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

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!

Career Blog

Fun Fact: You Should Share a Personal Interest on LinkedIn

Published: February 7, 2022 by Jillian Collins

LinkedIn is the career platform to attract, interact and connect with potential employers and peers. Your profile is like a résumé, personal statement, and community endorsements. With all the highlights of professional space in your profile, what can you share – as a person – to answer the question: “What’s an interesting fact about you?” A fun fact can cultivate a professional relationship beyond your résumé.

Career Blog

We Need to Talk about Burnout

Published: January 19, 2022 by Jillian Collins

We all have high expectations set for ourselves. Burnout is when those expectations cross the line from the goals we celebrate, to defining who we are, by our metric of “perfection.” Knowing what burnout is – and isn’t – will help you now, before you find yourself caught in it later.

Career Blog

Create and Maintain a ‘Living Résumé’ to Make Life Easier

Published: January 12, 2022 by Jillian Collins

The purpose of your résumé is to open a door. Writing a résumé is a process that shouldn’t have to be done over and over. You just need your résumé to be tailored to fit the position, providing you have the skills and ability to perform in the position. A trick to streamline the résumé part of a job application is to create a “living résumé” – a one-stop-doc that you add and record all information you included in your résumé.

Career Blog

Reassess Your Self-Assessment for 2022

Published: January 3, 2022 by Jillian Collins

The career self-assessment is yet another amazing iSchool tool. The self-assessment is a template for you to conceptualize the functions, people, and setting you want for your career. It’s 2022, a new year with obstacles beyond your control. Consider the optimism and strengths gained both academically and personally to map out important aspects of interactions, duties, and physical work environment.

Career Blog

Direct Your Career by Managing Up

Published: September 10, 2021 by Jillian Collins

Managing up is the process of learning your boss’s management and communication preferences, and then adapting your communication in the workplace that supports those preferences. Clear communication among all staff members is one of the building blocks of great working relationships that enable teams to reach the goals of the organization. The same holds true for your relationship with your boss. 

Career Blog

Professional Visibility = Professional Opportunities

Published: August 20, 2021 by Jillian Collins

When you’re a student, it’s natural to focus your efforts on your courses, your GPA, and for a few highly organized types, your e-Portfolio items. But since the goal of getting a master’s degree is to land a job that can help launch a career you love, now is also a great time to be paying attention to an equally important asset: your professional visibility.

Career Blog

Your First Job is Step One to Your Career

Published: July 13, 2021 by Jillian Collins

Your first job is a huge milestone! As you complete your MLIS program, you’re gaining specialty tools to thrive in an expanding market. Your first job with your master’s degree is just the foot in the door. Your eventual career may end up being completely different from the door you first walk in, which is part of your growth as a professional, and the way your fellow professionals grow, as well.