Cracking the Library Job Market

1. Cracking the Library Job Market Eric Petersen H&R Block Business & Career Center Central Library Kansas City Public Library

2. An Outline • Let’s get to know one another! • About the H&R Block Business and Career Center • Getting a (professional) library job • Employment opportunities • Job searching, networking, and research tools • Employment alternatives to libraries (You gotta be realistic) • What I learned in my own job search • About cover letters, resumés, and interviewing • Wrap-up

3. The H&R Block Business and Career Center • www.kclibrary.org/business-career • 3rd floor of Central Library • Dedicated space for people doing research related to • Job searching, resumé writing, etc. • Small business development • Nonprofit development • Financial literacy

4. The H&R Block Business and Career Center • What’s in the Center • Materials (Many check out) • Computers/software (WinWay resumé, Business Plan Pro) • Seating • 3 full-time librarians available for research consultations

5. Employment Opportunities: Kansas City area • Organizational websites • KCMLIN: www.kcmlin.org • KLA: www.kansaslibraryassociation.org • MLA: www.molib.org • Public library websites • The big 6: KC Public, Johnson County, Mid-Continent, KCK, North Kansas City, Olathe • Outlying areas: Lawrence, Cass County, Topeka, etc. • School district websites • College/university websites

6. Employment Opportunities: United States • Organizational websites • ALA- ALA Joblist: http://joblist.ala.org • MPLA: www.mpla.us • State library associations • ARL: www.arl.org • MLA (Medical Library Association): www.mlanet.org • SLA (Special Library Association): www.sla.org • American Association of Law Librarians (www.aallnet.org) • Music Library Association (www.musiclibraryassoc.org)

7. Employment Opportunities: United States • Library Job Postings (www.libraryjobpostings.org) • Specific public libraries, school districts, colleges, universities • Other national (general) job sites linked on Block Center’s Get Hired page: www.kclibrary.org/business-career/get-hired

8. Job Searching and Networking Tools • Job searching tools • ALA’s Get a Job website: http://www.getajob.ala.org • SLA Career Center: www.sla.org/careers • Networking tools • National, state associations (Go into debt to join ‘em) • Books: Search subjects “Business networks” and “Job hunting” in OPACs • LinkedIn!: www.linkedin.com • Volunteering: A job search & networking tool • www.volunteermatch.org • www.allforgood.org • www.serve.gov

9. Research Tools • Library Literature & Information Science Full Text • Access via Mid-Continent Public Library (www.mymcpl.org) • Search subjects: Librarians/Qualifications, Job hunting • Each of these subjects has subdivisions • Books- Search subjects • Library science—Vocational guidance • Information science—Vocational guidance • American Library Directory: 2002-03 edition at Miller Nichols Library • UMKC Law Historical Collection: Z731.A53

10. Employment Alternatives to Libraries • While waiting for that perfect library job to come along, why not work at a • Bookstore • Museum/archive • Computer/technology store (Best Buy, Radio Shack) • School (As a paraprofessional) • Hospital (In medical records, HIM) • Any nonprofit (Marketing/development, outreach) • Anyplace where you will provide direct customer service • Think in terms of transferable skills (See handout)

11. What I Learned in My Own Job Search • You may have to go away (so that you can come back) • Both of the statements below are FALSE • “If you work for a while in a public library, you won’t be able to get a job in an academic library.” • “If you work for a while in an academic library, you won’t be able to get a job in a public library.” • Having a second master’s degree helps • Publishing in journals that serve both audiences (e.g., Reference & User Services Quarterly) will help

12. Other Library Job Searching Tips • Avoid cold resumés and cover letters • Show courtesy in seeking out informational interviews • Start work on a 2nd Master’s degree • Is tuition reimbursement available through your employer?

13. Cover Letters • A well-written letter shows that you’re truly interested in the job • LCSH for books on cover letters: Cover letters • Block portal: www.kclibrary.org/business-career/cover-letters • You MUST write a unique cover letter for EVERY position you are applying for • Generally ~1 page (could be a page and a half) • Address to hiring manager if possible • Identifying this person: Call the company and ask!

14. Cover Letters • Address (in no less than a sentence) each of the required & preferred qualifications • If none are listed, highlight the experience you’ve gained in your prior positions • In discussing your prior experience, focus on these ten positive characteristics (from WinWay Resumé): • 1: Communication skills • 2: Planning/scheduling ability • 3: Dependability • 4: Honesty • 5: Creativity

15. Cover Letters • In discussing your prior experience, focus on these ten positive characteristics (from WinWay Resumé): • 6: Ambition • 7: Delegation skills • 8: Teamwork mentality • 9: Assertiveness • 10: Enthusiasm

16. Cover Letters • Openings • “I am pleased to apply for the position of. .” • “I am writing to apply for the position of. . .” • Closings • “Thank you very much for reviewing my materials. I may be reached at. . . ” • Verify how you prefer to be contacted • BE POSITIVE!!! No statements about bills to pay, etc.

17. Resumés • LCSH for books on resumés: Resumés (Employment) • Block portal: www.kclibrary.org/business-career/creating-resumé • Some tips • In addition to the “standard stuff,” consider including volunteer experience

18. Resumés • Some tips • Other headings to include • Awards • Association/ organization memberships • Patents, publications • Accreditations • Licenses • Security clearances • Length • My advice: No more than two pages BUT • Resumés vs. curriculum vitae

19. Resumés: The Deadly Dozen • Always leave these things off your resumé • 1: Height • 2: Weight • 3: Health • 4: Sex • 5: Marital status • 6: Number of children

20. Resumés: The Deadly Dozen • Always leave these things off your resumé • 7: Religion (Unless applying to a religious organization) • 8: Ethnic origin • 9: Date of birth • 10: Photograph (Unless looks could matter, i.e. applying to be a model, etc.) • 11: Reasons for leaving previous jobs • 12: Salary history

21. Resumés • Resumé gaps • What if you did not work, or were not in school for several years? • Address these matters in a cover letter • If you could not work because you were caring for family members, note it • If you could not work because of an illness, note it • Which is better in 2010? An electronic or printed resumé? • An electronic resumé • Can be distributed to more people more easily • The only physical difference? The paper it’s printed on • If given the choice to send a hard copy or send by e-mail/upload, send it electronically

22. Interviewing • LCSH for books on interviews: Employment interviewing • Block portal: www.kclibrary.org/business-career/interview • Please refer to the handout (PPT slides) for more information on interview preparation • Much of the content is drawn from KU’s University Career Center guide Preparing for Job Interviews • KU’s Career Center is NOT open to the general public • Guide available online at http://www.kucareerhawk.com/s/762/images/editor_documents/handouts/InterviewBook.pdf

23. Take-Home Messages • The library job market is, and HAS BEEN, tough for a long time • I personally never believed in the Great Librarian Shortage • If you want to work in KC, consider making a temporary move away • Be open to becoming employed in a related field while you apply for that perfect library job

24. Thank you very much! • Eric Petersen, M.A., M.I.S.L.T. • Librarian, H&R Block Business & Career Center • 816-701-3645 • ericpetersen@kclibrary.org • Friend me on Facebook! Connect with me on LinkedIn!

25. Volunteering in a library: Some considerations • Consider carefully the commitment expected • You should be able to get a good reference or two from this experience • Many experts on volunteering agree: Volunteers should be held to employees’ standards, and should generally be able to do the same type of work • Volunteering in a small library (e.g., a medical library) will allow you to gain broad experience