Florence Hwang, a recent grad from the program, attended a federal libraries career networking event in Ottawa and reports back with these tips on her blog (reprinted with permission):
* Instead of listing relevant courses you have taken in your resume, provide examples of projects you did in school.
* Experience counts. Put down your volunteer experience if it is relevant.
* If you want to work in a particular city, use more than one employment agency to help you find jobs.
*
If you are applying for federal government jobs (or jobs in Ottawa),
remember to include your language skills – even if it is a basic level.
If you don't have French language skills, demonstrate you are working
towards learning the language through college or high school board
education courses.
* Attend conferences. They are like one big job interview.
* Make connections wherever you work or study. You never know when they can help you out in the future.
*
Be flexible to taking contract or short-term positions for the first
while, if you can. You can learn about different work environments and
types of libraries this way and build your experience, too.
* Have
a plan or at least an idea of what kind of library or work environment
you would like to work. It helps your job search become more focused.
* Get involved in professional associations. These are great forums to become connected to the library world.
* Keep current with the professional literature.