Job-seekers (who hit my blog with gay abandon) might want to check out the first brief post I did on how I got my job, mainly for the comments to the entry.
To recap and expand:
- If possible, get an internship while still a student. This will make you stand out from less-experienced library school graduates.
- Library placement agencies are your friend – but don’t rely just on them, and keep in mind they get paid for placing you, so they might put pressure on you to take the first job that comes along.
- Network like mad. One thing my boss explained to me after the recent news was the concept of an informational interview. You’re not clasping your acquaintance’s knees in supplication and begging for a job, you’re talking with a friend (over lunch, say) about what their job is like. This gives you an idea of whether you might want a similar job. Make sure to get one other contact from informational interviews.
Be aware that the job search will take time, and don’t get discouraged if you get rejected by one outfit. A friend looking for an academic position tried to send out 1-2 resumes a day – it was a manageable volume and got him practice with his cover letter-writing skills. The Corporate Librarian’s first job took him months and months to get, after multiple interviews, applying with multiple library placement firms. It was a temp job, and when the firm moved operations to another state they realized the Corporate Librarian was already a good candidate for a permanent position, since I’d been doing the work for months already.
Right now, the Corporate Librarian has an Excel sheet set up, with columns for date, action taken, position applied for (if any), company (ditto), contact, result, and next action. I expect one could whip up something prettier in a database program – when the Corporate Librarian was laid off from his first job (not for performance, he hastens to reassure potential future employers), he custom-built a database in FileMaker. Which was free. Yes, this dates the Corporate Librarian.
Anyway, there are several purposes in doing this:
- It allows you to see you’re making daily progress.
- You have a set of contacts which will stand you in good stead for professional networking even after you have your job.
Any further suggestions the Corporate Librarian’s readers have for getting that first job out of school? Tips on networking? How to decide what sort of job to apply for? Post away!
April 26, 2007 at 9:30 am |
I was wondering when it is a good time to start sending out resumes? I graduate in December (so I have two semesters left in the MLIS program)… When would be the best time to start getting my name out there?
Thanks
April 26, 2007 at 10:07 am |
I’d say it depends on how much experience (internships count!) and/or exposure (presentations, publications) you already have. I’d be inclined to say start in June, assuming it takes an average of six months to get a job.
Comments from other readers?
April 26, 2007 at 11:58 am |
I’m currently a graduate assistant at a research institute…so, I do have the bonus of this experience. June– ok, I’ll start looking soon then.
Thanks.
May 31, 2009 at 4:22 am |
ARUP DHARA
Mob. -91-9830967819
E-mail – arupdhara1979@gmail.com
——————————————————————————————————-
OBJECTIVE
To work for worth and accept challenges in this high innovative world.
MOTTO
To work with 3D’s (Dedication, Devotion, Determination).
FORTE
Flexible and adaptable to all circumstances.
TECHNO-ECONO BENEFITS
On a long-term basis.
POSITION WANTED – “Librarian / Library Professional / Information Officer”
EXPERIENCE
3 years.
———————————————————————————————————————————————-
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION: M.Sc., V.U., 2003
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION
NAME OF EXAM. YEAR BOARD / UNIV CLASS / DIV PERCENTAGE (%)
BACHELOR OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE 2006 CALCUTTA UNIVERSITY I 60.3
MASTER OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE 2009 CALCUTTA UNIVERSITY I 66.3
TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION
· DOEACC ‘A’ LEVEL.
· Certificate of Hardware &networking from DOEACC CENTRE, JADAVPUR UNIVERSITY CAMPUS.
IT SKILL
OS- Windows, Linux.
PL- BASIC, C, C++, VB, JAVA.
OTHERS- Office Package (MS Word, MS Excel, PowerPoint), HTML, JAVA Script, Shell Programming, FoxPro, Oracle 8.
LIBRARY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE- LIBSYS, SOUL, CDS/ISIS, BOOKMASTER.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
· Now I am working as a Assistant Librarian of ZEE AKASH NEWS PVT. LTD. (24 GHANTA NEWS CHANNEL) from January 2009.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Ø Organization of documents (Book and Non- Book materials)
Ø Archive preparation / Store tape data into high quality DVD format
Ø Editing
Ø Taking feed from Reuters world news express
Ø Circulation
Ø Computer Operation
· I have worked as a Library Assistant (Temporary) at Bijoy Krishna Girls College, Howrah – 1.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Ø Classification, Cataloguing of books and journals.
Ø Shelving.
Ø Computer Operation.
· Project Assistant at UNIVERSITY OF CALCUTTA CENTRAL LIBRARY for processing books and journals for the academic session 2006 – 2007.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Ø Classification, Cataloguing of books and journals.
Ø Shelving.
Ø Computer Operation.
· I have worked as a Librarian in a higher secondary school (N.D.B.M.M. SCHOOL (GOVT SPONSD.) Bangur Avenue, Kolkata-55) from Nov 2006 to April 2008.
PERSONAL PROFILE
Arup Dhara
Address: 12/6 Kuchil Sarkar Lane, Kadamtala, Howrah-711101.
Resi – 91-33-2643-4733
Mob. -91-9830967819
E-mail – arupdhara1979@gmail.com
Date of Birth- 1st November 1979
Marital Status- Single
Sex- Male
Languages Known- English, Hindi & Bengali
Nationality- Indian
Hobbies- Listening Music, Playing Football.
REFERENCES
Available on Request.
DECLARATION
I hereby declare that the above information is true and correct to best of my knowledge & belief and I have not tried to hide any factual information. I do hope your honor will consider my candidature.
PLACE: HOWRAH, WEST BENGAL
ARUP DHARA
I want a corporate Librarian job