by Sarah Roark Schott, Head Editor, INALJ Arizona

An Ideas List (in 6) for your New Year

For many of us the thought of beginning a new year looking for a new library job is daunting. Instead of a list of tips to get healthy, I thought I would come up with a list of ideas to help boost confidence in your job hunt. Please feel free to share your New Year’s job hunt resolutions in the comments!

1. Try something new with your resume.     Reduce your text, keep the descriptions short and simple. Remember employers typically give resumes 30-45 seconds to catch their interest. Bolded key words will also help draw the eye down the page.

2. Did you have a really great interview and connection with a hiring committee or manager that did not lead to a job offer? Try emailing the interviewers for some feedback. It can never hurt to ask, especially if it leads to some really great ideas!

3. Submit a paper to a local conference you wouldn’t normally consider.    Have you ever considered a history conference? Archivists and librarians typically know collections best, and can be a huge wealth of information for historians! Networking!

4. Have you heard of meetup.com?    Organize a job hunting group to meet with a couple of times a month! You might get some great advice from fellow job hunters.

5. Look for library, archive, or research positions in a corporate setting.    One of my favorite MLS classes was Corporate Libraries with Dr. Jim Matarazzo from Simmons. Before taking the class I never thought about working as a librarian for a business. Make a list of companies you would like to work for, and check their websites for openings that might be a good fit for you! (This is actually how I landed my current job!)

6. Try an interview outfit swap with a friend!    Sometimes a new blouse, tie or accessory can give you a much needed boost before an interview.

Good luck this year!