The Job Search Begins
28 August 2006
Ever since I decided to return to the US a few weeks ago I have been scouring the library want-ads looking for a job. In that time I managed to find five prospects and so over the weekend I sat down with my long-neglected résumé and cover letter and went to work applying. Three jobs have now been applied for and I hope to apply for the other two some time this week.
While it has been a few years since I applied for my last library job in the United States, in general the process has not changed. The basics I need to send are a letter of application or cover letter, my résumé (or since I am an academic librarian it is referred to as my vitæ), three professional references, and sometimes copies of my transcripts.
However, one thing that has changed (and I think for the better) is that most places are willing to accept electronic applications now. In fact, some actually require it.
When I was applying in the past this was not case. If you emailed the search committee inquiring about the possibility of sending an electronic application it was usually only accepted in addition to the hard copy. Now, I am not opposed to applying via post, but I must admit that in my current situation it makes things much easier if I can apply online.
In addition to the basics, one particular job that I plan on applying for also wants me to include a brief statement of my service philosophy and a summary of my research interests. Ultimately my service philosophy has not changed since I graduated from library school, so I just have to dig out that document and polish it a little bit.
However, my research interests have definitely changed. When I was working a few years ago, my research interests leaned towards the integration of technology into the public services environment and, in my opinion, were broad and not very well defined.
Technology in the library still interests me, but after my experience abroad I can definitely see myself doing research in the area of library services to foreign/non-native English speaking populations. Though I had read about the differences in library services in different countries when I was a student, it is only when I experienced them first-hand that I really understood how distinctive library services at American universities really are. Not only that, but I feel that after living in a country where I was a non-native speaker I will have a unique perspective when interacting with students who speak English as a second language.
I would be lying if I said that the four-year gap on my résumé didn’t concern me a little bit though. Nevertheless, my diploma still says that I am a librarian and basic library philosophy and services have not changed during my absence so I know that I can still do the job. Luckily I am not a luddite either and so I am confident that I will quickly adapt to any technological changes that may have occurred. I just hope that the search committees for the jobs that I am interested in see it that way too…
