It wasn’t long ago that I was sitting in my library management class thinking, “I have no library experience, how in the world am I going to get a job?”.

There were a few issues and concerns that were glaringly obvious to me:

1. Almost everyone in class had experience working in libraries or were currently working in a library;

2. Most of my classmates had always known they wanted to work in libraries;

3. I wasn’t able to join in library clubs and committees offered through the program to build up my resume because I was working full-time and attending school full-time;

4. I came from a background in the arts and didn’t even know if I wanted to be a “librarian” and if I did, likely not in a library setting; and

5. If I wanted to work in the library industry, how was I going to set myself apart from everyone else, who had experience and a story about how/why they wanted to be a librarian.

Upon graduating and working in the profession, I realized that my concerns are not unique. So for those of you who also identify with one or more items from my list, you’re not alone! The paths to librarianship are varied and colourful. What I saw as barriers, such as my lack of experience in a library setting, many employers viewed as assets, because of the wealth of transferable experience and outside perspective.

While the first year of information management school taught me to explore which areas of the profession I enjoyed the most, the second taught me how to use my interests to my advantage and market them. My marketing and management class was critical in shaping how I view myself and my skills, as well as their application in the information industry. I realized that I wasn’t just being educated as a librarian, but as an information professional. The paths are endless; there are stewardship and donor positions, management of non-profit organizations, opportunities in museums and archives, consulting positions and, yes, library opportunities of all kinds!

Now, I host practicum positions for information management students throughout the year and often see them struggling with the same concerns and issues I once faced. There are several points I try to stress and which we often talk about:

1. First Impressions. Whether or not you’ve worked in a library or your long-time dream has been to become a librarian, everyone can make a good first impression. Sometimes, it is the individual who wants the job rather than the one who depends on experience alone that often succeeds in making the best first impression. First impressions come from the quality of a cover letter and resume, to knowledge of the organization you’re speaking with and finally, excitement and eagerness in attitude and mentality. Those positive attitudes, combined with a professional appearance (from appropriate clothing, to slouching and wrinkled resumes) all play a role in your overall success – especially at the start of your career.

2. Resourcefulness and Motivation. Recently, I had a student approach my department asking to job shadow on her own time. Rather than waiting for the opportunity of a practicum, she decided to seek out her own opportunity. Although she had no library experience, her offer to job shadow not only provided her with key contacts that may result in future employment, but hands on experience that she hadn’t yet been able to obtain through employment. This type of resourcefulness and motivation demonstrated to potential employers or job referees a level of interest and dedication in the profession that is essential and desirable in new graduates.

3. Standing out. Never underestimate your skills and abilities. While some of us may never have the chance to work in a library until we graduate and apply for our first librarian position, we all have talents and skills that are desirable to employers. If you’re an artist, it tells me you’re creative and often think “outside the box”. If you have experience as a writer, it means your power of description and use of words is strong. Think about the job you’re applying for. In the cataloguing world, artistic individuals as well as writers and detail oriented professionals excel. They have unique characteristics that allow them to address the many areas of cataloguing not often taught through cataloguing courses, where the emphasis is on cataloguing theory and practice. Identifying those characteristics and strengths in a cover letter or resumes brings out personal qualities and an individualism that employers are often attracted to.

Wondering how you measure up as a graduate is often a concern when your mind turns to job-hunting and the future. Your mindset, motivation and eagerness to join the profession all play a role in how successful you will be in the profession. While experience in the field may help, it is often the qualities of an individual, such as motivation, eagerness and professional image that ultimately matter the most.