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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Member
Joined: 7/26/2008
Posts: 1
Points: 3
Location: Canada
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Hi,
I received my MLIS in 2005. Since then, I have been a stay-at-home parent. My son will enter school full-time this fall, so I will be looking for work. I will likely begin with a librarian staffing agency since my practical experience in librarianship is quite limited (it's my second career and aside from a couple of internships I haven't had much experience since I graduated. I started an Archives and Records Management certificate night program but thus far I've only completed a third of it.)
I have two questions:
1) In my cover letter, what is the best way to address the fact that I've been a stay-at-home parent for the last three years? Before that I was in school for two years and prior to that I was in an entirely different career.
2) A fellow graduate said I would need to give the temporary agency an idea as to what type of hourly wage I am looking for but frankly I have no idea. What's the going rate for an entry-level person? Besides the MLIS I have another Master's degree but unless the temp job relates to that field I wouldn't think it would count for much.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Julie
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Rank: Administration
Groups: Administration
Joined: 11/5/2007
Posts: 106
Points: -851
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Sorry, just realized no one ever responded to this! I hope by now you have successfully signed up with the staffing agency. But I'd say the answers to your questions are hidden in your original post: If you're currently in an ARM certificate program, this demonstrates that you have an ongoing commitment to the field while you've been a stay-at-home parent. Play that up, as well as any relevant transferable skills from your previous career. Talk about anything else you've done while at home -- have you gone to any conferences? been active in associations? worked on any non-library-related projects (church, organizations, book club) where you've developed skills that will be useful on the job? I don't believe agencies usually ask you for an hourly figure, if possible, always try to wait for the other party to come up with a number :).
Rachel Singer Gordon / rachel@lisjobs.comFind a library job: http://www.lisjobs.comThe Liminal Librarian: http://www.lisjobs.com/blog
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/27/2008
Posts: 33
Points: 102
Location: Lake Villa, IL
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A lot depends on the type of librarianship you are pursuing. A children's or YA librarian who has actual experience with kids (and some maturity due to age) may be a big plus in many libraries.
Being out of the field for a few years may or may not be a problem, depending on who is interviewing.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/3/2008
Posts: 94
Points: 291
Location: kansas
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From a public library perspective, I think you would have a solid chance at entering the field, even with the gap. You asked what the best way to address the "stay-at-home; at school; and different career" period of time.
I would suggest that you briefly state why you chose to enter school, emphazising why you choose Library Science. IF the previous career involved skills which transfer, mention those--but don't drag on about them. Since it looks as if you have been out of circulation for only 3 years, you really shouldn't have any trouble explaining that the children are now able to be with a sitter all day, or at day care, or whatever, and that you are eager to pursue your chosen area of work.
As to your second question about pay--look at the jobs that interest you, whether they are in your immediate area or not, and figure out how much the hourly wage would be. I am assuming that Canandian libraries consider full-time to be 40 hours per week, so it is 2080 hours per year. Adjust the figure if you need to for different standards. That way you will know what libraries in Canada (or the US) pay per hour for the kind of job you are looking for, and ask for something in that range. Don't forget to adjust your personal expectations for years of experience; if the job listing says "7-10 years of experience" you won't really expect that amount as a new person, of course!
Hope this helps.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
, Resumes - Moderator
Joined: 1/3/2008
Posts: 46
Points: -150
Location: http://talkingbookslibrarian.blogspot.com
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I have personally known a lot of people who have successfully returned to the workforce after staying home for several years (this includes Canada too!). I think a lot may depend on the area of the country you live, and what the job market is like there for librarians right now. The hourly rate varies so much nationwide/countrywide too, that it is hard to give a general estimate. One thing I wanted to mention - I noticed you said you have another master's degree. This might give you an edge over other applicants. ALSO - Have you considered academic librarianship? Sometimes colleges and universities are looking for subject librarians with a second master's degree. Good luck in your search!
Check out the Talking Books Librarian blog at http://talkingbookslibrarian.blogspot.com
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