Hi-

I wanted to thank you for all the advice you gave me on hunting for a job. Thanks alot. I've still had no luck with anybody calling me back. Probably this is due to my limited experience.

However, I have a new resume, and a good meaty cover letter. I am wondering, I am going to attend the PLA conference in a few weeks online and would like to include any volunteer info as well as possibly attending the ALA conference in Annaheim. How would I put those in my cover letter and also would that catch the eye of the HR? Since I don't have alot of experience in the public library field, I'm trying to get myself out there and network and just get a feel for the library community.

I figure since I have a bit of down time, I should try to work my way in from the inside. Join COP groups on NSLS, go to conferences, be informed.

Its only been 2 months since I've started looking, it gets frustrating but I try to keep busy while I look and try to also see what is out there (outside of IL, where Im currently at. Im on a few forums, blogs, etc and Im slowly getting integrated into the community, and its a wealth of information.

Thanks!

It sounds like you might be using a "one size fits all" cover letter & resume, and if so that might be part of the problem. While it certainly is a good idea to have a generic versions of these documents to work from, they really should be customized to address the qualifications of each specific job for which you apply. I very highly recommend this book: Resume writing and interviewing techniques that work : a how-to-do-it manual for librarians / Robert R. Newlen. The author presents a way thoroughly review your work history, examine what experience you have to offer, and present that in the best light as it relates to the job description. It can be a pretty involved process, but I really think any librarian looking for work should spend some time reading it & considering this approach.

Regarding how to mention your conference attendance, I would say something like, "While I am fairly new to working in libraries, I plan to attend PLA & ALA this year to broaden my exposure to current trends in the field." Or something like that. Or, if you have attended any other (state or local) conferences, you could actually include a heading in your resume of something like "Conferences Attended:" and simply list them there. It seems like you want to highlight your commitment to the field, even if you do not have that much experience yet, so the main thing is to show how you are trying to stay involved and continue learning.

I have never been to ALA or PLA myself, but I understand there is a service where you can have your resume reviewed by volunteer readers -- perhaps sponsored by the NMRT? Others here might know more details about that.

Also, keep in mind two months spent looking for jobs is not that long! It took me about 6 months after library school to find a full time professional position. Good luck.

I have actually tried tailoring the cover letter to the jobs and have yet to get a nibble b/c well what can i do? I've had very little experience and you cant get a job w/o experience.
i've only worked for 8 months at my last job(it was contracted through the library) and then I also worked for a few years in my school's academic library so i figure those two should count for something. I figure also the fact that Im going for MLIS in the fall should probably help something.

I've heard it takes 1 year to look for a job, so hopefully ill get something before school starts or during, one of the two. Im also not in a position to relocate so Im stuck with competing against the 2 schools around me who are churing out grads. So Im going to NSLS meeting, going to conferences and hopefully netowrking will pick up a few things. I want to use the free time I've got now before school starts to make alot of contacts.

Plus if I go to the ALA with my gf (who works in a library) she said she would introduce me to people and get the ball rolling. Im wondering about getting busienss cards printed out with my contact information, even though Im not working but will be in school would be a thought?

It probably could not hurt to have business cards printed -- www.vistaprint.com will print them for "free" if you pay shipping and let them include their logo on the back.

Well, the cover letter for sure I tweak for the library jobs.

Resume is a bit different. Most of them are assistant, paraprofessional jobs so how do you tweak it for that? Plus we are in a bit of of a hiring recession right now, so its not quite good. I think the other problem I have is that I do not have alot of experience, under a year. Unless you count me working at the circulation desk in college.

I only worked in Technical Services for the 8mos I was there but it was a whole new field.

Good points here, and the key word is "you." What did you do in your previous positions that might not have gotten done if someone else had that job? What did you do to make a unique impact on that organization, or what best shows your own skills that you will bring with you to the position for which you are applying?

yeah- I try to look in the descriptions of the job and see what they are looking for. then I apply those in the cover letter mostly. I dont change the resume much.
I have only had the experience working for 8 months for Techinical SErvices, but Im getting invovled with the ALA, attending conferences, volunteering at the libraries near me in Technical Services.

In other words, Im not sitting on my butt waiting for the job to come to me. Im being pro active, trying to get myself out there.

Oh gosh, tell me about anxiety. I feel it all the time when Im at home, so I try to get out and do ther things in my spare time, go to the gym, spend time with my boyfriend, hang out with friends, run errands. that sort of thing. Hopefully something will come along soon.

Its just frustrtating that I dont have enough experience and may have to settle for a generic office job. and its alreayd near April. near half a year soon....

It does help a bit. I must tailor, tailor tailor. I've just been sending tweaked cover letters and slightly tweaked resumes hoping that wil get though but "somebody better qualified" always gets through and then I get the lovely rejection letter. drives me nuts!