by Holly Boyer, Senior Editor, INALJ
ALA NMRT can help you find a job and succeed in your career
The American Library Association New Members Round Table wants you to succeed. They want you to be successful so much, they’re willing, able, and really excited to help you along the way. How, you ask? By offering a variety of services and opportunities.
Full disclosure: I am a very enthusiastic NMRT Member and the current chair of the Membership Promotion, Diversity, and Recruitment Committee. However, this post is not an official NMRT MPDR communication.
- First, NMRT offers a free resume review service to its members. Yes, a free resume review service by actual professionals in your field. This is worth its weight in gold, books, Dr. Who memorabilia, or whatever it is you fancy. They also offer an in-person review at the ALA Annual and Midwinter conferences. There are also other great job hunting resources on that page, including interview advice, resume resources, and academic library interview process.
- Second, you know how all those sweet academic librarian positions (among others) require some kind of professional service? NMRT has got your back. As a member you are guaranteed a position on a committee if you apply. You get committee experience in a national professional organization, which is definitely worth its weight in yarn.
- As some of you may know, I love to socialize and meet new people, aka networking. NMRT offers fantastic networking opportunities at both the ALA Midwinter and Annual meetings. At Annual they hold a Student Reception and an Awards Reception. The Midwinter Social is a fun opportunity to meet other NMRT members and possibly, shortly after meeting them, invite yourself along to whatever other event they may be going to. (Yes, I did actually do this, and again, full disclosure, I was on the Midwinter Social Committee in 2013-14.)
If the previous weren’t enough, NMRT also offers a Mentoring Program for either conference or career mentoring. The conference mentor will help you navigate through the often overwhelming first time conference experience. (They also usually host an orientation session at both conferences for the same reason.) Career mentoring connects members new to the profession with experienced professionals for guidance and support in developing their careers.
Lastly, have you wanted/needed to publish a scholarly article but find it difficult as a newbie to the profession? NMRT annually publishes Endnotes: The Journal of the New Members Round Table, a peer-review journal which included 2-4 scholarly articles written by NMRT members.
If you’d like to know more about NMRT and how to join, there’s more information here. If you’re already a member, let us know why you joined or why you remain a member in the comments or tweet @INALJNaomi and @hollyanneboyer. We’d also love to hear how your other professional memberships help you in your career – let us know what we’re missing.