Making the best of the worst of times: Global turmoil and landing your first library job

Abstract

Applying for positions is a long process. To assist you, there are numerous places on the Internet to search for jobs. Three of the sites we found most useful were: ALA's JobLIST, 4 University of Texas' JobWeb, 5 and the Lib-Jobs.com 6 Web sites. When looking at lists of available of jobs, do not to apply to too many positions. By too many, we mean the positions you are not qualified for, and those positions that do not have your full interest. David Thew emphasizes this point saying, "the market remains volatile. .. . Focus and realism are the qualities I would stress here: focus in terms of identifying the right opportunities; and realism in highlighting genuine skills and achievements as opposed to scatter-gunning CV's at all and sundry." 7 Failure to focus is a mistake that will take time and energy away from the applications for positions you truly desire and match your qualifications. Discouragement and negativity will often impact the quality of your letters of interest and any modifications you make to your résumé (or CV). Confidence and positivity are two characteristics to embrace because they will lead to better individual applications. Additionally, how you appear on paper should positively reflect your interest in the position. Having your CV/résumé critiqued by several people enables you to present the best

Congratulations! You've landed an interview

“…One repeatedly suggested tip for preparing for an interview is to practice answering questions that might be asked. Look for web sites or books that list questions often asked at librarian interviews (Cannady and Newton, 2010). Steven Bell (2010) and Cathleen Towey (2004) suggest some much-loved (by hiring committees) questions that every applicant should be able to answer in their respective articles.…”

“…The researchers hope the results of the survey will give entry-level job candidates an edge when interviewing for librarian positions. Since the recession has made it more difficult to find an entry-level librarian position, small details can make a big difference in completing a successful job search (Cannady and Newton, 2010).…”