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Cracking the Library Job Market

Uncover valuable insights on landing a professional library job at the H&R Block Business and Career Center in the Central Library of Kansas City. Explore employment opportunities, alternative career paths, and tips on cover letters, resumes, and interviewing. Discover resources and tools for job searching, networking, and research in the library science field. Enhance your job search with employment alternatives and practical tips learned from real job seekers' experiences. Connect with employment opportunities in the Kansas City area and across the United States. Get expert advice on cover letters, networking, and maximizing job prospects.

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Cracking the Library Job Market

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  1. Cracking the Library Job Market Eric Petersen H&R Block Business & Career Center Central Library Kansas City Public Library

  2. An Outline • Let’s get to know one another! • About the H&R Block Business and Career Center • Getting a (professional) library job • Employment opportunities • Job searching, networking, and research tools • Employment alternatives to libraries (You gotta be realistic) • What I learned in my own job search • About cover letters, resumés, and interviewing • Wrap-up

  3. The H&R Block Business and Career Center • www.kclibrary.org/business-career • 3rd floor of Central Library • Dedicated space for people doing research related to • Job searching, resumé writing, etc. • Small business development • Nonprofit development • Financial literacy

  4. The H&R Block Business and Career Center • What’s in the Center • Materials (Many check out) • Computers/software (WinWay resumé, Business Plan Pro) • Seating • 3 full-time librarians available for research consultations

  5. Employment Opportunities: Kansas City area • Organizational websites • KCMLIN: www.kcmlin.org • KLA: www.kansaslibraryassociation.org • MLA: www.molib.org • Public library websites • The big 6: KC Public, Johnson County, Mid-Continent, KCK, North Kansas City, Olathe • Outlying areas: Lawrence, Cass County, Topeka, etc. • School district websites • College/university websites

  6. Employment Opportunities: United States • Organizational websites • ALA- ALA Joblist: http://joblist.ala.org • MPLA: www.mpla.us • State library associations • ARL: www.arl.org • MLA (Medical Library Association): www.mlanet.org • SLA (Special Library Association): www.sla.org • American Association of Law Librarians (www.aallnet.org) • Music Library Association (www.musiclibraryassoc.org)

  7. Employment Opportunities: United States • Library Job Postings (www.libraryjobpostings.org) • Specific public libraries, school districts, colleges, universities • Other national (general) job sites linked on Block Center’s Get Hired page: www.kclibrary.org/business-career/get-hired

  8. Job Searching and Networking Tools • Job searching tools • ALA’s Get a Job website: http://www.getajob.ala.org • SLA Career Center: www.sla.org/careers • Networking tools • National, state associations (Go into debt to join ‘em) • Books: Search subjects “Business networks” and “Job hunting” in OPACs • LinkedIn!: www.linkedin.com • Volunteering: A job search & networking tool • www.volunteermatch.org • www.allforgood.org • www.serve.gov

  9. Research Tools • Library Literature & Information Science Full Text • Access via Mid-Continent Public Library (www.mymcpl.org) • Search subjects: Librarians/Qualifications, Job hunting • Each of these subjects has subdivisions • Books- Search subjects • Library science—Vocational guidance • Information science—Vocational guidance • American Library Directory: 2002-03 edition at Miller Nichols Library • UMKC Law Historical Collection: Z731.A53

  10. Employment Alternatives to Libraries • While waiting for that perfect library job to come along, why not work at a • Bookstore • Museum/archive • Computer/technology store (Best Buy, Radio Shack) • School (As a paraprofessional) • Hospital (In medical records, HIM) • Any nonprofit (Marketing/development, outreach) • Anyplace where you will provide direct customer service • Think in terms of transferable skills (See handout)

  11. What I Learned in My Own Job Search • You may have to go away (so that you can come back) • Both of the statements below are FALSE • “If you work for a while in a public library, you won’t be able to get a job in an academic library.” • “If you work for a while in an academic library, you won’t be able to get a job in a public library.” • Having a second master’s degree helps • Publishing in journals that serve both audiences (e.g., Reference & User Services Quarterly) will help

  12. Other Library Job Searching Tips • Avoid cold resumés and cover letters • Show courtesy in seeking out informational interviews • Start work on a 2nd Master’s degree • Is tuition reimbursement available through your employer?

  13. Cover Letters • A well-written letter shows that you’re truly interested in the job • LCSH for books on cover letters: Cover letters • Block portal: www.kclibrary.org/business-career/cover-letters • You MUST write a unique cover letter for EVERY position you are applying for • Generally ~1 page (could be a page and a half) • Address to hiring manager if possible • Identifying this person: Call the company and ask!

  14. Cover Letters • Address (in no less than a sentence) each of the required & preferred qualifications • If none are listed, highlight the experience you’ve gained in your prior positions • In discussing your prior experience, focus on these ten positive characteristics (from WinWay Resumé): • 1: Communication skills • 2: Planning/scheduling ability • 3: Dependability • 4: Honesty • 5: Creativity

  15. Cover Letters • In discussing your prior experience, focus on these ten positive characteristics (from WinWay Resumé): • 6: Ambition • 7: Delegation skills • 8: Teamwork mentality • 9: Assertiveness • 10: Enthusiasm

  16. Cover Letters • Openings • “I am pleased to apply for the position of. .” • “I am writing to apply for the position of. . .” • Closings • “Thank you very much for reviewing my materials. I may be reached at. . . ” • Verify how you prefer to be contacted • BE POSITIVE!!! No statements about bills to pay, etc.

  17. Resumés • LCSH for books on resumés: Resumés (Employment) • Block portal: www.kclibrary.org/business-career/creating-resumé • Some tips • In addition to the “standard stuff,” consider including volunteer experience

  18. Resumés • Some tips • Other headings to include • Awards • Association/ organization memberships • Patents, publications • Accreditations • Licenses • Security clearances • Length • My advice: No more than two pages BUT • Resumés vs. curriculum vitae

  19. Resumés: The Deadly Dozen • Always leave these things off your resumé • 1: Height • 2: Weight • 3: Health • 4: Sex • 5: Marital status • 6: Number of children

  20. Resumés: The Deadly Dozen • Always leave these things off your resumé • 7: Religion (Unless applying to a religious organization) • 8: Ethnic origin • 9: Date of birth • 10: Photograph (Unless looks could matter, i.e. applying to be a model, etc.) • 11: Reasons for leaving previous jobs • 12: Salary history

  21. Resumés • Resumé gaps • What if you did not work, or were not in school for several years? • Address these matters in a cover letter • If you could not work because you were caring for family members, note it • If you could not work because of an illness, note it • Which is better in 2010? An electronic or printed resumé? • An electronic resumé • Can be distributed to more people more easily • The only physical difference? The paper it’s printed on • If given the choice to send a hard copy or send by e-mail/upload, send it electronically

  22. Interviewing • LCSH for books on interviews: Employment interviewing • Block portal: www.kclibrary.org/business-career/interview • Please refer to the handout (PPT slides) for more information on interview preparation • Much of the content is drawn from KU’s University Career Center guide Preparing for Job Interviews • KU’s Career Center is NOT open to the general public • Guide available online at http://www.kucareerhawk.com/s/762/images/editor_documents/handouts/InterviewBook.pdf

  23. Take-Home Messages • The library job market is, and HAS BEEN, tough for a long time • I personally never believed in the Great Librarian Shortage • If you want to work in KC, consider making a temporary move away • Be open to becoming employed in a related field while you apply for that perfect library job

  24. Thank you very much! • Eric Petersen, M.A., M.I.S.L.T. • Librarian, H&R Block Business & Career Center • 816-701-3645 • ericpetersen@kclibrary.org • Friend me on Facebook! Connect with me on LinkedIn!

  25. Volunteering in a library: Some considerations • Consider carefully the commitment expected • You should be able to get a good reference or two from this experience • Many experts on volunteering agree: Volunteers should be held to employees’ standards, and should generally be able to do the same type of work • Volunteering in a small library (e.g., a medical library) will allow you to gain broad experience

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