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.
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.
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.
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.
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 e-Portfolio for Your Career
Published: November 17, 2017 by Kate M. Spaulding
Whether you’ve recently completed your e-Port or are planning to soon, I have a few ideas about giving your hard work a longer shelf life.
For anyone doing their e-Portfolio 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.
Library Journal Placements and Salaries Results Are In!
Published: November 10, 2017 by Kate M. Spaulding
“Recent graduates are experiencing faster placements and earning more money than last year’s” is the big take away from Library Journal’s Placements and Salaries: 2017.
LIS Jobs in Pharma: What They Are, Where They Are, and How to Land One
Published: October 20, 2017 by Kate M. Spaulding
Have you thought about a LIS career that’s NOT in a library? If so, or if your curiosity is piqued, join the Career Development team on Wednesday, October 25 at 5:30pm Pacific for LIS Jobs in Pharma: What They Are, Where They Are, and How to Land One. Mindy Beattie, Associate Director of Library & Information Sciences at Gilead Sciences, will present via Collaborate, and it sounds both interesting and informative.
What Search Committees Want You to Know
Published: October 17, 2017 by Kate M. Spaulding
Last week, the iSchool’s Society of American Archivists Student Chapter (SAASC) presented “Job Hunting: What Search Committees Want You to Know” via Collaborate. Gene Hyde, University of North Carolina at Asheville’s Archivist and Head of Special Collections, presented national research findings on what search committees look for in library and archives applicants. So, more generally, how to get a job.
4 Things I Learned at Library 2.0
Published: October 13, 2017 by Kate M. Spaulding
I attended Library 2.0 earlier this week, and while the title of this post implies that I’ll be talking about cool new makerspace ideas, I’m not. It was incredibly interesting to view sessions through my Career-Blog-colored-glasses because it was like watching LIS skills in action. Take note – if they’re not already part of your resume and cover letter language, they probably can, and should, be!
3 More Ways Library 2.0 Can Boost Your Career
Published: October 10, 2017 by Kate M. Spaulding
I recently wrote about how you can use Library 2.0 to boost your career. Well, I’ve been thinking about it some more and have come up with a few additional ideas. Library 2.0: Makerspaces is tomorrow (don’t worry, sessions will be recorded), so now seemed like a good time to share. I’d love to read ideas from you in the comments!
Choosing a Professional Organization
Published: October 6, 2017 by Kate M. Spaulding
If you are enrolled in INFO 200 this semester, then you qualify for a free one-year membership in a professional organization.
Update Your Resume with Jill Klees
Published: October 3, 2017 by Kate M. Spaulding
On Thursday, October 5 at 5:30 PM PDT, SJSU Career Center liaison extraordinaire, Jill Klees, will hold her monthly workshop via Collaborate. Her presentation – “Update Your Resume” – is timely for you if you are:
- preparing to graduate
- considering an internship
- a recent graduate
- looking to get a job.
So, in sum, it will be useful for everyone!