Ever Feel Like You’re Being Watched?
On Sunday, I had two separate conversations with friends about my job and how in librarianship, it’s difficult to move from one type of library to another sometimes. And I do such a niche thing, there isn’t really a comparable position for me to take. Most likely, if I move into a library that’s closely related to what I do, I’d end up with an entry-level position because what I do seems so different from what other news librarians do. (I’m not looking for a job–these were just random conversations about the same topic.) Then, I saw a job posted in a news library that comes very close to what I’m doing and could be a lateral move job-wise, but a move up in terms of institutions in the news library world. (Yeah, if you’ve seen the ad, you know exactly which job I’m talking about.) In the time that’s passed since I saw the posting, I’ve analyzed my life about five times (guess it doesn’t take me that long) and talked myself out of applying about as many times. The thought of giving up a job I really enjoy and moving and starting over again right now just makes my stomach churn.
October 22nd, 2003 at 10:05 am
I would apply, for a number of reasons:
1. Applying doesn’t mean you can’t say no. An employer who wants you has to woo you, just like you have to persuade an employer you want to hire you. It’s bidirectional — you shouldn’t feel that you’re wasting their time by interviewing for a job you’re not sure about; just as it’s your duty to show why you’re the best person for a job, it’s their duty to show why this is the best job for you. Interviewing is a two-way street.
2. Applying for a job, even if you end up deciding it’s not for you, is great practice — and the better you get at it, the more likely you are to generate job offers that you do really want when you really want them.
3. It’s a powerful form of networking. Even if you do not take the job, the people running that library will now have personal experience of you and you of them, and at some point when and if you do decide to make a move, you’ll be able to call on them without making a “cold call” to someone you’ve never met.
October 22nd, 2003 at 1:18 pm
Thanks for the comment, Lisa.
I repeat: I am not going to apply for the job. End of story.
In certain circles, it is not appropriate to apply for a job you aren’t going to take, go through the process, then turn down a job offer. (Not that I’m saying I’d actually get that far.) It can black-ball a job seeker. When I’m ready for a physical and professional move, then I will be more willing to apply for jobs I find interesting.
Applying for a job for the purpose of networking is a good idea. I already know some of the people in this institution through professional development activities. Another reason why I’m not applying is because I do know them and don’t want to put them through the effort of reviewing my qualifications, the potential interview, etc., when I’m not serious about a major job change right now.
Also, with the economy like it’s been, many news jobs have been cut. Many of my out-of-work colleagues have been looking for new news positions for months–some for perhaps more than a year. I know that this institution is going to get flooded with resumes for this job. I don’t think it’s fair for me to throw myself into that mix when I’m not serious about changing careeers right now. IF (big IF) I make it to the interview stage, I might cut someone out who has been out of work for a long time. Since I’m not at the point where I would accept a job offer for many reasons, I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to take the risk of cutting someone out of the running who needs a job.
I’m not applying.
October 22nd, 2003 at 4:18 pm
I am glad to hear that you are not planning to leave us, J. I was worried for a moment
.
I think that you raise an interesting question (or set of questions) in your original post. I have no idea about professional positions, but I can write from a support staff perspective.
When I wanted to make a transition out of circulation/public services work, I was told that it would not be possible, especially not if I wanted to stay at this university and at my current pay rate. It was suggested that if I wanted a technical services position, especially in special collections/archives, the best that I could hope for was to work up from a casual position because no one would hire a circulation assistant for anything other than circulation work.
To say the least, this really discouraged me, especially since my support staff work was meant to be pre-professional work, and I was not planning to be a public services librarian. I began to look for staff admin. jobs and other types of work, feeling that a future in library work was pointless if that future was already determined and quite limited.
Surely, however, there are places of overlap in all sorts of library work. From what I have learned from you about news librarianship, I would guess that someone with a news library background could also work quite well in a reference department or an archive (or many other places). An applicant must stress those transferable skills, however, and the hiring managers must be flexible enough to consider and hire “nontraditional” candidates. I think, in most cases, libraries benefit by helping skilled applicants make these career transitions even if it seems risky to do so.