Exploring Non-Traditional Careers

Career Blog

Published: February 19, 2019 by Greta Snyder

Hi! I am excited to introduce myself as the Career Team Writer for 2019. My name is Margaret Snyder, and I go by Greta. At the iSchool, I am currently an MLIS student, and work as a Research Assistant and a TA for a MOOC on Blockchain Technology. I totally recommend checking out this free online course beginning March 11, 2019 and ending April 21, 2019.

The course is funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded to Dr. Hirsh and Dr. Alman, and will look at potential applications of blockchain technology to libraries and the information science field. The Blockchain MOOC will be taught by Jason Griffey, a librarian and current affiliate of metaLAB at Harvard. Jason is passionate about the opportunities and challenges blockchain might provide, and we would love for you to come join the discussion about emerging technology.

I will be graduating in Fall 2019, so am focusing on next steps, since I am in school to find a job I love. I am committed to investigating learning, development, and career opportunities in the information profession, and am excited to have the opportunity to share resources I find; so, let’s talk! Tell me your concerns, questions, and interests, and what I can research and share to help you succeed. My goal is to reconsider library careers and to find stories of discovering new paths and opportunities for information professional skills.

This week, I want to start by focusing on some resources. In terms of resources, Kim Dority’s 2016 book Rethinking information work: A career guide for librarians and other information professionals is an invaluable resource for all LIS students and for sale through Amazon, but graciously available through King Library for SJSU students here. As an Amazon reviewer of Dority’s book eloquently expresses, “if there is a better book for recent MLIS grads or librarians to help their career along it hasn’t been written yet!” I could not agree more.

Also check out more information and recommended reading on non-traditional careers from ALA and from SJSU. And here are some helpful online resources:

Looking at upcoming development opportunities, please do not miss the incomparable Jill Klees’s workshops. She offers an informal workshop series via Zoom called the “First Wednesday of the Month Series.” These interactive workshops focus on different topics from resume writing to job searching and offer an incredible chance for current students and alumni to connect and learn from her expertise.  

On February 6, 2019, I was lucky to be able to attend Jill’s monthly workshop and you can access the recording:  “Your LIS Career Starts Here!” My main takeaways are that Jill is a phenomenal resource for any career development related questions and that having a way to share your work online and having an online presence are crucial to connecting with other professionals, promoting yourself, and streamlining how potential employers can see with one click all of your success, hear your voice, and access your work. I will never miss another workshop. Jill pointed out that MLIS students need the most help with resumes and interviews, and that her workshop series will address these concerns. For resumes, take advantage of resume resources through the awesome updated iSchool website and for interviews, Jill recommends checking out iSchool resources on interviewing and testing out Big Interview, an online interactive mock interview tool. I plan to be brave and watch myself responding to interview questions to critique a simulated performance. I will let you know about my experience testing out this tool in my next post.


And finally a quick look at new Non-Traditional LIS Jobs posted in Handshake

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