After a few weeks settling in Manassas, VA I've had a few more changes happen. Just yesterday I got a placement in the Gainesville Library for a volunteership. I start on June 17th and will be coming in for 4 hours every week on Thursday. My friends in the area say that it's a very small library and the Volunteer Coordinator for Prince William County assures me that the need there is great. I'm very excited to start.
In the past few weeks I've had two professional interviews: one for a children's librarian in MD and one for an academic library in VA. I was rejected for both of them, but I remain optimistic and continue to apply for jobs daily. I wanted to start a tally for the number of jobs I've applied for each day, but I find it more productive to keep track of interviews I receive instead. I haven't yet started beating the roads yet with my resume, though I did see a man in the Bull Run Library doing the same thing. I felt a hint of sympathy for him because he came in very nicely dressed with an attache case, asking for work. The woman behind the information desk politely informed him that there weren't any positions available at the moment, but that he can look into volunteering with the library instead. A few places I'm looking at in Manassas are Barnes & Noble or McCabe's Used Books, possibly working part time or volunteering to help shelve. We'll see how it goes.
ALA Annual is in a little over two weeks. I'm very excited and nervous so I've been stocking up on information to prep. I've saved event calendars for Public Libraries Association (PLA), YALSA, and ALSC. I don't know how many events I'm going to be able to go to along with visiting the Job Fair, but I at least want to have the information. I'm trying to get a friend to let me spend a night in her DC apartment so I can save a few bucks on commuting.
I've left both my part-time job and volunteer position in Maryland. The commute from Manassas takes about an hour and it's become too stressful, specifically when I have to fight traffic every day. Both of my employers seem very understanding and support the fact that I've relocated and need to find work where I am now.
I'm feeling very relaxed since graduating. I realize that I'm not going to get a full time job tomorrow and don't need to stress myself out trying to find one, but I am open to the possibility. Until then I can only take things one day at a time and continue to network the DC Libraries, JMU, and UMD.
Showing posts with label jobs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jobs. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Lying Part II
I found an article from the Wall Street Journal entitled, "In Job Hunting, Honesty Is Still the Best Policy". There's one section in here which highlights when it's appropriate to highlight details about a degree and when it's inappropriate and considered lying. This coincides with a post I put up earlier this month about librarians fudging about their degree in order to get hired, when they've got less than a month until they graduate. Sure it's being nit picky, but I'd rather err on the side of caution, since, as the article says, ""A lot of companies have zero-tolerance policies if they catch you" lying, says Mr. Challenger."
Here's what can happen if you get caught: "Steven Lurie, the author of "Handbook for Early Career Success," says he worked with a woman who exaggerated her responsibilities and previous salary when applying for an administrative job at a law firm last year. She got the job. But her exaggerations were discovered during a background check soon after and she was fired."
When your degree is being considered: "People who didn't complete a degree program can still list the school on a résumé, but they should indicate the "strongest possible presentation that is truthful," such as "completed 50% of requirements for Bachelor of Science in Business Administration" or "Bachelor of Arts candidate, anticipate completion in 2011," says Louise Kursmark, an executive résumé writer and career consultant. Crossing the line would be saying you graduated with that degree."
Here's what can happen if you get caught: "Steven Lurie, the author of "Handbook for Early Career Success," says he worked with a woman who exaggerated her responsibilities and previous salary when applying for an administrative job at a law firm last year. She got the job. But her exaggerations were discovered during a background check soon after and she was fired."
When your degree is being considered: "People who didn't complete a degree program can still list the school on a résumé, but they should indicate the "strongest possible presentation that is truthful," such as "completed 50% of requirements for Bachelor of Science in Business Administration" or "Bachelor of Arts candidate, anticipate completion in 2011," says Louise Kursmark, an executive résumé writer and career consultant. Crossing the line would be saying you graduated with that degree."
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Lying about your degree of experience
There's been a lot of talk around the library world about how useful your Masters Degree will be. For the class of 2008 and below the requirements for future librarian jobs were marketed as such that you had to have an MLS degree before someone would even consider hiring up for the upper level jobs. This is still true today. However, the recession came crashing down and changed the way that libraries are hiring (not at all). In my last Public Library Seminar session the speaker flat out told the class that she personally would not hire anyone with an MLS because we're too expensive. I was stunned. She went on to say that most clerical positions now (library technicians, library associates) are being given to applicants who have a Bachelor's degree in something. MLS degree holders are not being considered for this position at all because we're considered overqualified. In fact she said that MLS candidates would not be recruited for these jobs anymore but rather for leadership and management positions. The only problem with this when you're very green in the gills with library experience, applying for Librarian II and III positions isn't a good idea unless you have the 3-10 years of experience they ask for. If you're like me and have spent the last 20 years in school, the answer is no, you don't have that experience. The next step would be to apply for the clerical positions as mentioned above. Herein lies the Catch 22, you're overqualified for the clerical positions and underqualified for anything higher. What's a girl to do?
One answer which I openly threw out in class to Phoebe* (*names have been changed) was, "What if people just lie that they have an MLS degree and apply for the position regardless?"
Phoebe was appalled at my suggestion, but Clarice was more vocal about it. Clarice said that library school students should be proud of their education and not devalue it. She said that I shouldn't tear myself down but to be proud of all the experiences and education I had accrued. Phoebe added that it's not wise to about your degree on your resume because if you're hired that just starts off your relationship with that library entirely on the wrong foot. I am of the belief that when the people at the position do a background check on you they're going to find out anyway.
On the other half of the spectrum, Eleanor mentioned in class today that she had currently taken to lying about having her MLS degree on her resume. Most jobs won't even look at your resume if you aren't graduated with an MLS degree because it does not fit the criteria of the job. Eleanor's take is that by the time the application process is finished she will have her MLS degree, technically. My problem with this is that how are the hiring managers or HR going to misread "MLS Degree May 2010" when you're applying for jobs in April 2010? I wouldn't hire someone like that. It's still lying.
One answer which I openly threw out in class to Phoebe* (*names have been changed) was, "What if people just lie that they have an MLS degree and apply for the position regardless?"
Phoebe was appalled at my suggestion, but Clarice was more vocal about it. Clarice said that library school students should be proud of their education and not devalue it. She said that I shouldn't tear myself down but to be proud of all the experiences and education I had accrued. Phoebe added that it's not wise to about your degree on your resume because if you're hired that just starts off your relationship with that library entirely on the wrong foot. I am of the belief that when the people at the position do a background check on you they're going to find out anyway.
On the other half of the spectrum, Eleanor mentioned in class today that she had currently taken to lying about having her MLS degree on her resume. Most jobs won't even look at your resume if you aren't graduated with an MLS degree because it does not fit the criteria of the job. Eleanor's take is that by the time the application process is finished she will have her MLS degree, technically. My problem with this is that how are the hiring managers or HR going to misread "MLS Degree May 2010" when you're applying for jobs in April 2010? I wouldn't hire someone like that. It's still lying.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Best and Worst Jobs 2010
According to the Wall Street Journal's list, "Best and Worst Jobs 2010", a librarian ranks at #46. A lot of factors about this list surprised me. Jobs I thought were more beneficial, high paying, and safe ended up being lower on the list, such as Nurse Practitioner. In addition, fields a lot of my friends majored in but ended up switching out of are higher on the list, #6 Mathematician, #11 Philosopher.
Full list behind the link, but the top five jobs and the worst five job are as follows:
1st figure is starting salary, second figure is midlevel salary, and the third figure is top level salary.
#4 Biology?. Also, what on earth is an actuary? Wikipedia says: "actuary is a business professional who deals with the financial impact of risk and uncertainty." Moreover, "Actuaries evaluate the likelihood of events and quantify the contingent outcomes in order to minimize losses, both emotional and financial, associated with uncertain undesirable events."
Worst jobs
I'm a lumberjack and I'm ok, anyway. Roustabout? Wikipedia: "A roustabout is a labourer typically performing temporary, unskilled work. The term has traditionally been used to refer to traveling-circus workers or oil rig workers." Reminds me The Final Sacrifice. Rowsdower the Roustabout!
Jobs my friends have
Full list behind the link, but the top five jobs and the worst five job are as follows:
1 | ACTUARY | $49,000 | $85,000 | $161,000 |
2 | SOFTWARE ENGINEER | $54,000 | $85,000 | $129,000 |
3 | COMPUTER SYSTEMS ANALYST | $45,000 | $76,000 | $118,000 |
4 | BIOLOGIST | $39,000 | $71,000 | $148,000 |
5 | HISTORIAN | $34,000 | $62,000 | $111,000 |
1st figure is starting salary, second figure is midlevel salary, and the third figure is top level salary.
#4 Biology?. Also, what on earth is an actuary? Wikipedia says: "actuary is a business professional who deals with the financial impact of risk and uncertainty." Moreover, "Actuaries evaluate the likelihood of events and quantify the contingent outcomes in order to minimize losses, both emotional and financial, associated with uncertain undesirable events."
Worst jobs
196 | WELDER | $23,000 | $34,000 | $51,000 |
197 | DAIRY FARMER | $21,000 | $32,000 | $45,000 |
198 | IRONWORKER | $22,000 | $32,000 | $49,000 |
199 | LUMBERJACK | $22,000 | $32,000 | $47,000 |
200 | ROUSTABOUT | $21,000 | $31,000 | $49,000 |
I'm a lumberjack and I'm ok, anyway. Roustabout? Wikipedia: "A roustabout is a labourer typically performing temporary, unskilled work. The term has traditionally been used to refer to traveling-circus workers or oil rig workers." Reminds me The Final Sacrifice. Rowsdower the Roustabout!
Jobs my friends have
13 | TECHNICAL WRITER | $37,000 | $62,000 | $97,000 |
28 | DIETICIAN | $31,000 | $51,000 | $73,000 |
47 | ANTHROPOLOGIST | $32,000 | $54,000 | $89,000 |
52 | SOCIAL WORKER | $27,000 | $46,000 | $74,000 |
68 | BANK TELLER | $18,000 | $24,000 | $32,000 |
70 | PHYSICAL THERAPIST | $50,000 | $73,000 | $104,000 |
58 | RECEPTIONIST | $17,000 | $25,000 | $36,000 |
109 | PIANO TUNER | $18,000 | $32,000 | $54,000 |
116 | TEACHER | $33,000 | $49,000 | $78,000 teacher ranked one notch above sewage plant operator |
123 | RAILROAD CONDUCTOR | $33,000 | $53,000 | $80,000 |
125 | WAITER/WAITRESS | $14,000 | $17,000 | $30,000 |
126 | PHOTOGRAPHER | $17,000 | $29,000 | $62,000 |
143 | CHILD CARE WORKER | $15,000 | $19,000 | $29,000 |
174 | DISK JOCKEY | $16,000 | $27,000 | $76,000 |
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Prospective Jobs
To turn to a more pragmatic aspect of blogging, I wish to discuss job searching and see if there are any tips I can accumulate.
Some advice I've heard in the past is to come up with a 60 second blurb about yourself and what you hope to accomplish within your field so you can pitch this at job fairs.
"I, Rosanne North, desire to work in a public library serving adults, children, and the general public. I have an MLS degree, html, Microsoft Office, and database creation skills. My past experience has been general office work updating online catalogs. I also have instructional experience teaching library workshops to freshmen."
Sufficient for now, but I'm still working on it.
This coming week in class I'm arguing for upholding Bridge to Terabithia as the rightful winner of the 1978 Newbery medal against Ramona and her Father and Anpao: A Native American Oddysey. Honestly I have no idea why either of these books were nominated. Anpao's author has been denounced and dethroned as a self-proclaimed Native American and his book combines several stories from Native American folklore to chronicle Anpao's journey from childhood to manhood. At least with Ramona and her Father the book's timelessness has held up. Ramona and her family have to face hard time and difficulties within their family structure when they can no longer rely on their father's income after he loses his job. In the face of this recession (gone or not), this book can be applied even in today's society as children have to cope with their parents' worries instead of enjoying the blissful innocence that childhood allows.
I believe Bridge to Terabithia is most deserving of the medal because of its serious topics and handling of death for young people. Also because I'm drawn to the main character, Leslie, who is a girl imagining the world and trying to make friends while dealing with absent parents.
Some advice I've heard in the past is to come up with a 60 second blurb about yourself and what you hope to accomplish within your field so you can pitch this at job fairs.
"I, Rosanne North, desire to work in a public library serving adults, children, and the general public. I have an MLS degree, html, Microsoft Office, and database creation skills. My past experience has been general office work updating online catalogs. I also have instructional experience teaching library workshops to freshmen."
Sufficient for now, but I'm still working on it.
This coming week in class I'm arguing for upholding Bridge to Terabithia as the rightful winner of the 1978 Newbery medal against Ramona and her Father and Anpao: A Native American Oddysey. Honestly I have no idea why either of these books were nominated. Anpao's author has been denounced and dethroned as a self-proclaimed Native American and his book combines several stories from Native American folklore to chronicle Anpao's journey from childhood to manhood. At least with Ramona and her Father the book's timelessness has held up. Ramona and her family have to face hard time and difficulties within their family structure when they can no longer rely on their father's income after he loses his job. In the face of this recession (gone or not), this book can be applied even in today's society as children have to cope with their parents' worries instead of enjoying the blissful innocence that childhood allows.
I believe Bridge to Terabithia is most deserving of the medal because of its serious topics and handling of death for young people. Also because I'm drawn to the main character, Leslie, who is a girl imagining the world and trying to make friends while dealing with absent parents.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)