Job Search Success for Library Students
It’s an exciting week for the Re:Generations blog - this is the
As a soon-to-be-librarian, I try to keep track of what's going on in the profession by reading library literature and related blogs, following conversations on listservs, attending brown bag sessions and research colloquiums and talking to librarians in the field. I highly value meeting other librarians, and always take to heart the advice they give me.
Knowledge and communication are two way streets though: do you keep track of what's going on in the library schools?
Let me enlighten you.
I think right now first year library students are busy trying to survive the first term and stay on top of all the assignments that will be due in the next couple months. As second year students, we've developed assignment survival techniques (or at least have learned to hide the stress) and have moved on to worrying about something more troublesome: getting jobs once we graduate in the spring. It certainly seems like the current economic recession and subsequent employment situation is all we talk about.
Perhaps we ought to stop talking about it though. We should probably start doing something to improve our chances of finding a job once we graduate in a few months. But what should we be doing in our last year of library school?
Fortunately, the Re:Generations blog is full of numerous tips. Karen recently posted some great advice about what students can do while in library school, and Meghan posted some practical interview tips, including a plug for the ReGenerations Resume Review Service (which I used last year, and recommend highly!!). Graham wrote about participating in professional partnering programs, such as our Partners Week Program at the University of Alberta which is now in full swing, and Christina discussed mentorship programs. More helpful blog posts can be found by viewing the labels at the bottom of the page.
This is where asking for a lot of advice comes in. As a working librarian, what do you think current library students can do to prepare for and succeed in the upcoming job search?
Labels: job search, library school, recruitment hiring, school-to-work
posted by Lisa @ 3:05 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
I like how you touch on the importance of meeting other librarians--which is KEY! I'd add that online networking can be beneficial, too. It lets you meet tons of people freely, make contacts, and join the conversation. And of course, contacts made online can (or rather should!) lead to in person meetings. Even if participation in a particular online community doesn't lead directly to a job, it helps you to join a community of professionals that will continue through your career.
Creating a web presence for yourself can help by making your name known, demonstrating your writing and technical skills, and generally showing your personality and strengths.
Those are great ideas. I think some students are not aware of how important their web presence is - or about how important it is to keep their web presence somewhat professional!
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