered strong candidates because what they do, how they sell themselves, and how they express the ability to help an organization. Your primary concerns should be: 1. Are you meeting the current requirements of job ads? 2. Do you feel comfortable with your current skill set? If no, on either, you pick the path that helps to solve the weakness. And sometimes it comes down to simple, you must pay the bills.
Brian C. Gray Head of Reference & Engineering Librarian Kelvin Smith Library Case Western Reserve University http://blog.case.edu/bcg8bcg8@case.edu
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That sounds good, in theory. But from personal experience, I'm not sure working a para-professional position would help. I've been looking for a professional job since I graduated with no luck. I have also applied for many para-professional positions, because I've been so desperate for full-time work. But I haven't even received an intervew for any of them. In most cases I've been either overqualified, or as someone else said, they're afraid I would leave them for a professional position elsewhere.
My opinion is, by all means, apply for para-professional work, but just keep in mind that an MLS graduate may not be the ideal candidate for them.
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bcgray wrote:
Who encouraged you to apply? If it was the hiring organization, the must be open to considering you...
Your primary concerns should be:
1. Are you meeting the current requirements of job ads?
2. Do you feel comfortable with your current skill set?
The person who interviewed me for the professional position told me about the associate position. She is not on the search committee for this job, however, so does not speak for them. Since getting my MLS I've sent out only 3 resumes, and been a finalist for one of those positions. Not a bad ratio, I guess, so I feel fairly confident in my skills and how they match the jobs i choose to apply for.
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whitneyskywalker wrote:That sounds good, in theory. But from personal experience, I'm not sure working a para-professional position would help. I've been looking for a professional job since I graduated with no luck. I have also applied for many para-professional positions, because I've been so desperate for full-time work. But I haven't even received an intervew for any of them. In most cases I've been either overqualified, or as someone else said, they're afraid I would leave them for a professional position elsewhere.
My opinion is, by all means, apply for para-professional work, but just keep in mind that an MLS graduate may not be the ideal candidate for them. If you have not received an interview, how do you know that you are "either overqualified" or "they are afraid I would leave"? There are other reasons to not consider canididates for interviews.
Brian C. Gray Head of Reference & Engineering Librarian Kelvin Smith Library Case Western Reserve University http://blog.case.edu/bcg8bcg8@case.edu
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Librarylad wrote:The person who interviewed me for the professional position told me about the associate position. She is not on the search committee for this job, however, so does not speak for them. Since getting my MLS I've sent out only 3 resumes, and been a finalist for one of those positions. Not a bad ratio, I guess, so I feel fairly confident in my skills and how they match the jobs i choose to apply for. She may not be on the search committee but you do not know what pull she may have within the organization. Search committees do all the work but many people put forth an opinion on if a person should be hired or not. She may be aware that the search committee would consider you. She may be aware that historically it has been done before. She may see an opportunity to get you in the door with a potential future position available.
Brian C. Gray Head of Reference & Engineering Librarian Kelvin Smith Library Case Western Reserve University http://blog.case.edu/bcg8bcg8@case.edu
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