Summary of Advice from Early Career LIS Professionals Event

Summary (prepared by Andrea Poehling, student-services@slis.wisc.edu)

Event: Advice from Early Career LIS Professionals

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

4:45 to 6:15 in the SLIS Commons


Panelists:
Academic Libraries: Nikki Busch, SLIS Class of ’03, Grants & Reference Librarian, UW-Madison Archives: Jacqie Ferry, Cataloging Archivist and EAD Coordinator, Wisconsin Historical Society Digital Libraries: Eric Larson, SLIS Class of ’05, Digital Library Consultant, UW Digital Collections Center Public Libraries: Jennifer Endres, SLIS Class of ’03, Director, Prairie du Sac
Public Library School Libraries: Ellen Baum, SLIS Class of ’02, Library Media Specialist, Middleton High School Special Libraries: Carin Bringelson, SLIS Class of ’04, Information Manager, TeachingBooks.net LLC Youth Services: Amanda Struckmeyer, SLIS Class of ’05, Children’s Services Librarian, Middleton Public Library

Moderator: Andrea Poehling, SLIS Student Services Coordinator


Questions and Responses

While at SLIS: What makes one a more attractive job candidate: having depth (lots of experience in a particular niche, such as children's literature) or breadth (as in a decent awareness of a wide range of skill sets, including tech, reference, info lit, etc.)?

o Panelists agreed that breadth is very important. You will likely be in a position that requires a wide range of skills.

o If you have a specialty or unique skill/experience, highlight that, as it may help land an interview. What courses do you now feel were the most useful in preparing you for your positions?

o LIS 826: Field Project in Library and Information Literacy Instruction (LILI). Even if you don’t end up in an instructional position, you will probably have a job that requires you to give training or presentations. This course helps with public speaking. In addition to great experience, it builds your networks.

o LIS 635: Reference and Information Service, particularly with the 40-hour practicum

o LIS 654: Management of Information Agencies

o LIS 655: Collection Management

o LIS 651: Cataloging and Classification. Even if you don’t end up as a cataloger, it’s important to understand cataloging.

o LIS 712: The Public Library

o Technology courses. Even if you don’t end up being a tech person, it’s important to know what’s possible and what’s not. What experience outside of the curriculum did you find most helpful in landing your first job?

o Getting practical experience through work, practicum and volunteering

o Presenting a poster or paper at a regional or national conference. This gives you skills, builds your network and shows you have initiative.

o Join local or national organizations and volunteer for committees and boards (both while a student and early in your career). This, too, gives you skills, builds your network and shows you have initiative.

o Find something that’s interesting to you---your passion---and follow it.


Job-Seeking: How did you first learn about your current position?

o Many of the panelists had worked or done a practicum at the place where they eventually found a job. Both academic librarians did a research internship at UW, which led to a full-time job.

o Listservs, Job ads After graduation, did you work outside the state before coming back to work in the Madison area?

o None of the panelists did, but they noted that this is rare. It’s common to work in several jobs before finding a “dream job” or a job in a dream location. What specifically do you or people in your field look for when hiring?

o Ability to work as part of a team and know when to work independently

o Follow through

o Take initiative

o Project management skills. (Sample interview question, “Describe the entire life cycle of a project, start to finish.”)

o Flexibility

o Supervisory experience (Even if it’s supervising student employees.)

o Interpersonal skills (You have to work with all sorts of people in this profession.)

o Technology skills

o URLs of websites you’ve created that are live (particularly true for digital librarianship; those interested in digital librarianship should build skills beyond the SLIS curriculum through workshops, practicum, LITA involvement, etc.)

o How you present yourself in an interview is really important. In many cases, the interviewers are trying to assess whether they can work with you (rather than looking for a specific answer to a question). What challenges do you foresee for job applicants in the next year?

o It will be tough.

o Stay flexible. You might need to take a job that isn’t your first choice. Do strongly consider living someone you might not necessarily want to live in order to get a job that provides good experience. If offered a part-time relevant job, take it; if you do a good job, this can lead to a full-time position.

o If you absolutely can’t find a relevant job, volunteer in the profession. This shows that you are dedicated to the profession and allows you to continue gaining skills.


Other: How is the profession different than you expected?

o Much more work on “non-library-like” things: marketing, advocacy, management, web design.

o Thought there would be more organizational aspects, expected to work more with books.

o Lots of bureaucracy.

o Lots of meetings.

o There’s a reason you do a lot of group projects at SLIS; the real world is like one big group project.

o You’re a public figure.

o Must love teaching and developing curriculum to work in a School Library Media Center

Sign up now for madslisjobs listserv (email join-madslisjobs@lists.wisc.edu) and other jobs-related listservs so you know what skills/experiences employers are seeking, and you can gain them while a student.

Reminder: Don't forget to attend the “Writing Resumes and Cover Letters for the LIS Professions” workshop next Thursday, September 24 from 11:45 to 1:00 in the SLIS Commons, sponsored by ALSO!