Hello Linda and Susanne. We have 3 attendees on now and they can hear you. Just FYI

Hello everyone. Thanks for joining us today. We'll be starting at the top of the hour.

Feel free to introduce yourselves.

Welcome everyone!Please take a moment to introduce yourself in the chat and tell us where you're joining us from

Hi everyone. I'm Andrea Hayes from Columbus, Ga.

I'm Linda, and I'm joining today from NYC

Welcome Andrea!

Hello, from sunny (& COVID-ridden) Florida! Meg

Beth J from Salisbury, M

Hi! I'm Allison, and I'm based in Northern VA.

George from Long Island, NY

Aw, Meg. Sorry to hear that. NYC was in that shape a few months ago too. It will get better!

Please go into the chat panel, and change the "To:" choice so that it says "All panelists and attendees"

When you have a chance, let us know where you're joining us from

Cheryl Davis from Melbourne FL. Hello!

We'll begin in just a few minutes. If you're just joining us, please share an introduction in chat

Thanks, Linda! I (for one) am socially distanced & wearing my mask.

Hi, Cheryl! I am on the 'other coast' in Clearwater, FL

Hello Everyone. I’m in San Francisco.

Hi Meg!

Welcome all! So glad you're joining us today!!

Hello from Spring Hill, TN

Hello from Maryland

Good morning from Arvada, CO

Public Librarian.

If you're a current job seeker (or will be looking in the near future), what kind of jobs are you looking for?

I am looking for a RESEARCH & INSTRUCTION position in an academic library

Seeking a higher administrative/management role in public libraries

I am currently looking for a library assistant/technician role in Northern Virginia.

I'm looking for reference and instruction in academic libraries

Hi from Arizona! I’m looking for academic positions - instruction and student success

Let's go ahead and start

Hi everyone! Greetings from Ithaca, NY :) I'm looking for community college or academic librarian positions in the upstate NY area - instruction, reference, anything, really!!

I’m seeking metadata librarian positions, preferably at a public library, but I’m also a jack of library trades so…

Student services/technology

Meg, here. I'm pretty open. I have an MBA & am 2rd semester MLIS (w/ 4 years experience in a branch library). I would love to move into library admin. I do data analysis FT currently.

Hello all! I am interested in Children's librarianship positions, with a focus on outreach.

Hello from Cincinnati Ohio! My name is Leah (she/her/hers) enjoy my job as a public librarian but am looking to start moving up in my career and looking for management type jobs.

Hi, from Northern VA. I’m looking for a position in a government agency.

Hi all! I'm from Silver Spring, MD. Looking for research/reference librarian positions in special or federal libraries.

Welcome everyone! If you're just joining us, please remember to go into the chat panel and change the option to "To: All panelists and attendees

"

Paper due next day?

wanted to find information cree languge both e and physical

If your building is located down at a certain time, one could not delay closing.

Good point, Heather. This situation/narrative won't work at every place.

Thanks Susanne

do you tips for remembering your stories when you get really nervous in interviews and forget what you were going to say, even if you wrote up great narratives?

covid. lol

Imposter syndrome

unemployed

Unemployed

The market - no jobs

Administration with no knowledge of library work

Lack of job opportunities in libraries

Hi, Marie. I like this exercise particularly because I can use the bulleted lists of concepts instead of trying to remember the full narrative

uncertainty

figuring out a new normal

failure

Actually starting the cover letter

location (no jobs where I am) :(

Not knowing what I should work on - what areas of professional development - to be prepared when a job actually opens up.

Wage and age bias against seasoned librarians.

Thanks, Linda for the tip.

definitely ageism!

keeping your sense of balance dealing with others

Narrow market and it feels even more competitive now

Agism is a problem especially as they need to pay more for it

Uncertainty about personal health and the virus; balancing that with my desire to move up in my career. Dissonance and dichotomy.

I am also worried that I don't have enough relevant library experience. COVID hit right when I was in the midst of a career change. :(

I'm a MLIS graduate student who wants to know if there are going to jobs available when I complete my degree. I graduated from undergrad in 2008 and it took several years for me to land a full-time position due to the recession

I'm worried about that too. COVID hit right before I graduated from library school

I have my MLS, but very little experience

I am in school right now for my MLIS too. This job market makes me so nervous for the future.

Question in Q & A

Erica - same. The recession delayed my career development/advancement by 2-3 years and it continues to be a struggle. I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with this too.

How do you make persistence sound good?

Good coaching and mentoring skills.

Allison - Well said! I'm right there with you!

flexible, trustworthy, collaborative

Creative, Hard Working, Detail Oriented, Strong Communicator, Positive Attitude

highly educated and experienced

depth and breadth of experience

nervous

depends on the atmosphere of room

A bit like I might be lying.

Being innovative means that I am more current and forward thinking than others might assume due to my age

Someone earlier mentioned imposter syndrome--I never feel competent enough.

Same

I am referred to by my coworkers as the uberliaision librarian.

If you are able to participate as an ALA member, the New Members Round Table has a free resume and cover letter reviewing service, if you want to get some feedback on your writing skills!

Natalie-I have learn to be resourceful and determine. Plus, I learn to think outside the box and got creative with my thinking and possibilities. Thank you!

Erica, thank you for sharing that. We’ll get there!

lack of self worth devaluating all that I do do

I recommend surrounding yourself with as many supportive people as possible. Mentors, friends, family members, colleagues, and ask for advice and feedback on your application materials.

Fear: I'll never get my "dream" librarian job. Advice: Be more focused on gaining relevant skills and experiences and less focused on finding that "dream job."

This exercise can be eye-opening, abt how we treat ourselves, vs how we treat our loved ones/friends.

Allison-Seek jobs that have aspects of librarianship even if it the position is not exactly like library work. That what I did. Stay positive

Do not eat all the ice cream in the frig, call a friend

Great advice, Erica!!! Thank you. :)

Fear: I’ll accept a new position and I’ll totally mess it up. Advice: It takes time to learn new things, and others will be available to help me if I ask.

set a specific time and day of week to work on job seeking

I wonder if given the budget cuts within many libraries, one could market yourself as a contractor rather than full time at least for a time.

Fear: Not having the opportunity to show what I can really do because of being drowned out by other job seekers, especially those with more experience. Advice: A lack of jobs or offers doesn't reflect on your worth as a professional or a person! Keep looking, applying, and working on growing your skills as you wait.

One of my bosses used to tell me: Don't let perfection be the enemy of the good. Sometimes its better to just get the task done than be paralyzed by the fear of it not being perfect.

*it's

Any thoughts on developing a strategic plan for your job search?

Allison, true enough. Often good enough is just that good enough.

Same Samantha! That’s great advice to yourself and the rest of us! :)

Also something to remember, sometimes jobs are posted because they have to be, even if there is someone in mind. I find this to be the case in management especially. So if you dont get an interview or the job, it might not be that you aren't awesome, but they already had someone in mind.

keep a spreadsheet of who when and what you applied to/for

Great insight, Leah!

Thanks for saying that Leah. I have experienced this several times and I beat myself up for not getting the job.

When I was right out of grad school I did job searching with friends. We would hold ourselves accountable to do x amount of applications on a saturday. And it was good to have them for a sounding board.

Don’t feel if you’ve been “rejected’ by an institution that you can’t apply for any other job openings there.

When I haven't been selected for a position, I ask what areas I can improve or skills I could add.

Yes! Marie, I have too. It is hard. But now its what I tell myself (even if I don't know if that is the case) and it makes me feel better. And I try to think of interviews more as networking then interviewing. I have made some good relationships just from interviewing.

I often ask for feedback and it has been a mixed bag.

office politics

Some years ago we had a job search community that served as a support group and accountability, networking, etc. group. We could revive it if enough people are interested

That would be a great resource, Beatrice!

No, I would still ask. Sometimes I think it is a legal thing sometimes that they can't really say anything.

Beatrice, yes I’m interested in that.

I'll look into reviving the community and send all registrants info.

Beatrice, I would be interested, too.

OH! That’s helpful.

Ah… that makes so much more sense to me.

Such a question would make me wonder about the place as somewhere i’d want to work

When your supervisor is unpredictable in terms of support, you just have to pick your battles.

Any recommendations for resources for practicing interviewing?

https://mrlibrarydude.wordpress.com/nailing-the-library-interview/library-interview-questions/

Ask A Manager with Alison Green is also awesome

Thanks. I use the Dude’s list of interview questions. Ha.

We're in Ithaca, actually!

Volunteer on committees in your area of interest.

What did you answer?

feed it peanuts

One time as a children's library interview they gave me a basket of things like chopped, and had me read a book, come up with an activity for older kids, one for younger and using something from the basket during storytime. It was pretty wild, but also kind of fun.

can be a good way to a foot in the door

I’m volunteering with local organizations that the public library I want a job with partners with and does outreach with.

Thank you both.

Thank you so much!!

Thank you, Linda and Susanne! Great session. Good luck to everyone on their job hunts. :)

Thank you!!

ty

Thank you.

Thanks!

Thanks this was very helpful

Thank you so much!

are we getting a recording link of this presentation?

yes

Thanks guys

yes

thank you!

Thanks!

thank you

thank you!

Thank you all!