Job Hunting and Career Growth Tips from #SLAtalk Participants
Thanks to everyone who participated in #SLAtalk: Job Hunting and Career Growth.
Below are some highlights from both sessions from March 5th, which encompass a great career resource.
For a full listing, and other interesting statistics, check out the TAGS archive set up by Emma Davidson.
1) What’s a successful job hunting method that helped you land you your current job?
@LibrarySherpa: Networking, networking, networking. SLA has been a tremendous resource for me to accomplish this and get results.
@KatefromUK: 1. successful job hunting: let your prof network know you're looking for a job; they'll be great at identifying suitable jobs
@DigLiberry: A successful job hunting method that helped me land my last 2 jobs was using my alumni career center.
@LauraPikeSeeley: Casting a wide net and being open to nontraditional library jobs led me to my position as Brand Archivist for a fashion company.
@LibrarySherpa: Don't be afraid to apply for a job in which you don't meet every requirement. You may have other skills they are looking for.
@infopioneerlib: NETWORK for hidden jobs. HR experts claim 80% of jobs are never advertised. Networking is a good reason to be an ACTIVE SLA member
2) What’s a profession-specific way you’ve prepared for an interview that worked for you?
@tiffanybrandlib: C.A.R works (Challenge, Action, Results) describe how you met a challenge at your previous job. Quantify results.
@WoodsieGirl: Research! Current employers were impressed I knew my way around their social media presence b4 I joined
@tranlib: Q2. Did my homework, looked at the posting and researched what similar orgs and similar positions did. Align with the mission.
@LibraryatLaw: Personal doesn't = unprofessional . . . Remember, if all goes well these people will be coworkers! Have hobbies, a life
@TRAKJulieA: be warm/engaging, w/out oversharing/getting too personal. Walk that line. Answer ?'s fully & completely w/out getting off topic
@kama_sue: I always try to make the person interviewing me say "I hadn't thought of that" – shows innovation, creative thinking.
@TRAKJulieA: plan out a 2-3 min walk through of your resume, covering experience, education & motivation, explaining any gaps or missteps
@KatefromUK: draw up list of likely questions based on job description & practice answers, drawing on examples of previous roles
@klyall: Leverage SLA experience in resume: program planning, fundraising, budgeting, and leadership skills are a major asset!
@TLWhippie: Knowing that I was going to be interviewed by non librarians, I practiced with people that didn't know library lingo.
3) What are key organizational traits you look for during an interview or online job search?
@tranlib: I want an org that encourages experimentation and discovery and that they value me as a person.
@henare: why is the incumbent leaving? another question where the delivery of the answer is as important as the content.
@pomponijada: open mindedness, eagerness to innovate, learn and apply new skills
@TRAKJulieA: Look for strong tenure in the company – if people tend to stick around, it says a lot.
@jokrausdu: I want to be in a place that encourages innovation, creativity, & the willingness to try new technologies
@ElaineLibrarian: I ask "how do you describe office culture here" when they ask if I have any questions. What they don't say is often telling.
@kate_thornhill: Management and leadership. if there isn't vision/mission/leadership the ship might sink or get real work cray cray
@CyberV: It's important to me that the people I interview w appear to get along & work cooperatively. Morale is crucial to job happiness.
4) How did you empower yourself to move ahead at your job? or what skills did you learn which led to your career growth?
@tranlib: Learned from my SLA peers how to talk like an infopro. Translated it to the needs of my org and WHAMO they value me
@library_zone: As our colleague @MaryEllenBates always suggests, challenge yourself! Learn something new-run a webinar, learn social media
@MMichelleMoore: I ask when I have a possible project or suggestion, the worst that can happen is I'm told "no"
@KnowldgeLinking: Early adopter of social media for my org. Changed my career into one of sharing info instead of only collecting/organizing.
#slatalk
@kate_thornhill: take initiative and start personal projects to show value/worth/knowledge
@LibrarySherpa: At the risk of repeating myself, being active in SLA is what empowered me to excel in my job/career.
@SJLeeman: Ask your new coworkers for their opinions- and value them. If you're a new librarian, this will be helpful in many ways.
@kama_sue: Q4 For legal-specific libs: see if you can attend practice group mtgs, find out their needs, then you're poised to help
@LibWig: career growth doesnt seem right word as still new, but for prof development, SLA has done wonders – confidence with vendors etc
@klyall: I moved ahead by taking on an entirely new project (social media) outside of regular work…don't be afraid to try something new
@rbateswilfahrt: Volunteering as
#rmsla chapter president gave me confidence to network and land my freelance side-gig
@el399: I got involved with every project & cross-departmental working opportunity that I could, fun as well as good for development
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Nice! I have participated and now I have landed a job. Thanks to this!
[…] out How to #SLAtalk and the recaps of the first and second […]
[…] Check out How to #SLAtalk and the recaps of the first and second sessions. […]
[…] Check out How to #SLAtalk and the recaps of the first and second sessions. […]