Career Blog
Career Blog
Career development is on everyone’s minds. After all, that’s why most, if not all, of our students come to us. This blog is all about giving you the latest and greatest in what’s going on in the job market. Chock-full of tips and guidance, the Career Blog is a must-read for all students and job seekers.
Alternative LIS Career Spotlight: Working at EBSCO
Published: March 23, 2023 by Hannah Nguyen
Have you ever explored working for a library vendor? Vendors in
the library and information science space make a massive impact
by serving libraries all over the world. Many of these
organizations share the same philosophy and goals as information
professionals, and your experience and field of study should make
you a competitive candidate. I spoke with Tammy Ross, the Senior
Product Marketing Manager at EBSCO Information Services (and
iSchool alumni) about her career with one of the largest research
databases serving libraries.
Understanding Industry Jargon in LIS Job Ads
Published: March 20, 2023 by Hannah Nguyen
Applying for jobs can sometimes feel like its own part-time job.
Library positions are competitive and can be confusing for those
unfamiliar with the process. Many library and information science
(LIS) positions are in higher education or government, which
often use specific industry jargon in their descriptions. Here is
a list of explanations for some of the common terms found in
library job ads to help those currently on the hunt.
Getting Started in Medical Librarianship – Q & A with Katie Eidem
Published: February 22, 2023 by Hannah Nguyen
Have you been curious about medical librarianship? Medical
libraries fit under the umbrella of special libraries and allow
you to support the medical community by improving access to
critical health and medical information. On any given day, you
might be working with patients, practitioners, students, or the
general public. Although many medical librarians have degrees
related to the medical field, it isn’t a requirement. So how
should you get started?
What It’s Like Interning at the American Film Institute – Q&A with Sabrina Gunn
Published: February 17th, 2023 by Hannah Nguyen
Many Library and Information Science students worry about a lack
of experience or connections getting in the way of their career
prospects. Some students simply have a hard time narrowing down
their field of interest. An internship can be an excellent
solution for all of these issues. I interviewed iSchool student
Sabrina Gunn about her experience as a remote archival intern at
the American Film Institute (AFI). Find out what it was like to
work with their historic collection!
Four Free Career Development Resources Every Student Should Be Using
Published: February 10th, 2023 by Hannah Nguyen
Graduate students spend a significant amount of time juggling
school, work, family and personal obligations. It can make it
difficult to be aware of all the great FREE career resources you
have as a student. Here is a list of four of the best
career-building perks you can take advantage of right now.
How to Choose Your Career Pathway
Published: February 1st, 2023 by Hannah Nguyen
Many students enter grad programs without a clear direction or
lose sight of their original focus once they realize how many
career options are available. Since
a significant amount of iSchool students are making a career
change, it is understandable that they want to be sure they’re
making a wise decision. So, let’s discuss some ideas and
resources that will help you make a pathway choice you can feel
confident about!
Why You Should Learn About User Experience
Published: January 23rd, 2023 by Hannah Nguyen
User Experience (or UX) might sound familiar to you if you’ve
done any job hunting lately. In fact, UX was named one of the
most in-demand hard skills by LinkedIn and ranked on
Glassdoor’s
Top 50 Best Jobs to have in 2022. Libraries are no exception
to this trend with the job title User Experience Librarian being
named one of the
five library jobs on the rise by American Libraries
in June of 2022.
Do You Need a Reference or a Recommendation? Know the Etiquette to Ask!
Published: April 5, 2022 by Jillian Collins
We started with the basics in
“Do You Need a Reference or a Recommendation? Here’s How to
Tell.” Our other blog posts, “So, You
Need a Reference? Here’s What to Know,” and “So,
You Need a Recommendation? Here’s What to Know,”
explored and explained the nuances of each. Yet, a key aspect is
the professional etiquette of requesting a recommendation or
asking someone to be a reference – and that’s how this series is
going to end and putting knowledge into practice begins.
So, You Need a Recommendation? Here’s What to Know
Published: March 27, 2022 by Jillian Collins
A recommendation, in the professional world, is a glowing and
strong case made by someone on your behalf, when career goals are
within reach. There are so many situations that require a
recommendation. You need to know the types of recommendations you
can get, and help you understand when and how they can benefit
you.
So, You Need a Reference? Here’s What to Know
Published: March 8, 2022 by Jillian Collins
References come from people who know you, your work, and the
position you’re applying for. You want to make a direct impact
during your interview, but references are your rave reviews from
others. With that in mind, here’s a deep-dive reference
guide to references!
Do You Need a Reference or a Recommendation? Here’s How to Tell
Published: February 15, 2022 by Jillian Collins
Whether you’re applying for a job or an internship, it’s great to
have good references, e.g., people who have seen your work (and
how you work) and can confirm that you have what it takes to do
the job. Same with recommendations. But how do
references/recommendations work these days, and what process
should you follow when requesting one? We’ve got you covered!
Fun Fact: You Should Share a Personal Interest on LinkedIn
Published: February 7, 2022 by Jillian Collins
LinkedIn is the career platform to attract, interact and
connect with potential employers and peers. Your profile is like
a résumé, personal statement, and community endorsements. With
all the highlights of professional space in your profile, what
can you share – as a person – to answer the question: “What’s an
interesting fact about you?” A fun fact can cultivate a
professional relationship beyond your résumé.
We Need to Talk about Burnout
Published: January 19, 2022 by Jillian Collins
We all have high expectations set for ourselves. Burnout is when
those expectations cross the line from the goals we celebrate, to
defining who we are, by our metric of “perfection.” Knowing
what burnout is – and isn’t – will help you now, before you find
yourself caught in it later.
Create and Maintain a ‘Living Résumé’ to Make Life Easier
Published: January 12, 2022 by Jillian Collins
The purpose of your résumé is to open a door. Writing a résumé is
a process that shouldn’t have to be done over and over. You just
need your résumé to be tailored to fit the position,
providing you have the skills and ability to perform in the
position. A trick to streamline the résumé part of a job
application is to create a “living résumé” – a one-stop-doc that
you add and record all information you included in your
résumé.
Reassess Your Self-Assessment for 2022
Published: January 3, 2022 by Jillian Collins
The career self-assessment is yet
another amazing iSchool tool. The
self-assessment is a template for you to conceptualize the
functions, people, and setting you want for your career. It’s
2022, a new year with obstacles beyond your control. Consider the
optimism and strengths gained both academically and personally to
map out important aspects of interactions, duties, and physical
work environment.
Direct Your Career by Managing Up
Published: September 10, 2021 by Jillian Collins
Managing up is the process of learning your boss’s management and
communication preferences, and then adapting your communication
in the workplace that supports those preferences. Clear
communication among all staff members is one of the building
blocks of great working relationships that enable teams to reach
the goals of the organization. The same holds true for your
relationship with your boss.
Professional Visibility = Professional Opportunities
Published: August 20, 2021 by Jillian Collins
When you’re a student, it’s natural to focus your efforts on your
courses, your GPA, and for a few highly organized types,
your e-Portfolio items. But since the goal of getting a master’s
degree is to land a job that can help launch a career you love,
now is also a great time to be paying attention to an equally
important asset: your professional visibility.
Your First Job is Step One to Your Career
Published: July 13, 2021 by Jillian Collins
Your first job is a huge milestone! As you complete your MLIS
program, you’re gaining specialty tools to thrive in an expanding
market. Your first job with your master’s degree is just the foot
in the door. Your eventual career may end up being completely
different from the door you first walk in, which is part of your
growth as a professional, and the way your fellow professionals
grow, as well.
In case you missed it: How to Build Your Professional Network (Without Feeling Weird About It)
On-Demand Webcast with Kim Dority
Published: June 15, 2021 by Jillian Collins
So many people have networking anxieties. That’s why we’re lucky to have Kim Dority, the fantastic iSchool career consultant! Check out her presentation, How to Build Your Professional Network (Without Feeling Weird About It). Kim goes beyond networking as a ‘thing to do’: strategies, etiquette, and what you can do now that builds up a network bit-by-bit!
Not in the Job Description? Sell Solutions to the Hiring Manager!
Published: June 4, 2021 by Jillian Collins
If you’re considering information work for organizations other than a school, public, or academic library, you’re likely to encounter interviewers (for example hiring managers or HR people) unfamiliar with the range of strategic skills information professionals can provide. Even the job description may use terminology that describes things you know you can do, but with non-library language. Not to worry – you’ve got this. Seal the deal by selling the solutions your skills provide.