Career Blog: Career Strategy
Your Interview Outfit: What to Consider
Published: October 16, 2024 by Aryn Prestia
When preparing for an interview, it’s common to brush up on potential interview questions but it’s also important to consider how you will present yourself to a potential employer. A huge part of your first impression relates to what you are wearing.
Airtable for Librarians
Published: October 9, 2024 by Aryn Prestia
Project Management is one of many job skills that librarians will
find themselves using in the workplace. Though there are courses that students can take to
understand a bit more about the project management process,
ultimately the best way to learn project management is through
practice.
Coursera Career Academy for iSchool Students
Published: September 25, 2024 by Aryn Prestia
Being an MLIS student at SJSU comes with so many incredible
benefits. You have access to dozens of
specialized courses, fourteen active student
groups, scholarship programs, and
internship opportunities, all
of which can be accessed virtually to help you stay involved
no matter where you live. Adding to this slate of virtual
benefits is the Coursera
Career Academy, a free continuing education program for all
students.
Transitioning from a Library Assistant to a Librarian Job
Published: September 18, 2024 by Aryn Prestia
A majority of students in
the MLIS program here at the iSchool are already working in
library environments. Yet without an MLIS degree, the only
positions available to students are typically Library Assistant,
Circulation Aide, or Library Page. As you get closer to
graduation and begin thinking about the next step in your career,
what does it mean to take that jump from assistant/aide/page to
librarian?
A Student’s Review of This Summer’s ALA Conference
Published: August 7, 2024 by Aryn Prestia
The American Library Association hosted its annual conference
this past June in San Diego, California. Billed as “the biggest
library event of the year,” ALA Annual was attended by dozens of
SJSU iSchool alumni, faculty, and current students. I had the
opportunity to speak with one student attendee, Eddie Lagos, to
learn more about the experience.
What to Do After an Informational Interview
Published: July 31, 2024 by Aryn Prestia
So, you’ve planned an
informational interview and conducted
it, now what?
How to Tailor a Resume Using AI
Published: July 24, 2024 by Aryn Prestia
AI Chatbots like ChatGPT are one of the most accessible avenues
to Artificial Intelligence for students. Not only is it fun to
play around with new technology, but it can actually be
beneficial to the job search as well. In this post, we’ll be
taking a look at how AI chatbots can be useful while crafting
resumes.
What to Ask During an Informational Interview
Published: July 17, 2024 by Aryn Prestia
As we mentioned in a previous post, an Informational Interview is the perfect opportunity to get an understanding of the nuances of different library-related positions.
While it may take some time to identify the right interviewee and
schedule your meeting, planning for what to do during the actual
interview is essential for ensuring its success.
How to Ask for an Informational Interview
Published: July 2, 2024 by Aryn Prestia
Once in grad school, you likely learned rather quickly (or will
learn very soon) that there is more than one way to be a
librarian. There are dozens of specialities when it comes to
library science – Public, Academic, Special, Medical, Law, and
Archives, just to name a few. As you navigate the maze of career
choices, the journey from aspiration to actualization can be
overwhelming. This is where informational interviews come into
play, serving as invaluable tools for those looking to better
understand the nuances and day-to-day responsibilities of
librarians in practice.
Review Your MLIS Skills at Work
Published: June 18, 2024 by Aryn Prestia
For several years, the research-heavy MLIS Skills at Work report has been compiled by the Career Services department at the iSchool. The 2024 edition of this highly respected annual report for library job seekers nationwide is now available to help you get a jump on your career exploration!
Brush Up on Reader’s Advisory Skills
Published: May 24, 2024 by Aryn Prestia
While you do not have to be an avid reader to be a successful
librarian, it certainly helps. One of the most in-demand skills
for librarians according to SJSU’s MLIS Skills at Work
Report is reader’s advisory.
Kickstart Your Career with Membership in a Professional Organization
Published: April 29, 2024 by Aryn Prestia
No Creative Skills? Canva can help with that!
Published: April 11, 2024 by Aryn Prestia
Librarians often find themselves embracing a range of duties on
the job – a customer service specialist at the circulation desk,
a researcher at the reference desk, a sort-of referee in the
children’s section, and an all-around marketer and library
advocate at all other times.
Attending My First Professional Conference
LibLearnX 2024 - Baltimore, MD
Published: April 2, 2024 by Aryn Prestia
Though I am now in my second year here at the iSchool, I still
feel like a brand new student. This most likely has to do with
the constant exposure to new and exciting information as well as
the hunger to learn even more.
How to Get the Most Out of Joining a Professional Association
Published: June 20, 2023 by Hannah Nguyen
There are many professional organizations within the field of
librarianship that offer networking opportunities, scholarships,
grants, continuing education, and other resources and perks. You
may already be familiar with some of these organizations because
the iSchool provides a complimentary
one-year membership for students enrolled in Info 200. If
you’ve never joined a professional association before, you may
feel overwhelmed by the new emails or feel unclear about how to
contribute. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of
your membership.
Tips for Staying Positive During the Job Hunt
Published: June 15, 2023 by Hannah Nguyen
The process of searching and applying for, interviewing, and
following up on available jobs can be exhausting. It feels like a
part-time job and requires a lot of energy and attention. If you
haven’t landed your dream job yet, or have experienced some
rejection, it becomes very easy to feel defeated. Here are key
tips to help you avoid burnout and maintain an optimistic
outlook.
Should Librarians Be Worried About Artificial Intelligence?
Published: May 29, 2023 by Hannah Nguyen
As new technology emerges, there is often a discussion about how
librarian’s roles will change in relation to it. This
conversation has become especially relevant with the introduction
of new artificial intelligence (AI) tools. These innovations are
certainly going to affect America’s workforce, and librarians are
no exception to this. But what are the opportunities and risks?
Should we be worried?
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.
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.