Published: January 15, 2025 by Aryn Prestia 

It can be exciting to enter your final semester in the MLIS program. Whether that effort has been months or years in the making, you are now ready to demonstrate the culmination of your hard work in your e-portfolio and a degree that will lead you to a new career. 

Being so close to the finish line, it can be easy to get caught up in schoolwork, so it’s important to remember that there are still steps to take in order to help your transition from student to career professional. 

Polish Your Resume

Make sure you’ve included all new library-related experiences in your updated resume. Whether it’s an internship you completed, a position you held in a student organization, or a special studies project you may have completed with a professor, it’s important to include all library-related experiences (in addition to your wonderful new degree). If you want some advice on how AI may be able to help you as you update your resume, check out this post.

Conduct Informational Interviews

Whether you’re still trying to figure out what path to take or in the throes of the job search, informational interviews are an important part of your career strategy. Check out our series on before, during, and after the informational interview to get the most out of your discussion time.

Renew (or Begin) Your Professional Memberships

Professional organizations like the American Library Association (ALA), the Society for American Archivists (SAA) and more have many incentives for members. Whether it’s resume review services, networking opportunities, or even just job lists, these affiliations will help with your job search and later as you continue with professional development in your career. Plus, while you are still a student, membership fees are often significantly lower.

Search for Jobs

While this is likely self-explanatory, searching for jobs can, at times, be easier said than done. Fortunately, there are many library-specific job search sites and resources that can help make your search time more efficient. We’ve compiled a list here. 

Hopefully, this short checklist will help build your excitement of jumping into the world of professional librarianship. If you think you may need more specific advice, connect with the SJSU Career Center or visit the iSchool’s Career Development page for information on upcoming Online Career Workshops. 

Two More Things…

Here are some job opportunities on Handshake that might be of interest!

• Reference Librarian – Springfield City Library - Springfield, MA
• Reference Librarian – CSU Northridge – Northridge, CA