Job Hunting Advice
Monday, August 8, 2005
Don’t you know, I was planning on writing about getting my job and someone else got to it first. But there are a couple of things that came up for me that wouldn’t have for Chad.
But first I have to agree that you’re most important asset is flexibility. I figured out what my basic needs were for comfortable living (high-speed Internet and cable mostly) so I knew I would be ok most places. It turns out dvr and bookstores should have been on that list but Tivo and Amazon mostly take care of those problems. If I had insisted on staying in my area, I would have had to wait for who knows how long for a job opening.
Also, apply not just for the jobs you want but ones that are close to it. I want(ed) to be a web librarian but anywhere I applied for that kind of job never even got back to me. Electronic services jobs I could get though, so I found ones with a web component. MPOW has an undergrad program for web design that I can go through without tuition. So if I wind up looking for another job I’ll be more qualified for the ones I want.
Qualifications are an important consideration. If you have a definite idea of what interests you, get experience however you can. As I liked making websites, I read voraciously about it and made websites, many (bad) websites. I worked on the one for my former job, did personal ones, helped other people with theirs and volunteered on organizational sites. And I slowly got better. My current boss has commented that already having a portfolio up was a big boost for me. Having the experience with a professional organization was also a plus for the library director. Librarians here are judged on community involvement and professional educational activities for tenure instead of publications.
Now the invisible elephant. Appearance matters. Yes it sucks but there you are. If you want people to take you seriously you have to look the way they expect a professional to look. I took it for granted that everyone knew this but my boss (who is so not the kind of person to notice the way a person looks) has mentioned twice out-of-the-blue how good it was for me that I wore make-up that looked professional.
You have no idea how funny this is unless you know me. My interview was the first time in ten years I wore base. I never wear makeup except here at work. But just as I invested in a good suit (with a skirt!) for the interview. I went to one of the expensive makeup counters in a department store and had a make-over. I told the the lady that I wanted to look polished and professional but I didn’t want the makeup to stand out. I also told her how I only wear blush for contour because of all the natural color I have in my cheeks. In short, I reference-interviewed myself and gave her the details she needed to give me what I wanted. The results were entirely worth it, not just for the colors she chose (best blush I’ve ever had) but for the techniques I picked up. I spent more on makeup that day than the entire preceding 5 years but it worked and now I wear it on a daily basis so I’m definitely getting my money’s worth.
One more thing is blogging. Yes some say it’s a bad idea. But it depends on your topic and how you handle yourself. I don’t mention my personal life or even my job here because a) I’m boring and b) it’s a narrow line between professional and unprofessional and I’m a coward. But the search committee was actively looking for someone comfortable with and knowledgeable about newer technologies and this blog demonstrated that for me. And yes, I do know for a fact that they looked at it.
To summarize, the best ways to get a job are to be flexible in what you’re looking for and to present yourself in the best, most professional way you can, both online and off.
Career Info — laura
November 1st, 2005 at 5:56 pm
Hello
I’m a MLIS student in Denver, and would like to post a link to this article on the newlib list. As you can imagine, this has been an ongoing discussion. Aside from our next project, it’s probably foremost in our minds.
Thanks, and keep writing.
Diane