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Rank: Newbie
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Joined: 5/1/2009
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Location: Denton, Texas
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To start off with some background information, I am a Texas MLS student who will be graduating two weeks from today. I have been searching for jobs ever since last fall yet have been unable to locate many jobs for entry level librarians. Since January, I have been in an internship for a public library, and this is also the only REAL library experience I have had. Most positions that are posted usually require 2-3 years of experience, which puts me off almost immediately because the employers are likely to look right over my application. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't know how to expand my search beyond the library.
Also, I am completely unsure of how to sell myself in a cover letter. Most of my skills are in customer/patron service, data entry, and some cataloging. I'm not sure how I can use these skills to really make my resume and cover letter stand out to an employer. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Management - Moderator
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Joined: 1/2/2008
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Location: Cleveland, Ohio
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First, you may not get any interviews until you finish your degree or at least not until the final semester. The question have you got interviews? The cover letter should address the needs of the job ad. The job ad is your guide to what and how to include things in your cover letter. Your address their needs using your skills and experiences. You can apply for the jobs with 2-3 years of experience, if you cover letter exactly matches their needs. It should leave no doubts you can meet their needs. The amount of years if a guide to them to narrow a pool and represents when they think someone will have the skills they need.
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: Newbie
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Joined: 5/1/2009
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Location: Denton, Texas
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I have not had any interviews yet, bcgray. Also, most of the jobs I have seen do not ask for a cover letter. Should I still include one despite this? I had been told by others that some companies when confronted with a stack of applications will usually glean over or even put aside cover letters.
Thank you for the response and advice. :)
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Jumpstart - Moderator
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Joined: 11/18/2007
Posts: 73
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Location: Wisconsin
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BookSeeker wrote: Also, I am completely unsure of how to sell myself in a cover letter. Most of my skills are in customer/patron service, data entry, and some cataloging. I'm not sure how I can use these skills to really make my resume and cover letter stand out to an employer. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Writing a good cover letter is an art. The cover letter is not about you...it's about the organization. Look for keywords and skill sets in the posted job invitation or job description, and tie in your skills with what the employer is looking for in the cover letter. Use dynamic words; get their attention right off the bat. Proofread it numerous times; ask other people to proof your cover letter, and never, ever write a generic cover letter for any job you are applying for.
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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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BookSeeker wrote:I have not had any interviews yet, bcgray. Also, most of the jobs I have seen do not ask for a cover letter. Should I still include one despite this? I had been told by others that some companies when confronted with a stack of applications will usually glean over or even put aside cover letters. No job I ever applied to specifically said include a cover letter. It is standard business practice to include a cover letter when applying for professional positions. Unless you are told to not submit a cover letter, it is expected by most people. I suspect you are not getting interviews because it is not clear from just your resume that you match the positions you are applying.
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: Jumpstart - Moderator
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Joined: 11/18/2007
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Location: Wisconsin
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bcgray wrote: No job I ever applied to specifically said include a cover letter. It is standard business practice to include a cover letter when applying for professional positions. Unless you are told to not submit a cover letter, it is expected by most people.
I suspect you are not getting interviews because it is not clear from just your resume that you match the positions you are applying. Agreed. Do not sabatoge your own job market success by not submitting a dynamic cover letter. You're unique, the institution you are applying to is unique, and your cover letter should be unique. Best of luck.
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Rank: Newbie
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Joined: 5/1/2009
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Location: Denton, Texas
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Thank you both, bcgray and jbruckner. I will definitely get underway writing customized cover letters for the jobs I apply for. Hopefully that will allow me to stand out to the potential employers.
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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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In added benefits to customizing cover letters will be that you will feel better prepared 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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Rank: Newbie
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Thanks for the information shared here about the Job Hunting tips. This information would be more useful for the job seekers in finding their job. I too got a good job in the Cloud Computing Industry through the Job Search.
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