Career Blog
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.
Making a Transformation: Leadership in a Public Library
Published: June 1, 2018 by Evelyn Hudson
When you think of a leader, who comes to mind? Maybe a former teacher, a government official or someone in business?
If you didn’t think about a librarian, you need to think again.
10 Takeaways from the MLIS Skills at Work Report
Published: May 25, 2018 by Evelyn Hudson
Whether you are getting your diploma this month or just starting the MLIS program, your end goal is the same: landing a great job. The iSchool at SJSU conducts an annual study of LIS-related job posting to see what employers are looking for. They reviewed 400 job postings in February and March of this year to determine the similarities among them. The MLIS Skills at Work: A Snapshot of Job Postings Spring 2018 report is an excellent resource for students at any stage in their schooling.
It’s Parliamentary: Leadership in a Government Library
Published: May 19, 2018 by Evelyn Hudson
Think your MLIS degree will keep you in the background? Think again.
“New MLIS holders are often reluctant or don’t quite understand how quickly they will find themselves in management and leadership positions,” Dr. Cheryl Stenstrom explains.
With this knowledge, how can we as MLIS students prepare to be successful leaders?
Top 10 Tips for Making the Most of Your Time at Conferences
Published: May 11, 2018 by Evelyn Hudson
Have you ever attended a conference? If not, it is likely you will at least once during your career. Big conferences like ALA Annual or Young Adult Services Symposium to small conferences like ones held by your state library association are excellent opportunities for professional development.
Library Leadership: Making the Grade in an Academic Library
Published: May 5, 2018 by Evelyn Hudson
We all know leadership is important. But what does leadership look like in an academic library?
You.com: Creating a Website to Market Yourself
Published: April 27, 2018 by Evelyn Hudson
You may already have a LinkedIn profile, a professional Twitter account or a detailed Indeed profile. But what about a website? Employers want to see samples of your work, descriptions of your job responsibilities and a showcase of your skills—preferably all in one place. What platform gives you all this and more? A personal website.
Lessons from a Teacher Librarian: What I Wish I Knew for My Interview
Published: April 20, 2018 by Evelyn Hudson
Going into my first job interview for a teacher librarian position, I had no idea what to expect. I had not worked in the field before, so I wasn’t sure what to emphasize as my strengths. The administration took a chance on me and now I am in my second year as a teacher librarian.
Networking on Twitter: Building a Professional Presence in 140 Characters
Published: April 13, 2018 by Evelyn Hudson
If you have a Twitter account, you probably use it like most people: live-tweeting the season premiere of your favorite TV show or sharing your opinion about the new restaurant in town. While this is a diverting activity, Twitter can also be really useful for networking and professional development—when used properly.
Library Leadership: Taking Charge in the Public Library
Published: April 6, 2018 by Evelyn Hudson
Many employers look for leaders. But what does that mean in the library world? A new series of webinars aims to answer that question.
Books Behind Bars: An Inside Look at Correctional Librarianship
Published: March 30, 2018 by Evelyn Hudson
As students deeply entrenched in the library world, you’ve probably read about the recent controversy over books in New York correctional institutions. If not, let me catch you up. This past January, it was reported that inmates would no longer be able to receive packages except from a few carefully selected vendors. This would mean that families can no longer send comfort items from home, including books, and inmates only have access to the few books sold by the approved vendors.
10 Things You Didn’t Realize Were Sabotaging Your Interview
Published: March 29, 2018 by Evelyn Hudson
You may feel like you’re often the best candidate for the job, but for reasons you can’t really pin down, you find yourself going to interview after interview with no call-backs. What’s going on?
According to a substantial number of LIS hiring managers, job applicants unfamiliar with interview expectations and etiquette frequently sabotage their chances without realizing what caused the damage. These are the issues that may be harming your interview outcomes:
Tips & Tricks for Getting the Most Out of Handshake
Published: March 23, 2018 by Evelyn Hudson
Let’s face it: finding a job can be a job in itself! With all of the job board websites out there, it can be difficult to find what is actually relevant to you.
Going Global: Using Competency O to Land Your Dream Job
Published: March 2, 2018 by Evelyn Hudson
Whether you are planning a career in academic librarianship, digital services, public librarianship or any information profession, competency O is essential knowledge.
The Wonderful World of Disney’s Animation Research Library
Published: February 9, 2018 by Evelyn Hudson
Special librarians, such as those at Disney, provide library services in a non-library-based environment.
Recommended Reading for Winter Break
Published: December 15, 2017 by Kate M. Spaulding
Classes are wrapping up, and there are about 6 weeks of academic freedom ahead (classes resume January 24). Six weeks? That’s a lot of opportunities to catch up on your non-required reading (also, napping).
The Internship Dilemma: Options for When You’re Already Time-Stressed
Published: December 12, 2017 by Kate M. Spaulding
Today’s wisdom comes from Kim Dority, information professional extraordinaire. I know we’ve heard about the value of internships (and making time for a couple worked for me), but Kim takes the time to address some of the rarely discussed practicalities.
Community Sourced Wisdom
Published: December 8, 2017 by Kate M. Spaulding
We’re almost to the end! Some of you are probably already done for the semester, while others still have a few days, so I thought this might be a good time for some alumni wisdom. You know, wise words to help us de-stress (that’s a real coping mechanism, right?).
Open Classes Can Open Doors
Published: December 1, 2017 by Kate M. Spaulding
If you’re someone who’s considering pursuing an MLIS or MARA degree, the Open Classes program is a great way to test the waters (and start earning credits!).
Today is the day the Open Classes sign-up form for the iSchool’s Spring 2018 semester becomes available. The exclusively online Open Classes program is open to everyone with a bachelor’s degree or higher, and it’s a fantastic opportunity for two distinct groups of people.
Demystifying Conferences
Published: November 28, 2017 by Kate M. Spaulding
If you’ve taken INFO 200 and watched Dr. Michael Stephens’ lectures, or taken his hyperlinked libraries class, or read his “Office Hours” column in Library Journal, or read his book, or ever heard him speak, then you know he is passionate about connecting with the global community of library folks. That made him the perfect choice for the Special Libraries Association Student Chapter’s (SLASC) recent virtual program, “Demystifying Conferences.”
Use Your ePortfolio for Your Career
Published: November 17, 2017 by Kate M. Spaulding
Whether you’ve recently completed your eport or are planning to soon, I have a few ideas about giving your hard work a longer shelf life.
For anyone doing their eportfolio this semester, November 20 is a date imprinted on their brains. That’s the day everything must be completed and approved in order to pass and, therefore, graduate. It’s kind of a big deal.