Career Blog

Overview

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.

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Career Blog

Makerspace Librarianship
You Can Do It Your Shelf

Woman sitting at workbench making something

Published: August 15th, 2023 by Hannah Nguyen

Makerspaces have become a staple in many libraries around the country, and it’s easy to see why they are a match made in heaven. These collaborative spaces offer equipment, software, or supplies to help patrons create and innovate. Ideally, they are designed to reflect what their community wants, which means that no two makerspaces are alike. They can house anything from arts and crafts supplies to 3d printers, to a podcast studio. Patrons might use them to create physical objects, play music, or design a virtual reality room. Here are some tips for those interested in pursuing makerspace librarianship.

Career Blog

Excellent Questions to Ask at the End of Your Next Job Interview

Woman talking during interview

Published: July 26th, 2023 by Hannah Nguyen

The last question most people are asked in a job interview is “do you have any questions for us?” Experts agree that it is important to ask questions during this time to communicate that you are actively interested in the role. The answers you receive can also help you decide whether the institution is a good fit for you. Think about the questions you want to ask ahead of time so that you don’t freeze up and miss out on this opportunity. Here are some examples of the types of questions you can ask to leave a positive first impression.

Career Blog

What’s the Best Part About Working in Outreach?
Q&A with David Freas

David posing with students on a group visit

Published: July 7, 2023 by Hannah Nguyen

If you love interacting with people and have thought about innovative ways to make library services available to everyone, outreach librarianship might be for you! Outreach is an incredibly important aspect of libraries simply because communities need to know about services to use them. According to the American Library Association, outreach librarians are intended to serve everyone, however they are often focused on reaching people who underutilize the library, and communities who are underserved.

Career Blog

How to Get the Most Out of Joining a Professional Association

Illustration of professional people gathered

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.

Career Blog

Tips for Staying Positive During the Job Hunt

Woman writing in notebook and looking out window

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.

Career Blog

Should Librarians Be Worried About Artificial Intelligence?

Robot hand touching human hand

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?

Career Blog

Four Reasons to Join Student Leadership

Man during video call with six other people

Published: April 30, 2023 by Hannah Nguyen

There are ten student groups offered at the iSchool that offer a wide range of benefits to enrich your educational experience. Several of these groups are associated with larger professional associations (such as ALA, ASIS&T, SLA, and SAASC), and others have been created at the iSchool as a reflection of student interests. You may be familiar with many of them from emails advertising free panels, student mixers, or webinars. If you have ever considered joining student leadership in one of these groups, many of them are actively recruiting for the upcoming academic year. Here’s why you should consider nominating yourself to be a student leader:

Career Blog

How to Prepare for a Virtual Interview

Woman waving to someone on her computer

Published: April 20, 2023 by Hannah Nguyen

Even in organizations where most work is completed in-person, it is becoming more common to conduct interviews virtually. This especially applies to the first round of interviews, sometimes referred to as the “semi-finals.” In fact, according to a recent Indeed survey, 82% of employers are currently using virtual interviews. This format eliminates some of the stress of driving and locating parking at an unfamiliar location, but it comes with its own set of issues to consider. Although virtual interviews may feel less intimidating, they are often more competitive because they take less time and can be offered to more candidates. Here are some practical tips to help you prepare for your next virtual interview.

Career Blog

Alternative LIS Career Spotlight: Working at OverDrive

Woman reading e-book on tablet

Published: April 19, 2023 by Hannah Nguyen

The unprecedented events of the past few years caused many libraries to close to the public, resulting in a massive increase in digital library usage. The company OverDrive provides the largest digital media catalog in the world to libraries and schools through their award-winning app Libby. They are a certified B Corporation dedicated to improving literacy and supporting libraries and schools with their shared vision. I spoke with Mike Dresch, the recruiting manager at OverDrive about what it’s like to work for them and why information professionals in particular will find this work rewarding.

Career Blog

Alternative LIS Career Spotlight: Working at EBSCO

keyboard

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 database vendors serving libraries.

Career Blog

Understanding Industry Jargon in LIS Job Ads

Image of dictionary definition of the word jargon

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.

Career Blog

Getting Started in Medical Librarianship – Q & A with Katie Eidem

Image of book open in medical library

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?

Career Blog

What It’s Like Interning at the American Film Institute – Q&A with Sabrina Gunn

Image of film reel

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!  

Career Blog

Four Free Career Development Resources Every Student Should Be Using

Girl smiling next to her computer

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.

Career Blog

How to Choose Your Career Pathway

Image of feet facing arrows going in multiple directions

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!

Career Blog

Why You Should Learn About User Experience

Image of hands drawing web site wireframe

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.

Career Blog

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.

Career Blog

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.

Career Blog

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!

Career Blog

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!