Career Blog

What Else to do While Job Hunting

aryn.prestia@sjsu.edu — Fri, 23 May 2025 20:51:00 +0000

Published: May 23, 2025 by Aryn Prestia

For some, job hunting can be a full-time job in itself. While there are dozens of library-specific search sites that can help make your search more effective, there is no set timeline for finding a job in the information space. Whether your search takes days or months, it’s important to keep up the momentum and remind yourself why you want to work in a library or archive. Whether you have work experience in information science or not, using the gap-time in your job search can be a great opportunity for honing your skills.

Learning the Art of the Interview with Big Interview

aryn.prestia@sjsu.edu — Fri, 23 May 2025 20:43:00 +0000

Published: May 5, 2025 by Aryn Prestia

An interview can be intimidating, whether it’s in-person, over the phone, or held as a video call. The only true way to improve interviewing skills is through practice, but if you are not in the active job search process it can be hard to find scenarios in which to do that. This is where Big Interview comes in.

How to be a Library Advocate

aryn.prestia@sjsu.edu — Fri, 23 May 2025 20:33:00 +0000

Published: April 22, 2025 by Aryn Prestia

Being a library advocate is not only a job responsibility for anyone working in the information science profession, but an opportunity to showcase your personal values surrounding equitable information access. Whether as a student or a recent graduate, it’s important to take your role as a library advocate seriously.

Finding a Job in Archives and Preservation

aryn.prestia@sjsu.edu — Wed, 14 May 2025 00:20:00 +0000

Published: March 14, 2025 by Aryn Prestia

The Archives & Preservation pathway is one of the most popular career pathways at the SJSU iSchool and more than 300 students are members of the Student Chapter of the Society of American Archivists. Yet how common are Archivist jobs, really? Let’s explore the current hiring landscape to learn more about the nuances of finding work in the Archives field.

Building Your Library Resume

aryn.prestia@sjsu.edu — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 15:52:00 +0000

Published: February 28, 2025 by Aryn Prestia

An updated resume is arguably the most important aspect of your job search process. Regardless of the information science sector you choose to work in, you will be asked to provide an updated resume. But what exactly should you include in a resume for a library-specific position?

Do Cover Letters Matter Anymore?

aryn.prestia@sjsu.edu — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 15:15:00 +0000

Published: February 7, 2025 by Aryn Prestia

Our last career blog post focusing on cover letters was published six years ago. In some industries, employers no longer even ask for a cover letter during the application process. But in the information science space, cover letters are still an important part of job applications.

So You’re Graduating in May, Now What?

aryn.prestia@sjsu.edu — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 00:31:00 +0000

Published: January 15, 2025 by Aryn Prestia

It can be exciting to enter your final semester in the MLIS program. Whether that effort has been months or years in the making, you are now ready to demonstrate the culmination of your hard work in your e-portfolio and a degree that will lead you to a new career.

Getting that First Library Experience

aryn.prestia@sjsu.edu — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 21:26:00 +0000

Published: December 4, 2024 by Aryn Prestia

If you have started the job search, you’ve likely noticed that a majority of the postings indicate that experience is required. In fact, the most recent MLIS Skills at Work Report disclosed that 88% of job announcements include the stipulation that experience is required or preferred.

But what do you do if you’ve devoted yourself to your MLIS degree full-time and have no library experience? In this post, we’ll be looking into how you gain library experience when you have none.

Choosing Medical Librarianship

aryn.prestia@sjsu.edu — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 19:30:00 +0000

Published: November 20, 2024 by Aryn Prestia

Interested in becoming a medical librarian? The SLASC recently hosted a Q&A Panel featuring medical librarians from Stanford and UC San Francisco. While you can watch the full panel here, you can find some of the panel’s top tips below.

What Do You Want to Do with Your Information Skills?

aryn.prestia@sjsu.edu — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 18:38:00 +0000

Published: November 6, 2024 by Aryn Prestia

As a student you’ve heard a lot about advisors, pathways, electives, and library sub-specialties. But if you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, it may be time to step back and think about what you’d truly like to do.

Your Interview Outfit: What to Consider

aryn.prestia@sjsu.edu — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 20:30:00 +0000

Published: October 16, 2024 by Aryn Prestia

When preparing for an interview, it’s common to brush up on potential interview questions but it’s also important to consider how you will present yourself to a potential employer. A huge part of your first impression relates to what you are wearing.

Airtable for Librarians

aryn.prestia@sjsu.edu — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 21:15:00 +0000

Published: October 9, 2024 by Aryn Prestia

Project Management is one of many job skills that librarians will find themselves using in the workplace. Though there are courses that students can take to understand a bit more about the project management process, ultimately the best way to learn project management is through practice.

Coursera Career Academy for iSchool Students

aryn.prestia@sjsu.edu — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 23:02:00 +0000

Published: September 25, 2024 by Aryn Prestia

Being an MLIS student at SJSU comes with so many incredible benefits. You have access to dozens of specialized courses, fourteen active student groups, scholarship programs, and internship opportunities, all of which can be accessed virtually to help you stay involved no matter where you live. Adding to this slate of virtual benefits is the Coursera Career Academy, a free continuing education program for all students.

Transitioning from a Library Assistant to a Librarian Job

aryn.prestia@sjsu.edu — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 23:30:00 +0000

Published: September 18, 2024 by Aryn Prestia

A majority of students in the MLIS program here at the iSchool are already working in library environments. Yet without an MLIS degree, the only positions available to students are typically Library Assistant, Circulation Aide, or Library Page. As you get closer to graduation and begin thinking about the next step in your career, what does it mean to take that jump from assistant/aide/page to librarian?

A Student’s Review of This Summer’s ALA Conference

aryn.prestia@sjsu.edu — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 20:51:00 +0000

Published: August 7, 2024 by Aryn Prestia

The American Library Association hosted its annual conference this past June in San Diego, California. Billed as “the biggest library event of the year,” ALA Annual was attended by dozens of SJSU iSchool alumni, faculty, and current students. I had the opportunity to speak with one student attendee, Eddie Lagos, to learn more about the experience.

What to Do After an Informational Interview

aryn.prestia@sjsu.edu — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 18:15:00 +0000

Published: July 31, 2024 by Aryn Prestia

So, you’ve planned an informational interview and conducted it, now what?

How to Tailor a Resume Using AI

aryn.prestia@sjsu.edu — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 17:56:00 +0000

Published: July 24, 2024 by Aryn Prestia

AI Chatbots like ChatGPT are one of the most accessible avenues to Artificial Intelligence for students. Not only is it fun to play around with new technology, but it can actually be beneficial to the job search as well. In this post, we’ll be taking a look at how AI chatbots can be useful while crafting resumes.

What to Ask During an Informational Interview

aryn.prestia@sjsu.edu — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 17:18:00 +0000

Published: July 17, 2024 by Aryn Prestia

As we mentioned in a previous post, an Informational Interview is the perfect opportunity to get an understanding of the nuances of different library-related positions.

While it may take some time to identify the right interviewee and schedule your meeting, planning for what to do during the actual interview is essential for ensuring its success.

How to Craft Your DEI Statement

aryn.prestia@sjsu.edu — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 18:22:00 +0000

Published: July 10, 2024 by Aryn Prestia

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives have become essential elements of library organizations in the past few years, and rightfully so! With libraries serving diverse communities and striving to be accessible for all, it makes sense that DEI statements are now a part of more than 63% of library job announcements and DEI is listed as a skillset needed for qualified applicants on 32% of job posts.

How to Ask for an Informational Interview

aryn.prestia@sjsu.edu — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 17:48:00 +0000

Published: July 2, 2024 by Aryn Prestia

Once in grad school, you likely learned rather quickly (or will learn very soon) that there is more than one way to be a librarian. There are dozens of specialities when it comes to library science – Public, Academic, Special, Medical, Law, and Archives, just to name a few. As you navigate the maze of career choices, the journey from aspiration to actualization can be overwhelming. This is where informational interviews come into play, serving as invaluable tools for those looking to better understand the nuances and day-to-day responsibilities of librarians in practice.