Professional Development & Web 2.0 Tools 

Welcome! This Guide is entended to provide Professional Development tools for Librarians.  The aim is twofold.  The first part is what I like to call "what I wished someone told me in library school", the second part being  "how to or items to stay current". There are tips for interviewing, books to help you professionally and many links to associations and job sites.

One of the best NJ Library blogs is Library Garden: http://librarygarden.blogspot.com/, it also has a listing of many other blogs that will be of help.

See US News & World Report on Librarians: one of the best careers for 2009: http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/best-careers/2008/12/11/best-careers-2009-librarian.html

Most of the below was taken from an excellent resource on how to by Jessica L. Adler and Susan Devlin entiled "The Human Resource Perspective on the Academic Library Job Hunt".  You can find the entire piece here: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/nmrt/oversightgroups/comm/resreview/hr.cfm.  I've shortened it, and added a few of my own do's and don'ts.
Deciding on a Library Path: http://www.ala.org/ala/professionalresources/typelibrarian/index.cfm

Resume 101
Formatting and Grammar are Crucial

DO NOT use more than one font - if you want to break up text, italicize, bold, or underline.

DO Pay attention to tabs, indents, and alignment and make sure they are consistent throughout your application materials.

DO Make sure your belly button information is formatted the same on all documents.

DO NOT make mistakes in your resume or cover letter.  Spelling and grammar are crucial. After writing your documents, give them a day or two to sit before rereading them and sending them off.  Don’t work on them in a hurry.  Spelling and grammatical errors can be a knock out factor – your resume won’t even be considered after the employer finds the first error.

DO NOT use “Courier” as the font for your resume or curriculum vitae, “Arial” or another font is more contemporary and appealing to the eye

Content is King

DO NOT list hobbies, personal statistics (i.e. birthday, marital/military status), and interests or include a picture of yourself - this is all irrelevant.

DO NOT write “resume” or “curriculum vitae” on your resume- this is self-evident!

DO NOT simply list names and phone numbers on your reference list; it offers the reader helpful context when you list a complete address, title, organization, email address, phone number, and your relationship to the reference provider.

DO Give yourself some credit!  Describe your accomplishments and duties honestly and assertively.

DO NOT ever write ‘references available upon request’!  Of course they are available upon request!  This is intuitive!

DO NOT write an objective unless you really have one- it is annoying to look at the same generic objective sentence.  Sometimes it is better to address personal goals (i.e. objectives in the cover letter).

DO Give your resume to someone, anyone, to read before you send it to a potential employer.  A second pair of eyes can find errors you can’t see and identify places in which you weren’t clear in describing your background and experience.  Better yet, give your resume to someone who knows your work prior to sending it to a potential employer like one of your references. Someone who knows your work will help you remember some of the great accomplishments you’ve had and some of your unique and marketable characteristics. 

DO Follow the instructions in the job posting – they were included for a reason. If the employer asks for the contact information of references, give them the contact information.  Do not send an actual written letter of reference. If the employer asks for contact information for 3 references, don’t send information for 8. 

DO Address each requirement listed in the vacancy announcement point-by-point in the cover letter and/or resume so that there is no doubt in the reader’s mind that you meet the minimum qualifications.

DO Include your minimum salary requirement IF the posting asks for it.

A few other tips…

If you are submitting these documents online, only attach MS Word or Adobe Acrobat files since these are the most commonly used programs.

Expect there to be a delay in when you submit your resume and when you hear from the organization.  In many organizations you should normally receive a letter alerting you that your resume was received and is/isn’t being reviewed. In rare instances the time from a resume submittal to actual interview can take months.

How to Prepare for an Interview
Interviewing allows the employer to get to know you interpersonally, and is a two-way process.  At the interview stage, your verbal and nonverbal characteristics are more important than your credentials.  Everyone who makes it to the interviewing stage is minimally qualified, now it becomes a matter of best fit between a candidate and the organization. 

Depending on the type of organization you are applying to, you many have an interview with a few people, many people who make up a search committee, or single interviews from a number of individuals at an organization. MAKE SURE YOU RECEIVE A COPY OF YOUR ITINERARY A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE INTERVIEW.

The overall impression you leave is influenced by both subjective and objective observations throughout the interview.  Keep in mind that the entire time you are with a representative of the library, you are on an interview.  Even informal interactions provide a wealth of information to the discerning search committee member.  These opportunities to observe a candidate begin with the emails and/or telephone calls to set up the interview and continue throughout the site visit, including an informal library tour, a coffee break or a ride to and from the airport.

Interviews may range from moderately short, like an hour or two, to an all day affair.  Do try and go on a few interviews for jobs you AREN”T interested in to gain experience for an interview for a job you ARE interested in.

Interview Tips
DO Treat everyone you meet as if they are the person making the hiring decision.  Sometimes hallway conversations or seemingly inconsequential meetings with staff can have a large impact on how you are perceived as a potential fellow employee.

DO Demonstrate stamina throughout your interview.  Keep your energy level up all day. 

DO Be a low maintenance guest.  Go with the flow and limit your requests for nonessential accommodations throughout the day.[1]

DO Be prepared.  For example, if you are required to give a presentation, don’t expect someone at the host institution to make photocopies of your presentation materials for the audience.  If your presentation materials are electronic, email them to the main contact person ahead of time and bring the information in multiple formats (CD, floppy, zip) so that you can adapt to whatever technology you are provided with during the interview. 

DO research the organization, their services and resources.  Have a plan for how you’re contribution in the first six months would impact the organization.  Have ideas for how to improve their existing services and resources of the job you are applying for. Be curious and have a few questions for those interviewing you.

DO Sell yourself to the organization; try not to decide during the interview on whether or not you want the job.  Focus on showing your best attributes, at the very least it will increase your skills at interviewinig.

DO Be reading for behaviorally based interview questions which allow the candidate tell the story of how they have handled specific situations in the past.  Even if you are not presented with these types of questions, we recommend that you are prepared to provide specific examples of situations you have handled in the past:

solving a specific problem;
undertaking a creative endeavor;
being a team player;
a situation where you didn’t meet your goals.

DO Be aware of inappropriate questions a potential employer could ask. See a list here:

DO Send thank you cards or emails after interview.  Send one to everyone whose name you can remember and specifically address what that person did to make your interview productive and comfortable.

References
DO Contact you references when you begin your job research.  Send them a copy of your CV or resume, and fill them in on any projects or achievements you’ve made since the last time you spoke.

DO Try to have your references all be PROFESSIONAL references, not academic advisors or professors.  If you are new the profession a single professors (like your advisor) can be listed.  You should have references you can speak to the merit of your work and accomplishments.

Salary Negotiations
The key to successful salary negotiation is research and information.  Use your research skills to get a sense of what people at the institution to which you are applying make. Most job listings in New Jersey will stipulate whether the salary meets the NJLA minimum guideline starting salary of $49,286 for librarians (January 1, 2009).

Know the salary you want before you interview with an organization. When the offer is made, be sure to evaluate the entire compensation package -- not just salary. Benefits can add up to 30 percent to your total compensation. Also be mindful of vacation, holiday and flex time.  Identify to yourself what it will take to make an unacceptable offer acceptable, and what items are negotiable.

Be sure and thank the employer for the job offer, regardless of acceptance/declination.

DO NOT negotiate at the time of the original offer. Ask for time (at least a day) to consider the entire compensation package.

DO NOT accept the first offer. Most employers are willing to negotiate at least one or more elements of a compensation package.

DO Negotiate with the proper attitude and demeanor. Never make demands. Always say you are hoping for more instead of expecting more.

DO Never lose sight of the fact that you are negotiating to obtain a satisfactory job in the short-term, and to advance your career in the long run.

BE SURE TO GET FINAL COMMITMENT IN WRITING

Most organizations have listserv's where those who subscribe will receive emails that contain articles of interest, job postings, and requests for information. For example here is information on how to join the listserv for ACRL- NJ (American College and Research Libraries- NJ section): HERE