LibGuides: Library and Information Science Career Resources: Home

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Terry McQuown

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“Wanted - please apply to library” by Ned Potter is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

This guide contains resources for ibrary and information science career exploration and job hunting.

Career Gap Analysis tools

Steer Your Career
Slides from a presentation describing the Career Gap Analysis method.
Gap Analysis Actions Guide

Gap Analysis Action Worksheet
If you have a Google/Gmail account, you can make a copy of this file for your own use. Or download to MS Excel.

Gap Analysis Resources

Transferable Skills

O*NET Online Occupation Quick Search
Use to identify transferable skills. Use the top right search box to get detailed lists of common skills, interests, values, etc. for "librarians" or other occupations you have had. Take note of anything you may be missing in your resume!
Transferable Skills Checklist
If you find O*NET overwhelming, try this checklist first.
"Identifying and Conveying Transferable Skills"
from former ALA President Julie Todaro

Competencies

Competency Index for the Library Field
from OCLC/WebJunction, 2014.
Library Staff Competency Collections
Additional competency lists from various library organizations, compiled by WebJunction
Knowledge and Competencies Statements
Developed by relevant professional organizations for library and related fields; compiled by ALA.

Alternative Careers

Alternative LIS Job Titles
from Infonista blog (by LIS career expert Kim Dority)
Alternative Jobs: The Nontraditional Career Path
Chapter from Career Q&A: A Librarian’s Real-Life, Practical Guide to Managing a Successful Career (a book from librarycareerpeople.com)
Nontraditional jobs for librarians
This ALA page has a list of alternative jobs and books with more information.
mySkills myFuture
Enter a job title, and this CareerOneStop tool will give you a list of other jobs that use similar skills. From there, link to career profiles, preparation information, and job ads.

Self-Exploration

Career One Stop
This site, from the U.S. Dept. of Labor, includes extensive tools and resources for career exploration and job searching. Try the "Explore Careers" tab to find skills, interests, and values assessments, or check out the Job Search tab for articles with helpful tips.

Research! LIS Job Search

MBLC Job Listings
ALA JobList
INALJ Job Listings
(I Need A Library Job)
LibGig Job Search
Library and Information Science Careers: Find a Job
Many more resources, with a focus on New England region; from Simmons College!

Job Listings Aggregators

Job search aggregators are like entire search engines just for jobs. They pull postings from lots of other sites, including professional association listings, news sites, and company Human Resources pages. Use these to save time!

Indeed
Search by keyword, such as job title or company, and location.
Simply Hired
Log in to Facebook and/or LinkedIn from this site to find out if you have any contacts at the companies that are hiring.

Research! Informational Interviewing and Networking

Informational Interviewing Tutorial
Learn about how an informational interview should be an integral part of your networking and job-hunting plan. Includes a comprehensive guide to the process, as well as questions to ask. From LiveCareer.
Hack Library School Interviews
Brief online informational interviews about specific LIS jobs and functions are found here, along with other discussions about LIS careers and job-searching.
LibGigs -- Networking
These blog posts from library career site LibGig address networking tips and benefits.

Emphasize! Resumes, Cover Letters, and Networking

"How to Play to Your Distinctive Strengths"
Brief article from Fast Company
Resumes Unplugged
Webinar on library and information science resumes, from LibGig's "Resume Doctor, Meredith Lavine
Common Library / Information Science Action Verbs
A useful list of power words to describe your experience. From Artful Resume/LibGig Resume Doctor Meredith Lavine.
Open Cover Letters
Examples of real-life cover letters by LIS jobseekers. (No longer being updated as of 2016, but examples are still relevant.)
LibGig Career Blog
Articles on library job-seeking and career development
Mining Massachusetts
A toolkit for librarian/info pro job seekers and their employers (webinar by Naomi House, INALJ founder and CEO)

LIS Professional Development Resources

MLS Professional Development Guide
Suggestions and resources for library professional development (Note: This guide is due for an update. Some information may not be current.)