iStudent Blog: Careers
Consider a Dynamic Career in Informatics
Published: May 10, 2022 by Hilary Meehan
The SJSU iSchool offers three fully online, master’s-level degree options: the MLIS program, the MARA program and the MS in Informatics. Today, we will explore the cutting edge field of informatics and the exciting career opportunities it offers for iSchool students.
Community Impact: Call for Conference Posters
Published: March 17, 2022 by Hilary Meehan
The SJSU iSchool invites graduate students to submit posters for presentation at the upcoming California Library Association (CLA) and American Library Association (ALA) conferences. Posters should represent the student’s research projects, innovations and/or internship experiences as related to a specific information community.
MLIS Career Pathways: A Look at Academic Librarianship
Published: November 17, 2021 by Leslie Parry
Last month the iSchool Student Services team hosted a new Lunch and Learn Workshop as part of their ongoing series on MLIS pathways. The topic was academic librarianship and featured School of Information faculty members Dr. Deborah Hicks, Alison Johnson and Dr. Linda Main. What makes this pathway unique? As Taryn Reiner, student support specialist, explains, “Academic libraries are found in institutions of higher education – in community colleges, private colleges, major universities or specialized research institutes.” They employ about 26,000 professional librarians and account for 48 percent of the positions analyzed in the most recent MLIS Skills at Work report. The roles and responsibilities of academic librarians are diverse; they include instruction, research support, project management, technical services, reference and outreach. Over the course of the hour-long program, the panel shared their thoughts on the classes, skillsets and experiences that can best prepare students for work in this field.
MLIS Career Pathways: A Look at Information Intermediation and Instruction
Published: August 12, 2021 by Leslie Parry
If you haven’t yet attended a session, be sure to check out the iSchool Student Services Lunch and Learn webinar series. These virtual chats, held live over Zoom, give students a chance to interact with the Student Services team, ask the faculty burning questions, and learn more about opportunities for success at the San José State University School of Information. Of particular note are the webinars exploring different MLIS career pathways. Most recently the featured pathway was Information Intermediation and Instruction. Panelists included faculty members Dr. José Aguiñaga, Dr. Lili Luo, and Director of Online Learning Bethany Winslow. As Sheila Gurtu, the webcast host and Student Outreach Specialist, explains, this pathway prepares students for careers in reference services, instructional design and related information settings. Among the topics discussed were essential skills, recommended coursework and potential professions. Read on for highlights from this excellent discussion.
Building Your Professional Network as an iSchool Student
Published: July 27, 2021 by Leslie Parry
Kim Dority, the iSchool Student and Alumni Career Advisor, recently gave an insightful presentation about an essential (if occasionally dreaded) topic: “How to Build Your Professional Network (Without Feeling Weird About It).” To some people, the idea of networking can be exciting and invigorating; to others, awkward and stressful. No matter if you’re an extrovert or an introvert, a graduate student or a seasoned librarian, network-building is core to the profession. But don’t let your anxiety get the better of you. As Dority describes, it’s not about schmoozing or having transactional, superficial relationships; it is about growth, connection, and helping your colleagues and friends. “Building a valuable, sustainable network is a long-term play that involves creating genuine relationships of mutual benefit,” she says.
10 Ways to Build Career Opportunities as a Student
Published: February 7, 2021 by Leslie Parry
Last semester the San José State University Special Libraries Association student chapter presented “Building Career Opportunities in Graduate School,” a program featuring Kim Dority, career advisor at the School of Information. Dority, who is also the founder and president of Dority & Associates, an information strategy and content development company, gave a generous and insightful presentation about the ways in which iSchool students can start preparing for their future professions now. From keeping a journal to engaging professionals to practicing small talk, she says even small actions can make a big difference. It takes some planning, initiative and resourcefulness, but maximizing your time in graduate school will pay off in the end. Below are Dority’s top 10 tips for building career opportunities as an iSchool student.
Looking for a Job? Check out the Career Blog!
Published: April 19, 2020 by Havilah Steinman
San José State University’s iSchool has an incredible set of career resources for alumni and current students to access. Being in an online program does not mean you’re completely on your own when looking for internships, volunteer opportunities or jobs. In fact, it actually means you are at an advantage because you have access to incredible career resources at the touch of a button. Of those resources, the career blog is one of the best. Written and curated by the Student Research Journal’s Editor-in-Chief Greta Synder, the resource is full of information from the perspective of this recently graduated student!
A Snapshot of Corporate Archives
Published: May 15, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
What does Citi Center, Levi Strauss & Co., Vanguard, Cargill, Carhartt Inc., IBM and The Chautauqua Institution have in common? They all have corporate archives! The Society of American Archivists Student Chapter (SAASC) hosted a fantastic event where archival professionals offered insight into their industry. For the sake of brevity, this post will focus on Citi Center, Levi Strauss & Co. and Carhartt Inc., but keep a look out for the article representing the other presenters on our Medium page later this year. Hosted by Sarah Thornton, iSchool student and chair of the SAASC, this invaluable event opened up the archival world to students at the iSchool.
Career Coaching Hour with Jill Klees
Published: March 14, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
Do you have a burning career development question you haven’t been able to get an answer to? Do you wish you could ask our iSchool Student and Alumni Career Consultant Jill Klees these questions live and “in person”? Well, in addition to hosting monthly Career Workshops, Klees has begun a new tradition of Career Coaching Office Hour.
Career Resource Nuggets with Jill Klees
Published: February 28, 2019 by Havilah Steinman
On February 6, Jill Klees, iSchool student and alumni career consultant, hosted an online career workshop titled, “Your LIS Career Starts Here!” The workshop was full of excellent information nuggets for career-oriented students here at the iSchool. I’m excited to share some of them with you today.
Star Blog Posts of 2017 and 2018
Published: December 3, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
I thought it would be fun to look back at all the articles I wrote as the lead writer for the iStudent Blog over the last year or so and share my favorites with you. I’ve had the opportunity to interview students, alumni and faculty and write about topics ranging from student loans to setting goals. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my articles and found them helpful too.
Learn About Technology Trends at the iSchool
Published: November 13, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
According to a new Gartner report, the top 10 strategic technology trends for 2019 include AI-driven development, virtual reality, augmented reality, blockchain and digital ethics. You have the opportunity to learn more about some of these trends during your time at the School of Information. Being prepared about technology trends that could impact your future work as an information professional will help you navigate the changes and to maximize them. Not to mention iSchool Director Dr. Hirsh shared with students that employers are looking for candidates with technological skills in her most recent virtual coffee chat.
Eight Bonuses I Didn’t Expect From Doing an Internship
Published: October 8, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
I’m sure you already know internships are a great way to build valuable work experience while earning credits towards your degree. I was fortunate enough to participate in two internships, one at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, CA, followed by a summer internship at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
Work-From-Home LIS Careers
Published: September 10, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
When you think of library and information science or archives and records administration careers they are usually tied to a place, that is, a library or archive! While there are many types of jobs physically located in a library or archives building, many LIS career options lend themselves to working from home.
SLASC Members Tour Disney Animation Research Library
Published: September 4, 2018 by Priscilla Ameneyro
Several members of the Special Libraries
Association Student Chapter (SLASC) had a rare opportunity to
go behind-the-scenes at the Disney Animation Research
Library (ARL) in Southern California. Motivated by a love of
Disney and a curiosity about special libraries, these iSchool students got together (some travelling a
considerable distance) to take a tour of a one-of-a-kind special
library. In this post, I feature some of the highlights and
insights of this tour from the participants. I also focus on the
professional development benefits of signing up for these
extracurricular activities and suggest ideas on how to take your
own tours of places that interest you.
Spring 2018 Director’s Forum Highlights
Published: March 5, 2018
The director hosts a virtual coffee chat with students every semester to share iSchool news and answer questions.
Six Steps to Design the Internship of Your Dreams
Published: February 12, 2018
Six simple steps for finding and submitting an internship opportunity.
Did you know that you have the option to set up your own custom internship? If the internship opportunities in the database don’t quite match up to your interests, it’s easy to create one that’s right for you. I know because that’s exactly what I did!
Get Out There and Network
Published: February
5, 2018
Five networking strategies to help you make a name for yourself.
It’s never too early to start networking. The sooner you begin, the more prepared you’ll be to launch your job hunt when you graduate.
Claims of a Dying LIS Profession Debunked
Published: January 15,
2018
Libraries and librarians are here to stay. Inside Higher Ed finds error in Bureau of Labor Statistics calculation.
How do people respond when asked if they think libraries are a dying industry? Unfortunately, a lot of people would probably agree. Those who are not familiar with what’s happening in the world of information or who haven’t set foot in a library in years think that the game is up.
More Makerspaces with Dr. Heather Moorefield-Lang
Published: November 6,
2017
A conversation with Library 2.017’s “Makerspaces” moderator and closing keynote speaker, Dr. Heather Moorefield-Lang.
I caught up with Dr. Heather Moorefield-Lang, Associate Professor at the University of South Carolina, after the Library 2.0 virtual conference to chat further about her favorite topic, makerspaces.