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Hi "brogers"

Thanks a lot for your suggestions. I am working on building a professional network as I speak. It's pretty tough out there, but will do my best.

Thank you, once again.

Regards

Hi kanuk2001!

You bring up a very interesting point with regards to experience and your recent interviews. I believe some of the trouble that you had in your interviews with the very specific questions is very common, especially for a new graduate who is just getting into the field.

There is really no substitute for experience. In fact, some companies value experience so much that they won't require an MLS degree if you have a certain number of years of experience! However, the combination of a library degree and experience in the field is what is always the most desirable. In fact, I am sure with a little bit more experience those tough questions you were asked in your interviews would be much more easily answered, maybe even come to you as second nature.

I have a few suggestions for someone who is new to the field and just doesn't have the right amount of experience. The first thing would be to "sell" yourself as someone who is new to the field but has the strong desire to learn and grow when you apply for a specific position. Lots of organizations like to hire someone who is enthusiastic and willing to learn as they can "grow" you into the type of employee they are looking for. Another thing you could try is to volunteer at a place you want to work or in an environment that is conducive to what you want in your ideal career (Science & Engineering). In addition, though it isn't the most ideal situation, it is sometimes best to accept a position that you are maybe overqualified for just so you can gain more experience. Sometimes getting to your ideal job does not happen in a straight line, so open all options up to yourself; who knows, you might find something you really enjoy!

The bottom line is to try to gain as much experience as possible, even if it is not your ideal job or environment to start. The more experience you have, the better the opportunities will be for you. Keep your head up and keep working and I am sure you will find the way on your ideal career path.

Science and eng. librarians?

Hello
I must admit that my situation is a bit different than Dave's. I have just graduated from a Canadian university (May 2008), and I moved from one major city to another, since there are more opportunities in the city where I have just settled. I had some phone interviews, and another one, which was face to face.

It seems to me that my CVs were relatively well conceived because I got some responses. However, it appears to me that, after having thought about my answers, and my behaviour, at those interviews, that I was not quite well prepared. One good reason was that the interviews came at the wrong time, since I was in the middle of packing, finding a place, and selling my house--you name the problems. However, what really surprised me, during the interviews, for the positions that I have applied for --science and engineering librarians in the academia-- was how difficult some of the questions were with respect to scholarly communication and academic trends in the field of librarianship with respect to science and engineering. The reason I am writing about this difficulty is because I know for a fact that, in spite of taking specific courses at the library school, the schools do not offer a lot more in this field (science and technology), and there is so much material to read that one could not possibly cover to reasonably answer some of the interview questions. What's there to do, then?

Another problem is that, since I am quite interested in science and engineering librarianship, I do not have much experience in the field, with the exception of an internship in a special library. When you see these ads in which many firms, or universities, are asking for at least 1 or 2 years of experience in the field, it is rather difficult not to be somewhat discouraged. Any suggestions in this case?

I'd appreciate an answer, or some answers.

Hi: the following response is submitted by Keith Gurtzweiler of Library Associates who is currently at ALA and couldn't respond directly:
Hi DaveLM:

It's hard to speculate what may be happening without knowing all the details of your background and experience vis-à-vis the positions you're applying for, but here are a couple of possibilities, just to consider:

(1) It's possible you're underqualified for the positions you're applying to, in the minds of the Hiring Manager at least. If you're seeking to make a step up in terms of responsibility, I would address that in the cover letter, and demonstrate enthusiasm and why you believe yourself able to take on such additional responsibility.

(2) It's possible that your resume, even when technically qualified for the position, doesn't address clearly enough what you've done/accomplished in the precise language that the hiring organization has worded their job description, and the Hiring Manager or possibly Human Resources Specialist who's reading it doesn't see a direct correlation.

(3) This is one we find quite often -- it's possible you have listed on your resume everything you've done in past positions, to show the diversity and breadth of your responsibility. The Hiring Manager may read this laundry list -- which may even include some of what they're looking for -- but think to herself or himself that you have been doing all these different things, and therefore not too much of this one particular thing that they are really looking for. Basically, they'll read the *ratio* of what you've done, correctly or incorrectly, as not fitting with their position, i.e. the position you're applying for. It's important to stress, in terms of depth of detail on your resume, and primacy given to the information on your resume, of the most important and relevant tasks that you've accomplished which mirror those most important tasks that the hiring organization is looking for. All other information should *not* be removed from your resume altogether, but some of the detail can be diminished. The final product should be a resume that has a lot of what they're looking for, and less information on what they're not looking for -- in other words, it's focused on the important stuff.

(4) Finally, it's also possible depending on the type of position you're applying for, that there are many other applicants. This is not something you have control over, so you'll have to keep trying. One thing that can help that is to network as much as possible in the community in which you're seeking to conduct a job change. Knowing people even before you apply for a job in their organization may help.

Thanks and good luck!

Keith Gurtzweiler

I have searched Hotjobs,Monster, Careerbuilder, and checked with the professional head hunters. My resume has been reviewed by both librarians and career counselors. All like the structure. The content is good, everything seems to be in order...

Why no interviews? I have not had a job interview in 3 months.

Help!!!!

Dave