{"id":29297,"date":"2013-07-08T14:30:48","date_gmt":"2013-07-08T18:30:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inalj.com\/?p=29297"},"modified":"2013-07-08T08:15:18","modified_gmt":"2013-07-08T12:15:18","slug":"what-not-to-do-while-job-hunting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inalj.com\/?p=29297","title":{"rendered":"What (not) to do while job hunting"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Alexis Stapp, Head Editor, INALJ Minnesota<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

What (not) to do while job hunting<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"alexisstapp\"<\/a>Here is my tongue-in-cheek guide to what you should do while job hunting:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Take longer than a week to complete a single job application.<\/strong><\/li>\n
  2. Complain endlessly<\/strong> \u2013 especially to library school friends who are in the same boat.<\/li>\n
  3. Be super disorganized<\/strong> about everything.<\/li>\n
  4. Sulk<\/strong> when you don\u2019t hear back from any potential employers.<\/li>\n
  5. Be ashamed<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    I will admit that I did some of these things while job searching; I am guilty of committing 1, 2 and 5.\u00a0 Why should you not do these things while on the job hunt?\u00a0 I should think most of them are obvious but here\u2019s my reasoning<\/span>:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Crafting a thoughtful and representative cover letter, as well as comprehensive job application, does take time.<\/strong>\u00a0 A week gives you time to write the letter, get some feedback, and get your other application materials together before sending it out.\u00a0 Longer than that gives you too much time to agonize over every word and punctuation mark, thus dragging it out needlessly and making the whole thing that much more stressful.<\/li>\n
    2. Job hunting is frustrating and your library school buddies all know this too<\/strong>.\u00a0 It\u2019s easy to fall back on complaining about the process when you hang out but they\u2019re your support network for more than just this reason – use time together to give each other positive support too.\u00a0 Discuss job hunting tactics; get feedback on resumes, cover letters, interview apparel, etc.; or throw out an interview question or two and brainstorm answers.\u00a0 Then, forget about job hunting and have some fun, please!<\/li>\n
    3. Having some kind of system for keeping track of all your applications is key<\/strong> to making sure you have all the information you need to apply, have all the requisite materials for each application, and to stay on top of deadlines.\u00a0 Whether it\u2019s some way to track it electronically, an Excel spreadsheet, or a big ol\u2019 wall calendar, make sure it\u2019s a system you can manage and it works for YOU.<\/li>\n
    4. I completely understand how frustrating it can be when you hear nothing from the places you\u2019ve applied but sulking will do no good.\u00a0 Instead of sulking, be proactive about following up with the employer<\/strong>.\u00a0 Yes, that can scary in itself, but the worst thing that can happen is you find out they\u2019ve moved onto the interview process and you weren\u2019t invited in for one.\u00a0 Then at least you know, right?<\/li>\n
    5. You\u2019ve been applying for jobs for months or even longer to no avail.\u00a0 Do not be ashamed or embarrassed.\u00a0 There are so many people, in general and in this particular field, who are in the same place<\/strong> \u2013 people who have been unemployed or underemployed, who work 1 or 2 or 5 part-time jobs and are lucky if one of them is in the LIS field, who have been relying on a spouse or partner\u2019s income or who have moved in with parents to get by.\u00a0 Don\u2019t feel that there\u2019s something wrong with you if any of the above apply.\u00a0 Recognize that it\u2019s a tough market and do what you have to do in the meantime \u2013 volunteer, intern, work those many part-time jobs (or that one non-LIS full-time job) and live with mom, dad, and the cats.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      by Alexis Stapp, Head Editor, INALJ Minnesota What (not) to do while job hunting Here is my tongue-in-cheek guide to what you should do while job hunting: Take longer than a week to complete a single job application. Complain endlessly \u2013 especially to library school friends who are in the same boat. Be super disorganized…<\/p>\n

      Read more \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[145],"tags":[443,233,3592,4761,4762,3643,16],"class_list":["post-29297","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles","tag-alexis-stapp","tag-articles-2","tag-blog","tag-feedback","tag-get-organized","tag-inalj-minnesota","tag-job-hunting"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1WoMK-7Cx","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/inalj.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29297","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/inalj.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/inalj.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inalj.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inalj.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=29297"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/inalj.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29297\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/inalj.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=29297"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inalj.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=29297"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inalj.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=29297"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}