Brooklyn Librarians Organize Skill Share Event To Help Job-Hunting Peers
By Carrie Netzer Wajda Jul 26, 2010When three Library Journal Movers and Shakers--Lisa Chow, Kerwin Pilgrim, and Sandra Sajonas--received conditional layoff notices from the Brooklyn Public Library, they didn't get mad, they got organized.
On July 13, more than 80 people from as far away as Philadelphia attended a Library Workers' Skill Share event (resources, contacts) at the Brooklyn Public Library's Central Library. The event was sponsored by the New York Chapter of SLA, the Metropolitan New York Library Council (METRO), ACRL/NY, and REFORMA Northeast.
Energized and sometimes anxious attendees took advantage of speed mentoring, resume review and panel sessions from librarians, the Department of Labor, and Workforce 1.
Although the event was aimed at Brooklyn librarians who had received conditional layoff notices--which have just been rescinded--the event was open to all job-seekers and job-changers. Participants came from corporate and public library backgrounds, as well as recent MLS graduates; despite the current challenges facing libraries, most seemed to want to find library jobs, not escape them.
Getting prepared
Panelists were eager to share their experiences in corporate and academic libraries with librarians from other backgrounds. Susanne Markgren of Purchase College, NY, showed participants how to leverage e-portfolios and online profiles in her panel, "E-Portfolios and Profiles: Using Free Web Tools to Prepare for the Job Market."
"It's essential to create a professional online identity when you are searching for a job," she said. Many employers now search for applicants' names online before making a job offer, she noted.
Michelle Primeaux Lazarus of the Association of National Advertisers is a former public librarian who chose a research career in advertising after deciding that public librarianship wasn't for her. "An MLS is a very flexible degree," she said in her presentation, "Alternative Career Options."
Getting out there
Keisha Manning, who was laid off from Columbia University last year, spoke on the "Between Opportunities or in Transition/Job Search Strategies" panel. She took a proactive approach, gaining a workforce retraining grant through the State Department of Labor.
Now certified in SQL programming, Manning was recently hired as a digital asset manager at Meredith Brands, a publisher of lifestyle magazines. She also stayed active professionally by volunteering with ALA; she networked by requesting informational interviews with people whose careers she admired.
"You never know which connections are going to help you, so keep the lines of communication open," she advised. She also recommended looking for resources like the donation-based yoga classes at Yoga To The People.
Unemployed attendees expressed varying degrees of optimism and desperation, but all were grateful for the opportunity to explore new career paths. A number of people expressed enthusiasm for making the event an ongoing program.
"Librarians can learn a lot from each other, whether we are currently working or looking for work," said Markgren, who also gives advice at LISjobs.com. "It makes me wonder why we don't do this every year."
Advice from panelists
Other panelists offered this advice to job seekers.
Michelle Primeaux Lazarus, Association of National Advertisers
• Think beyond "librarianship" to "information work"
• Look at the skills and interests you have
• Acquire new skills to get the job you want
• Be open to new opportunities
• Rely on professional associations and contacts
Susanne Markgren, Purchase College
• Create, manage and professionalize your online identity
• Build your e-portfolio
• Use your e-portfolio to promote yourself (by linking it from online profiles, resume, directories, email signature, etc.).
Keisha Manning, laid off one year ago, recently hired at Meredith Brands
• Keep your routine
• Stay in contact - keep up those strategic partnerships
• Find experts you admire and request informational interviews
• Look for grant opportunities
• If you can't afford membership fees, ask for reduced or waived rates
Author's note & tips
As Michelle Primeaux Lazarus's co-panelist, I spoke about striking out solo with freelance work. As a former academic librarian who chose a freelance writing and research business (the latter of which brings in more revenue), I aimed to help librarians think creatively about their skills and apply them in new directions to diversify their income and insulate them from future layoffs. You can view my presentation here.
My advice to job seekers: freelance work lets you develop skills, make contacts and earn income, so it is worth a try. It is easier to make a living as a freelancer if you have benefits through COBRA or a partner's employer, but an entrepreneurial mindset will help.
Here are my tips for successful freelancing.
• Think horizontally about your skills
• Look for opportunities in unusual places
• Consider temporary, part-time or contract work
• Cut expenses and manage your income so you don't get surprised with a big tax bill
• Diversify your income sources
