Did you ever wish that someone would just hand you a checklist for getting a job? Great news – this session will not only give you that checklist, but walk you through the whole process! Learn how to use self-assessment to review your skills, biases, values and interests. Improve your chances by leveraging your GLA membership, searching for jobs in library-adjacent fields, breaking down job advertisements, and writing audience-focused application packets. Wrap up by setting yourself up for success in your first six months on the job while helping your colleagues get their own dream jobs!

1. Get a (Library-ish) Job!
Sponsored by the GLA New Members Round Table
Georgia Libraries Conference 2018
Cliff Landis

2. Introductions
● Librarian / Technologist with 15 years
professional experience, primarily in
academic libraries and archives.
● Currently: Digital Initiatives Librarian
● Maintain digital collections and software
● Joined AUC RWWL in March 2017
● Passionate about career planning and
professional development
● Recovering Perfectionist and Archivaholic
● Aspiring Systems Thinker (ala Gregory
Bateson & Peter Senge)
● Obsession of the moment: Hügelkultur!

3. Content Note: Privilege, Power, Difference, and Bias
My Presentation-of-Self appears to others as:
● White
● Male / Masculine
● Cisgender
● Heterosexual
● Able-bodied
● Neurotypical
● Anglo-sounding name
● Middle-class
● Educated
● Professionally experienced
How people perceive me impacts
how I’m treated, often to my own
advantage.

4. Professional Experience
● March 2017 – Present - Digital Initiatives Librarian, Atlanta University Center Robert
W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta, Georgia.
● July 2016 – January 2017 - Taxonomy and Metadata Manager, InterContinental
Hotels Group, Atlanta, Georgia.
● June 2010 – June 2016 - Web Services Librarian / Assistant Professor, Georgia State
University Library, Atlanta, Georgia.
● July 2004 – May 2010 - Reference Librarian / Assistant Professor, Odum Library,
Valdosta State University, Valdosta, Georgia.
● January 2004 – June 2004 - Part-time Staff, Odum Library, Valdosta State University,
Valdosta, Georgia.
● September 2003 – May 2004 - Library Intern, Odum Library, Valdosta State
University, Valdosta, Georgia.

5. Job Search Experience
Job Searches:
● I have worked in four professional positions, but to date I have applied for
fourteen positions. So I have a success rate of 28.57% (or a failure rate of
71.43%), which I consider to be pretty good!
Search Committees:
● Valdosta State University - Served on four search committees, Chaired three
of them
● Georgia State University - Served on three search committees and two
Structured/Admin reviews

6. Moment of Reflection: Why are you looking for a job?

7. Moment of Reflection: Why are you looking for a job?
● To pay the bills
● To move closer to family / friends / better climate
● To get new experience, to learn new skills
● To do what I really want to do
● To leverage for a promotion / more salary
● To make a difference
● To move up in the organization
● To see some sort of light at the end of the tunnel
● To get the heck out of here

8. THE GROUNDWORK

9. Know thyself
● Use a few self-assessment tools
● Discuss the results with folks who can help you see past
your ego / blind spots
● Identify transferable skills & mindsets
● Identify communication, conflict, and management styles
● Identify values and work preferences
● As you do the above, identify strengths and weaknesses
● Set up regular check-ins to identify changes

10. 16 Personalities: INFJ - The Advocate / Protector
Strengths:
● Creative
● Insightful
● Inspiring and Convincing
● Decisive
● Determined and Passionate
● Altruistic
Weaknesses:
● Sensitive
○ Learn how to do conflict well and not take things
personally
● Extremely Private
○ Learn how to be more open and vulnerable
● Perfectionistic
○ Learn how to enjoy “good enough”
● Always Need to Have a Cause
○ ….ummmmm
● Can Burn Out Easily
○ Conserve resources carefully, take vacation /
breaks
https://www.16personalities.com/infj-strengths-and-weaknesses

11. Identify Transferable Skills & Mindsets
Example Skills:
● Collection Development/Management
● Evaluation of collections
● Reference Interviewing
● Information architecture
● Usability
● Library facilities management
● Reference Services
● User Education
● Problem Solving
● Scholarly Communication
Example Mindsets:
● Ability to change/Agility
● Ethics and social responsibility
● Service Orientation
● Social dynamics of groups’
perspective
● Systems of Information Perspective
● Power dynamics inherent in
information production perspective
● Social dynamics of groups’
perspective
http://acrl.libguides.com/ld.php?content_id=31104424http://acrl.libguides.com/scholcomm/toolkit/RDMWorkshop

12. People & Communication
● Communication Styles
○ Passive, Aggressive, Passive-Aggressive, Assertive
○ All communication is an act of influence
○ Use every conversation as an opportunity to practice your
communication skills
● Conflict Styles
○ Avoidance, Competition, Accommodation, Compromise, Consensus
○ Conflict is difference; don’t avoid it - use it
● Management Styles
○ Directive, Authoritative, Affiliative, Participative, Pacesetting, Coaching
○ You’ll need to manage down, up and sideways

13. Values & Work Preferences
● We’re most content and satisfied
when our work aligns with our
values
● Work Styles
○ Doer, Problem-Solver, Creator,
Helper, Persuader, Organizer
● Ikigai
● Work Environment
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ikigai-EN-optimized-PNG.png

14. THE SEARCH

15. Build your Source CV
● You never give your Source CV
to a potential employer - it’s a
way to keep track of everything
you’ve done professionally.
● Update it once a month to keep it
current
● If you’re not sure if something
belongs, put it in anyway
● Very handy for annual reviews!
● Organize by context, in reverse
chronological order
http://www.clifflandis.net/CV.pdf
Example Contents:
● Executive Summary
● Education
● Professional Experience
● Special Experience
● Publications
● Professional Presentations
● Honors
● Professional Development
● Professional Organizations
● Grants
● Service
● Languages
● Computer Skills

16. Networking, Service, and Mentors
● Networking: Having conversations in professional social
settings, like speed dating for colleagues with similar
interests
● Service: Donating your labor to a professional
organization
● Mentors: When you find someone you admire, ask if you
can buy them a coffee in exchange for picking their brain
for half an hour on [topic].

17. Internships, Staff Jobs & Volunteering
● Most of us don’t go straight from an MLIS program to our first professional
job.
● Still in library school? Get as many internships as you can, and work on both
projects and processes. You need hands-on experience to give examples in
interview responses.
● Out of library school? Apply to both professional and staff jobs, either in a
library or a library-adjacent field.
● Out of library school and working in a non-LIS field? Volunteer at a library and
ask to work directly with librarians on projects.
Every job pays you twice, once in salary and once in experience.

18. Library-Adjacent Job Ads / Titles
Lib-Adjacent: https://www.libgig.com/,
https://careers.sla.org/, http://inalj.com/
Tech: https://www.dice.com/,
https://jobs.code4lib.org/,
http://www.lisjobnet.com/jobs/jobs/,
http://www.ala.org/lita/professional/jobs/looking,
https://librarytechnology.org/jobs/
Field-Specific examples:
https://aspt.net/opportunities/,
https://damguru.com/jobs/,
https://justuxjobs.com/, https://metadatajobs.net/
General: Glassdoor, Monster, Indeed,
SimplyHired, LinkedIn, CareerBuilder, etc.
Information Organization: Taxonomist,
Metadata Manager, Analytics Manager, Curator,
Archivist, Automation Coordinator, Business
Information Specialist, Data Officer, Records
Manager, Digital Asset Manager, Indexer,
Information Architect, Database Manager,
Privacy Officer
Knowledge Management: Technical Writer,
Documentation Specialist, Learning Resources
Coordinator, Intelligence Analyst, Editor
Herding: Project Manager, Head of…, ...Director

19. THE DANCE

20. Reviewing Job Ads
● Don’t forget to stretch!
● Print the job ad and highlight the
important parts
● Identify the themes in the job ad
● Any highlighted parts that you
don’t have prior experience with,
you’ll need to address in your
cover letter.

21. The Application Packet: Resume
This is the quantitative part of your packet. Use this part to show off your work
history, skills list, service, and productivity.
● Make a copy of your Source CV and start cutting out parts
that aren’t relevant to this particular job. Each line in your
Resume should be related to the job at hand.
● Change wording as necessary to emphasize the language
used in the job ad, while also being true to your abilities.

22. The Application Packet: Cover Letter
This is the qualitative part of your packet. Use this part to tell brief stories that
demonstrate your skills and illustrate why those skills match the job.
● Use the first paragraph to state which job you’re applying for, where and
when you saw it advertised (HR folks track this), and a broad statement about
how your career experiences make you an excellent match for this position.
● Write each paragraph to address one of the themes.
● Use the first sentence of each paragraph as a link between the last paragraph
and this one.
● Use the last paragraph to show appreciation for your current or most recent
job, but that you’re looking forward to what this particular job offers.

24. The Application Packet: References
This is the character part of your packet. These people will speak to your work
ethic, collegiality, adaptability, and attitude.
● Seek out people who have worked with you at your best at work, preferably
over an extended period of time.
● List one more person than required, and your relationship to each
● Contact your references before you list them
● Once you submit your application packet, send each of your references a
copy of: the job ad, your cover letter, and your resume.
● It should go without saying, but don’t lie or misrepresent yourself in your
application packet. You’re putting your references’ reputations on the line by
asking them to speak on your behalf.

26. The Application Packet: Selling the Product
● You have to dust off your salesperson skills when applying for jobs
● Know the audience: tailor what you say to the person you’re communicating
with
● Three Cs:
○ Clear: Make sure that your sentences are clear and free of ambiguity.
○ Concise: Say it briefly whenever possible.
○ Cogent: Ensure that what you’re saying makes sense and flows properly.
● Proofread: Let your packet “rest” for 24 hours without looking at it, and then
re-read with a fresh set of eyes.

27. SUBMIT THE PACKET!
...Then pat yourself on the back! It’s a lot of mental and emotional work to build
a solid application packet, and it’s worth it to take a few minutes to congratulate
yourself on the work that you’ve done -- regardless of the eventual outcome.
The speed of the process is extremely variable. Smaller, private, and for-profit
organizations tend to move more quickly than larger, public, and not-for-profit
organizations.

28. Researching the Employer
● Break out your business intelligence skills!
● Look at the company’s reputation online
● Although you can’t believe everything you read on the internet, forewarned is
forearmed -- look out for repetitive red flags.
● Remember that although they’ll be interviewing you, you’ll also be
interviewing them.
● Be thinking about any questions you will have for them based on your
research. You want to find a place where you fit, not a place that’s going to
take years off of your life in exchange for a salary.

29. Phone Interviews
● Set aside a quiet time and place.
● Use a corded landline phone and hold the handset.
● Have your application packet ready to glance at
● Keep your answers clear, concise, and cogent.
● Each answer should last two to five minutes.
● When possible, use examples from your projects to demonstrate your
knowledge and experience.
● Have a set of three to five questions ready to ask the interviewers at the end.
● Send a thank-you email to each of the people you spoke with.

30. In-Person Interviews
● Be well-groomed, warm, and cheerful.
● Wear comfortable shoes, eat modestly, and sip on water throughout the day
● Have your full list of questions ready to ask the interviewers, potential
coworkers, and HR.
● Pay attention to how potential coworkers speak and behave -- their demeanor
can tell you a lot about the institutional culture and how well they’re treated by
the organization.
● If you get them alone (i.e. during a tour) ask them about the institutional
culture, what they think of your potential boss, what they like best/least about
working there, etc.
● Send a thank-you card to each of the people that you interacted with.

31. HR Conversations
● Be particularly mindful of your behavior and word choice when
interacting with Human Resources.
● If it’s brought up, be honest about any obstacles in your past (bad
credit, being fired, employment gaps, arrests, etc.).
● Patience is best when waiting to hear from a potential job. If you find
yourself worrying over not having heard back, put that energy into
more job applications rather than asking for the status of the search.

32. Negotiating salary
● Look closely at the salary and benefits package.
● Figure out your ideal/minimum salary range beforehand.
● Know that your future raises will be calculated as a percentage of
your starting salary -- the higher your starting salary, the larger your
raises.
● Don’t take the first offer -- always negotiate for a higher salary.
● If you get an offer but would like to stay at your current job, notify your
supervisor and ask for a meeting to discuss whether the library is
willing to make a competitive offer.

33. Acceptance or Rejection
● If you receive a rejection notice at any point, send a thank you email to the
main point of contact (typically either HR or a search committee member).
● If you decide to withdraw from the search, notify and send a thank you
email to the main point of contact.
● If you accept the offer, congratulations! You have a new job!
○ Do not quit/provide notice to your current job until after you sign your
new contract and your new employer notifies you that it has been
received.
○ Make a photocopy of any paperwork that you have to send to HR,
before you send it, especially contracts.

34. THE NEW BEGINNING

35. First Weeks
● Set up brief one-on-one meetings
● Ask for all the job-relevant documentation you can get your hands on and read
it all.
● Ask for three goals/projects you should focus on for your first three to six
months.
● Make an HR binder with copies of your contract, benefits info, employee
handbook, etc.
● Understand coworkers’ philosophical approach to library practice. For example:
“How much description should be provided for our collections?”
“If you can’t find the
time to do it right, when
will you find the time to
do it over?”
“More product, less
process”
“Something is
better than
nothing”
*wordless
scream*

36. Don’t get ready, stay ready
● Do a weekly review, so you know everything that you’re not doing but could
be doing if you decided to.
● Make a P&T (promotion and tenure) binder and file away anything of
professional significance: annual reviews, substantive thank you emails,
presentation programs, copies of articles you wrote.
● Update your source CV once a month.
● Do professional development every week. Every. Week.
● Look at job ads regularly to identify skills that you want to learn.
● Serve on search committees. This is the fastest way to see the job application
process done both well and poorly. You will also hear how other employees
evaluate applicants.

37. Give a leg-up
● Work with GLA’s NMRT even after you are no longer a
“new member”
● Share professional development opportunities, to help
coworkers stay abreast of changes in the field.
● Be generous with your time when it comes to coaching
new professionals in the field -- it’s very rewarding to be
thanked for helping someone get their dream job.

38. ...And don’t forget to dress
for success!
Thank you!
clifflandis.net
Checklist available at:
https://cutt.ly/
Libraryish_Job_Checklist