Excuse me while I go put a bomb in my mouth
Today I decided to take a break from the freakishly awful assignment I'm working on. I'm supposed to write 2500 words describing a new branding scheme that I've chosen for the university library. And I have to create a logo of some kind. And I have to figure out what should be the big thing to market to all the library user segments (undergraduates, postgraduates, athletes, etc.). So far I've checked out about 7 books and have found 8 million articles all to do with branding and marketing and academic libraries and students and crap-all else, and yet I still have no idea what I'm doing.
So I decided to take a break and check out library jobs scene. I looked around at the UK jobs on the Internet for a bit and then went over to see what my homeland is up to. I was very organized about the thing, as befits a future librarian-type-person, and created a special bookmarks folder with all these job listings/careers advice pages.
Only then I found this article, which basically says that right now the US is churning out more library-science grads than there are entry-level jobs. And not only that, but people with 3-4 years of experience are also applying for the entry-level jobs, on account of they're crappy cheaters, and of course they're getting them because they have experience and the recent grads don't.
So, you know, a year from now, when I'm living at my parents' house in butt-freezing Alaska and applying for jobs at the Dimond Mall food court so that I can pay back my student loans and continue my anger-management sessions, I hope y'all won't forget about me. I'll even post pictures of moose and frostbite, if that will help.
I'm Steph, a librarian and mom of 3 (not sure how that happened). Let's chat books, food, Sumptuous Literary Adaptations, poop, knitting and maybe some crazy Mormon Feminism.
10 comments:
Oh, settle down, drama queen. You know you always have a room in our basement (after we kick the smelly boys out), and there are always openings at WalMart. You'll be just fine.
And your mattress will be waiting for you.
Also, after clicking that link, I have no idea A) why you'd be sad about the possibility of working there and B) why you're having trouble coming up with a branding scheme. I think that the Dimond center's jingly tune would give you all the inspiration you need.
Now listen there Ms. Voice of Reason. I have logged many hours at the Dimond Center, and it is everything the theme song you linked to claims it to be. If you need any food court suggestions (Orange Julius/Ms. Cinnabon)I'm your man.
Yeah well, the thing about that mall is that the Food Court sucks. Like... they only hire people that are either minorities or mentally handicapped or both, and the service generally sucks. Also, that's the mall where people keep getting shot.
Have fun Nemesis.
I bet Ed could help you. He loves that crap.
If you took the naughty librarian approach I'm sure you'll have no problems getting a job (let's see: naughty librarian vs. boring librarian with 3-4 yrs experience...no contest!)
Maybe you could get your job back at BYU.....
Well, I know this isn't helpful, but I've run into the same problem with my law degree. I think the big problem we're all facing right now is that more and more people have graduate degrees.
But please don't worry too much right now! You still have time. I'm blaming my lack of a real job partially on my half-a**ed search thus far since I didn't know where I would be living. Just keep plugging away!
Don't worry. You are not just any to-be-librarian. You are a to-be-librarian who got her degree in England. See how cool you are? Who would NOT hire you?
The new MLS unemployment problem has been around for awhile. I graduated library school in 2002 and didn't have an actual library job until 2004. My mother got her MLS in 1974 and never found a job in the profession. I had to move because there were three library schools surrounding where I lived pumping out library school graduates. My best advice is to get a student library job at your school's library (if that doesn't hurt your visa). Get that year or two experience while a student and then go after the job of your dreams. Also try for internships. I had an paraprofessional job at the Y before graduate school and an internship during graduate school. It definately gave me a leg up on the people who had no experience at all in the library world. I just wish I got a student job while in school so I would have had more experience. Also get involved with any student associations that you can. Network like you do with any type of job and always be nice to people (I doubt you have a problem with that). I've run into people I went to library school at conferences who helped me meet others...and you know the drill.
If worse comes worse, you could redo that Dimond Center jingle and go for a job in PR. :)
But hang on a sec...I just followed that link, and the Dimond Centre has a LIBRARY!! Keep an eye on that employment page! :) Maybe if you work there you could fill them in on the missing 'a' thing.
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