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Let me give you a little background before I get started: I
finished library school in May 2006. I started my first library job in May
2012. What did I do in those six years? For five of them, I traveled in the
United States, working seasonal, non-library jobs. (My reasons for traveling
aren't relevant to this post, but I'm glad I went.) From August 2010 to April
2012 I searched for a library job.
When I began applying for library jobs, I realized the
application skills needed were different than those I knew. I began to think of
seasonal work as a previous career and applying for library jobs as a career
change. The process of applying to libraries felt more formal than I was used
to and I was unsure if my application materials hit the mark. In a case of
getting in my own way, I am shy about showing people my work, so I didn't ask
for help. Instead, I read advice from all over the Internet and made mistakes
that make me cringe even today. Avoid my mistake and ask for help from people
who know what they are doing.
That, of course, means you must know people who know what
they are doing. When my last seasonal job ended, I was determined to get into a
library, one way or another. I asked at a local community college about
volunteering and was given the director's contact information. Intellectually,
I know library directors are just people, but emotionally, I dislike using the
phone, never mind calling "scary" people. I called anyway, stuttering
something by way of opening. She quickly
grasped the situation, "You want to get your foot in the door."
I blushed at how crass it sounded, but agreed. On September
1, they set me at the reference desk, signed me into a computer, and left me on
my own. I spent hours getting familiar with the collection or running searches
in the databases. When I saw something I thought I could do, I asked, and
normally received permission.
I greeted each staff member every time I came in. Initiating
small talk is difficult for me, but in time they began speaking to me first.
After a few weeks, the library director gave me projects. Things progressed
from there and when, over a year later, they needed a temporary librarian, they
asked me. Moreover, I developed a working relationship with a librarian who has
worked in both public and academic libraries and has recently been on hiring
committees. He gave me advice on interviewing, but I was too uncomfortable to
ask him to look over my written application materials.
Through creating volunteer opportunities for myself, I
learned that when you want to do something, formulate a plan that will require
minimal effort from the organization, decide what you can offer the
organization, and then ask. Sometimes, when you present your plan, the answer
is no. Sometimes, the answer is yes, but things don't work out satisfactorily.
Sometimes, things work out better than expected. The only way to find out is to
try.
I was getting library experience and developing professional
relationships. Now I had to convince people that I wasn't a job hopper. If
anyone took the time to look at my job titles, they could see that the jobs
were designed to end after a few months, but if they only looked at the dates,
all they would see is an average of two jobs a year. Maybe nobody cared, but I
worried about how all those dates looked. Applications that required only a
cover letter and résumé were a boon. I could put the focus on my skills.
Applications that required a complete work history meant I listed over 20 jobs
in 10 years. I can't help but think some automated system or human resources person
took a look at that, labeled me as unreliable, and tossed my application. Maybe
it didn't happen, but I wonder.
Most frustrating were enticing openings that required the applicant
to have graduated in a specific year. Once, I wrote a cover letter, making the
case that I qualified as a recent graduate, regardless of my degree date. The
day after the opening was posted, it was taken down, so I never got to find out
if my argument was convincing.
Personally, I'm glad I took the time to travel. Professionally,
it might not have been a good choice. I could argue for all the things I
learned about working with people or quickly adapting to new situations, but
realistically, I don't think those skills without recent library experience are
enough. [Editor’s note: This isn’t across
the board. If you can sell yourself in the cover letter, explain how you’re a
good candidate even though you might not fit their listed requirements, and
show how you’ll be an asset, you could still get a call. I’ve seen it happen.]
I don't have any sure-fire answers on how to get hired, but
I will emphasize this: decide what you want to do and find a way to do it. Try
to make things easy on the people you ask for help, but find a way to do what
you want. The way you find might not be what you first envisioned, but take
what you can get. The process might take months longer than you want; keep asking
until you find a way in.
Is it easy? No. Will you occasionally feel you've made a
fool of yourself? Probably. Is the benefit from success worth the mistakes?
Yes. Now, I'm not saying be obnoxious or be a salesperson. Use your best
judgment on how hard to push. Even so, if you have a plan of what you do and
don't want and can explain how your help will benefit the organization,
eventually, you should find someone who says yes. Transitioning between careers
is hard. Don't underestimate how difficult it will be, but if you want to work
in a library, find a way to work in a library.
Jill Hames is a public services librarian at a small
town library. She has her own blog, The Learning Librarian.
Hi Jill. You left out the most important part. Volunteering at the IREDELL COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY LOCAL HISTORY DEPARTMENT. Just Kidding. You are going to be a great Library Director. Your friend, Joel
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