Career Blog: Interviewing
Is Your Workplace Toxic?
Published: September 3, 2019 by Greta Snyder
A large proportion of our iSchool students are also working at full- or part-time jobs, so while focusing on your education and future career as you move through the program is of primary importance, a key part of your ability to manage it all and really grow is being in a good work environment right now. So, what can you do if you’re not?
LIS Career Books Roundup
Published: August 26, 2019 by Kim Dority, SJSU iSchool Career Consultant
Looking for a good career book to help you explore your options
in the library and information professions? You’re in luck! The
following nearly two dozen titles all address aspects of being an
LIS professional, and should help you expand your thinking when
it comes to what career paths might fit you, how to build an
information career (or careers) that will be rewarding both
financially and personally, and how to move from student to
happily-employed LIS professional.
Stay Ahead of the Curve
Published: August 21, 2019 by Greta Snyder
Okay, so the summer was busy. No matter if you were working tons of hours, applying for jobs, taking classes, or attempting to finally do some self-care and binge watch your favorite series, go for a hike, or just relax (what’s that again?) you were trying to stay focused in the world-record heat. With fall about to kick in, don’t stress, just find strategic ways to catch up. That’s why I put together a June and July SJSU iSchool News and Blogs highlight reel. So, get smart, and watch this quick recap video, read the overview below and click on stories that will inspire you to keep pushing forward with your education and career.
Unexpected Benefit of the Interview: Confidence
Published: August 9, 2019 by Greta Snyder
Nothing like working a job that doesn’t utilize your education
and talent to suck the life out of you and drain your confidence.
If you haven’t already moved on, it is time to start breaking up
from this vampire job. This isn’t Twilight, you need to
leave all the drama and frustration behind and find a new job.
You are the star of your own career; when you start going for new
opportunities it will re-energize your passion, clarify your
goals, and give you that burst of confidence you need to succeed.
Go to that interview and get your groove back!
Interview Questions: Bring It On
Published: July 29, 2019 by Greta Snyder
Preparing for a job interview? Then prepare to be caught
off-guard with surprising behavioral questions those questions
designed to assess how you deal with unanticipated circumstances.
First of all, trust your interviewer, they do this all the time
so don’t doubt the point of the question. Instead focus on
entertaining and impressing. Cool, but how do you do that? By
identifying the goal of the question and using your creative
problem-solving skills to address the objective with a compelling
and clear anecdote. Don’t let the nature of the questions, no
matter how weird or intimidating, fill you with doubt. The
interviewer wants to get to know you and what it would be like to
work with you. Be yourself, see yourself in the job role and take
center stage. Be the star of your own interview!
The Secret Key to Finding the Perfect Job
Published: July 25, 2019 by Greta Snyder
Think of finding a job like finding a potential date on
Bumble or Tinder. While finding the right information environment
in person and starting out as “friends,” or in job terms as an
intern, volunteer, or para-professional, can definitely lead to
the offer, job searching, like dating, is now often online. So,
play career matchmaker for yourself, keep an open mind, cast a
broad net, and match your interests and skills to
possibilities.
Did You Read the 2019 SJSU ‘MLIS Skills at Work’ Report?
Published: July 17, 2019 by Greta Snyder
Don’t worry; I did! It probably got lost in the mix of heat,
fireworks, and endless emails that queued up when you finally
tried to take that well-earned one day off ever, and
that is why this blog is here to make sure you don’t miss
out.
Resume: Check; But, Are You Ready for the Interview?
Published: July 5, 2019 by Greta Snyder
Now that you have revised your resume are you ready for the
interview? Last week I focused on the process of upping your
resume game with the help of our rock-star SJSU
iSchool Career
Consultant Jill Klees. I cannot thank her enough for all her
insight and guidance; Jill should have a reality show, “resume
rescue,” no joke! So after you reach out to Jill for some
fine-tuning, it’s probable that your now high-impact resume will
land you a chance at job of your dreams. Are your job skills as
polished as your resume?
When Did You Last Update Your Resume?
Published: July 5, 2019 by Greta Snyder
So, I don’t know about you, but my resume is a hot mess. You’ve
all had so many varied, interesting experiences making you the
phenomenally skilled and adaptable blossoming professionals you
are today, but how to translate this into one to two pages to get
the job of your dreams? Take a deep breath, as summer is the
perfect time for a resume refresh that will set you up for job
search success.
Summer Reading List: Can’t Miss Essentials and Innovator Guidebooks
Published: June 12, 2019 by Greta Snyder
You started the SJSU iSchool
MLIS program because of your insatiable curiosity and desire
to grow your career; so, let’s keep up the momentum! Summer is a
great time to hit reset, recommit to your values and take some
time out for self-care and refreshing your thirst for knowledge
by reading some game-changing books. This week’s post will give
you a great reading list of interesting and essential nonfiction
books for LIS professionals to explore.
Immerse Yourself in New Ways to Learn
Published: May 31, 2019 by Greta Snyder
This summer, take the plunge into new approaches to learning!
There is no reason to limit where and how you learn, so take a
break from Canvas and explore. And what better way than to close
your eyes, recline by the pool, and pop in your headphones with
some brilliant LIS advice for company? Luxuriate poolside, hike a
new trail, go for a road trip, or enjoy an extra popsicle while
you keep building your career and expanding your perspectives
with podcasts: summer’s most portable learning tool.
LinkedIn: These Tips Will Keep Your Profile Working for You 24/7!
Published: May 22, 2019 by Greta Snyder
Congratulations to all SJSU iSchool students,
staff and faculty on a fantastic semester! I remember the thrill
of approaching summer break in Undergrad; the stress in the air,
some of us studying frantically while enviously watching those
students who had already completed finals drive off into the
sunset blasting Tom Petty’s “Free
Falling” out of their rolled-down windows. Online learning
can sometimes dull the impact of all your hard work and
perseverance. Please take a second right now to give yourself a
celebratory pat on the back, a chance to take a deep breath, and
dedicate a few hours to reflect on your learning and how you can
share all of your accomplishments with the world!
The Summer of LinkedIn: Let the Adventure Begin!
Published: May 14, 2019 by Greta Snyder
Summer break is in sight! What are your plans for the break? I
plan to go canoeing, dust off the grill to try out some new
recipes and to finally update my LinkedIn profile. Summer is the
best time for both outdoor adventures and investing in
yourself and future career. What better way than by updating your
LinkedIn profile? It is
time to show off all the amazing things you learned, skills you
mastered and the amazing projects you completed this
semester.
Why LinkedIn, Why Now?
Published: April 29, 2019 by Greta Snyder
I have to admit that 5 years ago or so when more of my friends
and co-workers started using LinkedIn, I thought “oh no, not
another Facebook!” While my initial cynicism was understandable,
this service has evolved into a powerful niche platform.
LinkedIn is now the
ultimate online destination for connecting
professionally, expanding your network, and marketing yourself in
a concise, transparent and fluid way. In fact, LinkedIn has become a key tool
for LIS students seeking to find jobs and build relationships
that will lead to a wide range of career opportunities. Now is
the time to diversify your job search and let LinkedIn do the hard work for
you!
One Thing You Can Do Right Now to Build Your Career
Published: April 23, 2019 by Greta Snyder
At this point in the semester, it can be challenging to not feel a little burned out and unsure of the best way to forge ahead. First, we are almost there; I can’t believe it is only a month away until end of Spring semester! Next, ask yourself “what can I do right now to build my career?” This focus is a great way to re-set your perception of progress and growth and re-center your approach to intentional development. Your vision can be telescopic in terms of envisioning your future pathways, but it also needs to be microscopic, otherwise you might miss out on the chances right in front of you, right now.
Searching for Twitter Advice and Interview Tips? You’ve Come to the Right Place…
Published: April 9, 2019 by Greta Snyder
Social media is an important tool for fast-forwarding professional development and engagement and a very useful resource for job and opportunity hunting, so I want to start exploring specific social media tools in the upcoming weeks. This week we will start with Twitter.
How to Answer that Pesky ‘Greatest Weakness’ Question
Published: April 1, 2019 by Greta Snyder
As I mentioned previously, I signed up for a free “5-Day Interview Bootcamp” through Big Interview. Day 2 focuses on a tricky question that comes up in most interviews: “What is your greatest weakness?” Is it okay to respond with “interviewing?” Luckily Big Interview once again comes to the rescue with an excellent strategy for nailing this question.
Exploring Opportunities for LIS Professionals
Published: March 22, 2019 by Greta Snyder
To learn more about LIS career paths and emerging nontraditional opportunities for information professionals, I interviewed Kennedy James, who currently works as executive director of operations at The Gottman Institute, a psychology research institute in Seattle, WA.
How to Answer the Dreaded Interview Question: “Tell Me About Yourself”
Published: March 11, 2019 by Greta Snyder
As I mentioned in my last post, I signed up for a free “5-Day Interview Bootcamp” through Big Interview and will be sharing what I am learning. Day 1 focuses on a question which shows up in 99% of interviews: “tell me about yourself.” Ugh.
Review of Big Interview and Resources Roundup
Published: February 27, 2019 by Greta Snyder
Interviews can be terrifying, and there is no better time to start conquering our fears than now.