Career Q & A: Careers

Interviewers often ask me "what is your greatest weakness" or what is your greatest disappointment? How do I answer that?

Meredith Lavine, Artfulresumes.com:
For starters, never say that you don't have a weakness or that you can't think of one. This is received poorly by interviewers. Everyone has weaknesses. Saying that you are a hard worker or a perfectionist are also trite. The other suggestion is to make sure you don't select a weakness that can be attributed to your character or work ethic or affect your performance for that particular job. Select a technical weakness that you are making strides with and the steps you are actively taking to fix it. Technical weaknesses are the easiest to fix. For example, "A weakness for me right now is getting up to speed on MS Project, and I am taking step x, y and z to flatten the learning curve so I can enhance my skills as a project manager." Or, "Sometimes, I get nervous presenting in public, so I am taking a Presentation Skills course and have joined Toastmasters to address it." Always follow up the weakness with the positive steps that you are taking to correct it and strive for self-improvement. Be positive presenting the steps you have taken to fix it.

CAUTION: Do not select a weakness that is a competency of the position for which you are interviewing!

Regarding professional "greatest disappointments", select one that was more or less beyond your control and where you can demonstrate the steps that you took to get the situation back on track. Be brief and succinct, don't ramble. Steer clear of negative language and show that you have accepted and learned from it.

Do I need to relocate to get a job?

Meredith Lavine, Artfulresumes.com:
It depends on the competitiveness of your industry. Many librarians (particularly academic) have relocated to get out of the saturated markets avail themselves of better opportunities in less competitive regions to gain the much needed experience in the field. Not everyone does this, but the more adventurous ones do. One could argue that there are more opportunities for those willing to relocate. That being said, not everyone is willing or in a position to make the move. Building experience of any kind is key. It is very important to take advantage of any internship, volunteering experience and networking opportunities. Start while you are in library school or as soon as you know you wish to make that transition. Remember to highlight transferable experiences that you had prior to attending library school. Talk through your goals and interests with a mentor or career counselor, who can help you examine the job market and your interests,and help you to translate them to similar jobs in other industries.

I am looking to change from public to academic libraries. What steps do I need to take?

Meredith Lavine, Artfulresumes.com:
If you are looking to make a change to a different sort of librarianship, we suggest coming at it from a few different angles.

Set up introductions and ask for an informational interview or the opportunity to job shadow or even propose the idea of an “externship”, to volunteer a few hours a week in that environment for the purposes of gaining experience and getting to know the environment. We also suggest taking supplemental coursework or CEUs and attending professional association conferences to enhance your subject matter and technical knowledge and make new contacts.

While there is no guarantee that these techniques will secure a position, you will be making the right contacts and getting a foothold in the industry. Definitely include this experience on your resume, and continue making connections and looking for open positions.

Kathleen Schmidt, Recruiter, LAC:
Apply for positions in an academic library with job responsibilities similar to that of the job you currently have in the public library. Seek first to make a lateral move, then, once you have proven yourself as a strong employee, grow within the academic library by being enthusiastic and asking your supervisor to assume additional responsibilities. Take full advantage of any and all opportunities for training, especially tuition reimbursement for additional classes.

You alone are responsible for gaining new skill sets and keeping those you already have current. Remember that statistically, people will change jobs and even careers several times before they retire. Employment is at-will so it will behoove you to begin with the end in mind. Make it a win-win wherever your are employed by working hard and providing value for your organization while building your knowledge, skills and abilities so that you are well-prepared to pursue new career opportunities when you are ready .

Remember that career success is not just about getting the job-it is about finding a healthy working environment that will challenge and inspire you to achieve your personal best.

I am interested in this particular (company/library) but there are no positions at the moment. How can I get myself in the door?

Meredith Lavine, Artfulresumes.com:
Networking with people who are in or who know others in the area of interest is the first step. Make a list of contacts and a list of libraries you wish to work for and look up those names in professional association and alumni directories and like sources to gather contacts. Enlist your contacts to help you. We also suggest the job shadowing and externship options described in changing branches of librarianship.

I am attracted to the idea of working for a library vendor. What kinds of jobs exist within the library vendor community for librarians? How do I begin to search for one of these jobs?

Kathleen Schmidt, Recruiter, LAC:
There are many exciting career opportunities on the vendor side. Sales positions are generally both lucrative and provide a way of using your library skills in a non-traditional way. Content licensing is a very marketable skill set and in high demand. Vendors are always looking for candidates who understand public and academic libraries and can conduct thoughtful needs assessments and give great presentations. Attend library conferences and talk to vendors. See what they are looking for and set up an informational interview.

What is an informational interview?

Meredith Lavine, Artfulresumes.com:
An informational interview is an information gathering meeting to make a new contact and gain valuable information about an organization and their operations. Conducting an informational interview solidifies that industry contact and builds a rapport. There is no job opening, so the pressure is off and you are given a chance to make a formal introduction and make your capabilities known. An informational interview is a great opportunity for you to be the one in control asking the questions and it is a strong confidence builder. It is best to make an outline of questions you have beforehand to set an agenda and to be sure you can gather the information you need. Treat an informational interview in the same professional way you would treat a standard job interview. Always follow it up with a thank you note within 24 hours.

What can I do to get more comfort with networking?

Meredith Lavine, Artfulresumes.com:
Networking is an acquired skill, which is best improved by practice. Some options to consider are to join professional associations and organizations designed to strengthen soft skills. Consider joining Toastmasters to develop presentation skills. Some organizations, such as The Center for Women and Enterprise (www.cwe.org) in Boston offer networking and marketing workshops. Attending networking organizations can be less frightening when you are prepared. Come up with a brief and interesting “elevator pitch” when people ask who you are and what you do. For example: “Hello, I am Joan and I help children realize there is more fun to the internet than myspace and youtube.” Don’t eat anything messy or drink alcohol. Have a firm handshake, look people in the eye and work it. Take a set of business cards with you. If you are looking for employment, you might want to consider make your own personal business cards with your name, title (such as “Library Manager” or “Library Professional” and your contact information. Please make sure you have an email address on there. One device I personally like to use is to go to the event with a buddy for moral support and then split up to meet people.

Which professional associations should I join?
Meredith Lavine, Artfulresumes.com:
There are a number of excellent library and information science organizations with student chapters as well under the “Schools” top navigation bar on libgig.com.

What are some different methods I can use to get my name out in the job market?
Meredith Lavine, Artfulresumes.com:
The market is competitive however, we are fortunate to be in an industry that is driven by the exchange and dissemination of information and general intellectual curiosity. Such favorable conditions are ripe for a subject matter expert to share their knowledge and gain credibility in a casual, yet professional manner. Consider writing articles, blogging or contributing to a community in an area of expertise for which you are passionate to industry publications, trade sites and open forums. Remember the golden rule though, and offer high quality information relevant to the subject matter. There is nothing these groups hate more than being “sold” by a lurker out of the gate. You have to build credibility as a valuable contributor. You can put a link to your site or your email in your auto-signature to indirectly work in your contact information.

Other ways to get your name out there along this same idea is to sit on a panel of a professional conference or volunteer to chair or organize events for a local chapter of a professional organization.

What else, other than library work, can you do with a library/information degree? What resources can I turn to for information on this topic?

Kathleen Schmidt, Recruiter, LAC:
There are incredible opportunities in special libraries. Many find work conducting business or legal research, working as a research analyst. There are books available through ALA, SLA about the subject.

How can I spot a dysfunctional work environment prior to accepting a job offer?

Kathleen Schmidt, Recruiter, LAC:
Great question! First and foremost, trust your instincts. Every interaction with your potential future employer from point of contact will provide a fairly clear indication of whether or not the work environment in question is going to be a healthy one for you. Organizational dysfunction is generally all too obvious to the observant and prepared. A few things to look for:

• Review the company website-very carefully. What is the organizational mission statement? Is there an Annual Report or Strategic Plan? These documents are indicative of an organized organization with a clear sense of where they want to go and how they are going to get there. Does the organization appear to genuinely value the needs of both customers and employees or does the copy seem like lip service? Pay careful attention to the use of language and pictures. Does the website have an authoritarian tone? Are pictures and bios limited to management only? If you don’t already know, speak to colleagues and look at blogs to learn the reputation of the organization. It is fairly easy to get the scoop from various credible official and non-official sources. Knowing what you know, would you be proud to be associated with the organization?
• Prior to your interview, ask for an agenda. The organization should be happy and willing to tell you exactly with whom you will be speaking, their job titles as well the expected duration of your visit. Make sure you will be meeting or at least speaking to the person to whom you would be directly reporting. It is critical that you have an opportunity to get acquainted with your potential immediate supervisor before accepting an offer of employment.
• Come to the interview with a mental checklist. Make sure you have a mental list of questions you would like to ask the employer. You may not ask every question, but if you are observant, all of your questions will be answered. Be wary if the interviewer who is not open to answering your questions.
• Read between the lines. Pay close attention to how the interview is conducted, the tone and style of the questioning. Behavior to look for in organization leaders and employees: rude or patronizing behavior, emotional outbursts, withholding information/insufficient communication, public criticism or ridicule and failure to give credit to others. Is the interviewer pleasant and respectful or heavy-handed? Are the interview questions organized and pertinent? Is the interviewer dismissive of your responses, questions or even of another colleague present-even in the most subtle way? Do you get a sense that the employees work as a team or is there tension? Does the interviewer talk about the goals of the organization and how your position fits in to the big picture….or does the interviewer talk only about the division in which you might be working?
• Ask for a tour of the workplace. The answer is always telling. People who work in a healthy organization will be proud to show it off. A happy employer will be excited for you to see where you might be working, however humble the space. Also, given the opportunity, those toiling in obscurity in a dysfunctional organization will invariably offer potential newcomers a smirk, sigh or grimace that says, “Beware!”
• Ask the interviewer how the organization handles workplace challenges. A healthy organization recognizes that challenges do arise and will address your question frankly. Reticence to discuss how the organization makes improvements might demonstrate that it is politically incorrect to discuss problems in the organization and that employees are disempowered to take make independent decisions, take risks and be creative.
• Recommended reading. The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn’t by Robert I. Sutton.

here are fewer than 100 schools that provide "structured" or "proactive" programs offering the most intensive help. Where can I find a list of those schools?
According to Marybeth Kravets, co-author of a guidebook, "The K&W Guide to Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities." This book categorizes each of 356 schools according to the level of disabilities services provided, making it possible to assemble such a list. Another helpful guidebook is Peterson's "Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities or ADHD."