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Rank: Newbie
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Joined: 11/5/2008
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Location: Houston, TX
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I have been browsing the boards for a few days, and I have a some questions. As a little background, I am a library student with several years experience as a paralegal. I am looking for a job in a library. Any library. I just want to get experience. But I'm a little confused because I see postings about not hiring people with an MLS for paraprofessional jobs because they'll just leave eventually.
So, my questions are:
1) Should I even be trying to apply for library assistant-type positions? I've had one interview that I thought went well, but now I'm wondering if I should have talked about library school and wanting experience. I thought it was a plus for the position, but maybe now they won't hire me because I clearly want to move up to a librarian position?
2) What if I am hired at, say, an academic library, but when I finish my degree I decide to apply for a systems librarian job at a corporation? Would the paraprofessional academic experience count as "experience" for a job in a different environment? Or once you get on a professional track at an academic library, would I have to (hopefully) move up to a systems librarian or IT position within the academic community?
Thank you.
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Rank: Advanced Member
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Joined: 3/3/2008
Posts: 94
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Location: kansas
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CLG wrote:So, my questions are:
1) Should I even be trying to apply for library assistant-type positions?
2) What if I am hired at, say, an academic library, but when I finish my degree I decide to apply for a systems librarian job at a corporation? Would the paraprofessional academic experience count as "experience" for a job in a different environment? Or once you get on a professional track at an academic library, would I have to (hopefully) move up to a systems librarian or IT position within the academic community?
If you are still working on your master's, you are in a position where someone would, I think, want to hire you as a para, since they will be able to try you out in that capacity while you work on your degree. So, yes, to question #1--you should apply for para positions. I have an employee in your exact situation and I am very happy to have someone committed to getting a master's while learning the ways of this particular library. As to question #2. . . which seems to be three questions. . . getting experience in the basics of librarianship should be a positive. However, I have no experience in corporate libraries, so I can not say the work will transfer as a skill. It should count as far as willingness and dedication, etc. If you are interested in systems and IT positions, I would think people would see those skills as transferable. Different public libraries and academic libraries have differing systems, so employers should expect some level of learning curve. . . but I could be just whistling in the dark here.
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Rank: Advanced Member
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Joined: 11/19/2007
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Location: New York
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Yes, you should be applying for library assistant positions. You will gain invaluable experience from these positions. And, yes, paraprofessional experience counts, even in different types of libraries. Remember that skills are transferable, and technical or systems responsibilities can be essentially the same in very different library settings. My colleague and I wrote about very similar issues in our Career Q&A column. Check out these two postings: Q: Am I overqualified for library positions?
Q: How do I get a job with little (or no) experience AND no degree?Finally, don't give up, keep applying for positions, and once you get one, savor all the experience you can get.
Susanne Markgren Digital Services Librarian Purchase College, SUNY
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Management - Moderator
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Joined: 1/2/2008
Posts: 348
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Location: Cleveland, Ohio
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CLG wrote:1) Should I even be trying to apply for library assistant-type positions? I've had one interview that I thought went well, but now I'm wondering if I should have talked about library school and wanting experience. I thought it was a plus for the position, but maybe now they won't hire me because I clearly want to move up to a librarian position? You should always be honest so it does not come back to bite you later. If you are not honest, you may be hired by an organization where you are not happy. Or, you may not be a right fit for the organization. The library profession is a small world. And you never know how might know someone that might know you.
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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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Management - Moderator
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Joined: 1/2/2008
Posts: 348
Points: 922
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
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CLG wrote:2) What if I am hired at, say, an academic library, but when I finish my degree I decide to apply for a systems librarian job at a corporation? Would the paraprofessional academic experience count as "experience" for a job in a different environment? Or once you get on a professional track at an academic library, would I have to (hopefully) move up to a systems librarian or IT position within the academic community? It will count as experience if you are doing the work or gaining the skills needed by the hiring the organization. The location, type of library, or type of job really does not matter to the hiring organization if you have experience and skills they need. It is also critical in how you personally sell yourself in writing or 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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