Presenter: Shelley Rogers. Presented at the Georgia Libraries Conference in Columbus, GA on 10/04/2018. Advice for librarians entering the job market or desiring to change jobs. Covered topics include the various types of résumés, the curriculum vitae, cover letters, the reference list, interviewing procedures and questions, and follow-up.

1. JOB HUNTING FOR
LIBRARIANS
A presentation at the Georgia Libraries Conference,
October 4, 2018 in Columbus, Georgia
by Shelley Rogers
Senior Cataloger and Professor
University of West Georgia

2. Topics covered today
Cover letters
Various types of résumés
Curriculum vitae (CV) (pronounced vee’-tye)
Reference list
Interviewing procedures and questions
Follow-up
Your questions

3. Job Applications
 Traditional paper
Send cover letter & résumé (or CV) in business-sized envelope.
Send these (and other documents) if they specify them:
1. list of professional references
2. unofficial transcript
3. completed job application form
 Electronic
Short introductory email statement with cover letter, résumé (or
CV), and other items as listed above if they ask for them. Send as
attachments, or as they specify (e.g., as one file).

4. Cover letters
The point is to get the hiring manager’s attention.
Think about how your credentials should be
highlighted for this job.
Use language from the advertisement; specifically
state that you have XYZ skills.

5. Cover letters, continued
Convey enthusiasm.
Keep it brief; two pages is okay, but try to use one.
Use the final paragraph to briefly mention personal or
professional reasons why you’re interested in this job,
if it makes your case stronger; e.g.:
moving there for spouse’s job
family in the area
desire to work with particular expert there

6. October 4, 2018
Search Committee
University Library
Georgia University
100 Anywhere St.
Georgia City, GA 33333-4444
Dear Search Committee members:
I am writing to apply for the Cataloging & Metadata Librarian position at Georgia University. I have the
education, skills, and experience necessary to succeed in this position.
Since earning my ALA-accredited master’s degree in librarianship, I have acquired over twenty years of
experience, primarily in cataloging and authority control, but have also gained experience with reference
duties and bibliographic instruction. I am familiar with the technology specified in your advertisement:
OCLC Connexion, MARC, RDA, Alma, Dublin Core, and Microsoft Office. I have the ability to establish
and maintain effective working relationships.
My current job responsibilities are original and complex copy cataloging of library materials in all formats,
including print, serial, and electronic resources. I am a NACO participant and create authority records in
OCLC. In my present job I digitize objects, create metadata, and work with a vendor to create online EAD
finding aids.
I have not yet had the need in my career to work with non-MARC metadata formats, so I view this job at
Georgia University as an exciting opportunity to grow professionally. I hope to discuss the position with you
in an interview soon. Thanks for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Shelley L. Rogers
104 Anywhere Dr.
Carrollton, GA 30116
(770) 777-7777
shelley@gmail.com

7. Résumés vs. Curriculum Vitae: different purposes
Résumés
 Think of it as an outline of
your skills.
 Brevity is key.
 Someone should be able to
read through it quickly and
easily.
 Bullet points are good.
 Typically 1-2 pages.
Curriculum Vitae
 Think of it as a detailed list of
your skills and
accomplishments.
 Comprehensive; everything is
listed in appropriate
categories.
 Don’t use bullet points.
 Multiple pages; no limit.

8. Résumés: general points to keep in mind
It’s okay to list almost anything as long as it is
relevant to your job search, but keep brevity in
mind.
Don’t use personal pronouns.
Use power verbs at the beginning of a sentence.
Be positive, brief and accurate.
Incorporate keywords for librarianship.

9. General points, continued
Avoid the needless line about references
available upon request.
Your contact info should avoid current work
telephone numbers and email addresses. Use
your cell phone and free email accounts with
non-cutesy addresses.
Don’t put your list of references at the end.
(More on this later.)

10. Three Styles of Résumés
1. Reverse chronological: experience &
education listed with most recent
dates first. Most common & popular
style.
2. Functional: organizes experience by
the functions performed regardless of
date. Problematic style. Usually
utilized by those entering a new
profession or older job candidates.
3. Combo: avoids the bad reputation of
the functional résumé by always
listing a brief synopsis of actual work
experience at the bottom of a
functional résumé, including the
dates worked.

11. What to include in a résumé
Must have:
Contact info
Education
Experience (if applicable)
Optional:
Objective
Profile
Achievements
Affiliations

12. Contact info
Must have this. Typically appears first, but may appear
on the bottom or even on one side of the document.
104 Anywhere Dr. shelleylrogers@gmail.com 770-770-7700(cell)
Carrollton, GA 30116

13. Objective
Optional. If you use this, it should be tailored to a
specific opening. Make it precise. This is the top line
after contact info.
Objective: Instructional services librarian

14. Profile
Highly desirable. These are your “bragging rights”: skills relevant
to the job. Keep this section short and to the point, with no more
than five or six bullets.
Profile
 Focused cataloging manager with thirty years of experience
 Accurate, fast, prodigious cataloging output in all formats
 Strong background in authority control/database maintenance
 Skilled in reference and collection development
 Effective team player with exceptional communication skills

15. Your strongest qualification is
next, whether experience or
education.

16. Education
Must have. Appropriate to list first for recent grads;
later, after you have gained years of experience, it
moves after Experience. Use abbreviations for degrees:
“M.L.I.S.” instead of “Master of Library and Information
Science”
Education
M.Ed. Kent State University, 1993; Cultural Foundations major
M.I.L.S. The University of Michigan, 1988; Music Librarianship concentration
B.A. Kent State University, 1985 Major: Music; Minor: Business Management
Member of Honors College, 1980-85; Superior Scholarship Award, 1985

17. Experience
If applicable. Include internships, practicums, and unpaid
volunteer work if it’s relevant. Be consistent about how you
format the dates worked. You may use years only, or
months and years, but use the same format for each job
listed.
Experience
Senior Cataloger/Professor, University of West Georgia, Carrollton, Ga. (2008-Present)
Plan and manage cataloging unit of academic library in statewide system. Lead
responsibility for authority control and bibliographic maintenance of the catalog.
Provide full level original cataloging for all formats. Head team that includes one
librarian and one staff member. Liaison to Dept. of Music and teach bibliographic
instruction sessions for that department. Serve on the reference desk weekly. As a
tenured faculty member, engage in research/publication/service endeavors.

18. Achievements
Optional. Quantify the data, if possible.
Achievements
Obtained grant that added $100K to the general
collections budget for 3 years.

19. Affiliations
Optional. List memberships in professional
organizations relevant to librarianship.
Affiliations
American Library Association
Georgia Library Association

20. SHELLEY L. ROGERS
Profile
 Focused cataloging manager with thirty years of experience
 Accurate, fast, prodigious cataloging output in all formats
 Strong background in authority control/database maintenance
 Skilled in reference and collection development
 Effective team player with exceptional communication skills
Experience
Senior Cataloger/Professor, University of West Georgia, Carrollton, Ga. (2008-Present)
Plan and manage cataloging unit of academic library in statewide system. Lead responsibility for authority control
and bibliographic maintenance of the catalog. Provide full level original cataloging for all formats. Head team that
includes one librarian and one staff member. Liaison to Dept. of Music and teach bibliographic instruction sessions
for that department. Serve on the reference desk weekly. As a tenured faculty member, engage in
research/publication/service endeavors.
Technical Services Librarian, Arrowhead Library System, Mountain Iron, Minn. (2005-2008)
Managed technical services and bookmobile operations for large regional system of independent libraries. Responsible
for the database content of regional catalog, trouble-shooting problems, and training catalogers throughout the system.
Cataloging Librarian, Indianapolis-Marion Co. Pub. Library, Indianapolis, Ind. (2003-2005)
Cataloging/Technical Services Librarian, Pottsville Free Public Library, Pa. (1998-2003)
Professional Substitute, Stark County District Library, Canton, Ohio (1994-1995)
Authority/Online Catalog Maintenance Librarian, Kent State University, Ohio (1990-1993)
Library Cataloger, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio (1989)
Education
M.Ed. Kent State University, 1993; Cultural Foundations major
M.I.L.S. The University of Michigan, 1988; Music Librarianship concentration
B.A. Kent State University, 1985 Major: Music; Minor: Business Management
Member of Honors College, 1980-85; Superior Scholarship Award, 1985
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
100 Anywhere Dr. shelleyrogers@gmail.com 555-555-5555 (cell)
Anywhere, GA 11111

21. Curriculum Vitae
Used in education and other fields.
The longer this instrument is, the better.
Anything relevant to librarianship should be listed.
Put your name and page number on each successive
page.

22. What to include on the Curriculum Vitae
 Publications
 Certifications and licenses
 Grants and research
 Professional affiliations
 Awards and honors
 Presentations
 Courses taught
 Consultations
 Professional memberships held
(including offices held)
 Editorships,
 Committee service
 Volunteer service
 Professional development/training
 Electronic list subscriptions

23. Shelley L. Rogers September 2018
Experience
July 2008-Present
Senior Cataloger. Ingram Library, University of West Georgia (Carrollton, Georgia)
2018-Present Professor
2013-2018 Associate Professor
2008-2013 Assistant Professor
Responsible for the intellectual content of the library’s online catalog. Lead team in the development of
local cataloging policies, procedures, and best practices in a consortial environment. Sole responsibility
for original and complex copy cataloging of monographs in all formats, including maps, videos, sound
recordings, and archival collections. Create and upgrade authority records in an international
bibliographic utility via the Name Authority Cooperative Program (NACO); independent status for
UWG achieved Dec. 2015. Primary responsibility for authority control/bibliographic maintenance in
local catalog. Liaise to Dept. of Music. Tenured July 2014.
Oct. 2005-June 2008
Technical Services Librarian. Arrowhead Library System (Mountain Iron, Minnesota)
Mar. 2003-Oct. 2005
Cataloging Librarian. Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Nov. 1998-Mar. 2003
Cataloging/Technical Services Librarian. Pottsville Free Public Library (Pottsville, Pennsylvania)
Nov. 1994-Apr. 1995
Professional Substitute. Humanities Department, Stark County District Library (Canton, Ohio)
Feb. 1990-Nov. 1993
Authority/Online Catalog Maintenance Librarian. University Libraries, Kent State University (Kent, Ohio)
Jan.-May 1989
Library Cataloger. Music Library, Bowling Green State University (Bowling Green, Ohio)
Service to Institution
Committee Memberships
Post-Tenure Review Appeals Committee, 2016-2018
Promotion & Tenure Electronic Dossier Committee, 2016-2018

24. Faculty Senate
Graduate Programs Committee, 2016-2020
Executive Secretary of the Faculty Senate and General Faculty, 2013-2016
Executive Committee, 2011-2016
Senator, 2010-2013
Facilities and Services Committee, 2011-2013
Chair, 2011-2013
Parking Code Update Working Committee, 2013
Ingram Library:
Library Co-liaison to the Department of Art, 2018-Present
Library Liaison to the Department of Music, 2008-Present
Primo Testing Subgroup, 2018
Bylaws Task Force, 2017-2018
Participation in Educational Activities
Orientation table for Ingram Library, 3 sessions summer 2017; 6 sessions summer 2018
Commencement ceremonies, May, Aug., Dec. 2009; May, July 2011; Apr. 2012; July 2013; Dec. 2013
(mace bearer); July 2014; Apr. 2015; Dec. 2016; May 2017; July 2018
Participation in Community Activity
Penelope Melson Society
Ingram Library Representative (Board member), 2018-
Technical Services Department, West Georgia Regional Library System. Carrollton, Georgia. May
2009-Present. Volunteer
Student Advising
Faculty advisor to Pi chapter of Sigma Alpha Omega sorority, Aug. 2017-Present
Academic Achievement
M.Ed., Kent State University, 1993, Cultural Foundations
M.I.L.S., The University of Michigan, 1988, Music Librarianship
B.A., Kent State University, 1985, Music (member of Honors College, 1980-85)
Honors
Academic Affairs “Values” award nomination, Best of the West, University of West Georgia, Aug. 2015
Superior Scholarship Award, Kent State University, 1985

25. Professional Growth
Membership and Offices in Professional Societies
Cataloging and Metadata Implementation Team for GIL Alma Implementation, 2016-Present
Interim Management Plan Subgroup, 2017-Present
Co-coordinator, Authority Control, 2017-Present
Authority Control Subgroup, 2016
Online Audiovisual Catalogers, Inc. (OLAC)
Music Library Association (MLA)
Nominating Committee, 2018-2019
Career Development & Services Committee, 2017-2021
Co-coordinator, First Time Attendees Meeting, 2017
Cataloging and Metadata Committee
Content Standards Subcommittee, 2016-2020
Co-Chair, Local Arrangements Committee, 2014 Annual Conference
Music OCLC Users Group (MOUG)
Southeast Chapter, Music Library Association (SEMLA)
Newsletter Co-editor, 2015-Present
Board member, 2015-Present
Publications
Refereed articles:
Smith, Shelley L. (see also Rogers, Shelley L.). “Weeding Considerations for an Academic Music Collection.”
Music Reference Services Quarterly 15.1 (Mar. 2012), 22-33. doi: 10.1080/10588167.2012.647601
---. “Creating Provider-Neutral Records for E-Books.” Cataloging & Classification Quarterly 50.4 (Feb.
2012), 1-12. doi:10.1080/01639374.2011.642094
Invited reviews:
Rogers, Shelley L. Rev. of Music Description and Access: Solving the Puzzle of Cataloging, by Jean Harden.
OLAC Newsletter 38:2 (June 2018), 34-35. Retrieved from http://olacinc.org/newsletter/june-2018-newsletter/review
Others:
Rogers, Shelley, and Scott Phinney. “Conference Reports.” Breve Notes 112 (Apr. 2018), 5-16. Retrieved
from http://semla.musiclibraryassoc.org/brevenotes/BN112.pdf
Editorships
Rogers, Shelley. Breve Notes (SEMLA newsletter). 2015-Present. Co-editor.

26. Papers Read
Rogers, Shelley. “Changing Item Material Types In Alma.” GIL Users Group Meeting. Athens, Georgia. 18 May 2018. Address.
---. “Managing Sets and Running Jobs.” GIL Users Group Meeting Preconference Workshop, “Cataloging In Alma: A Year Later.” Athens, Georgia. 17 May 2018. Organizer, Moderator,
Address.
Rogers, Shelley, et al. “Alma/Primo Workflow Best Practices from the Georgia Vanguards' Perspectives,” Technical Services Interest Group of Georgia Library Association Preconference.
Council of Media Organizations Annual Conference. Athens, Georgia. 5 Oct. 2016. Organizer, Moderator.
Olivieri, Blynne, and Shelley Rogers. “RDA and DACS: Using a MARC-EAD Crosswalk to Improve Access to Special Collections Resources, a Project at UWG.” GIL Users Group
Meeting. Macon, Georgia. 15 May 2014. Address.
Flanders, Lorene, Shelley Rogers, et al. “Macon It a Happening: Enlivening Libraries through Live Music.” Academic Division of Georgia Library Association. Council of Media
Organizations Annual Conference. Macon, Georgia. 10 Oct. 2013. Address.
Cook, Jean, and Shelley Smith. “Invitation to MLA Atlanta 2014.” Music Library Association Annual Meeting. San Jose, California. 2 Mar. 2013. Video.
Smith, Shelley. “How to Create the New Provider-Neutral Bibliographic Record: Best Practices using OCLC and Voyager.” GIL Users Group Meeting. Macon, Georgia. 19 May 2011.
Address.
---. “Creating the New Provider-Neutral Records.” Online Audiovisual Catalogers, Inc. International Biennial Conference. Macon, Georgia. 16 Oct. 2010. Poster session.
Professional Development (conferences, classes, training, workshops, seminars, webinars)
“GALILEO OpenAthens Introduction and Update for Academic Libraries” webinar (22 Aug. 2018)
Credo Reference demonstration, Ingram Library (21 Aug. 2018)
USG government documents training webinars, 28 Aug. 2017; 19 Sept. 2017; 6 Dec. 2017; 31 May 2018
GIL Users Group Meetings (2009-2018)
GLA Midwinter conferences (2009-2018)
Electronic Discussion List Activity
ALCTS e-forums (Association for Library Collections & Technical Services)
ALMA-L (ExLibris’Alma Library System)
AUTOCAT (Authorities and Cataloging)
CATTECH-L (Cataloging, classification and technical services list in Georgia)
G2CAT (GIL Cataloging Committee)

27. The professional references list
Before you apply for jobs:
 Ask each person for permission to use their name as a reference.
 Verify their contact info: spelling of name, title, address, phone, email,
and any preferred time for contact. It’s nice to have a sentence that
describes your association; e.g., “Ms. Rogers served as an informal
mentor to me and helped train me on creating catalog records at UWG.”
 Protect your references and their privacy! Don’t distribute these widely
as part of your resume. They should only be shared with potential
employers who ask for them, so they should be noted on a separate list.

28. References, continued
After an interview:
 When will they be contacted? It varies among employers. In my
experience, academic search committees contact them only for top
candidates after the interview process has concluded but before an offer
is made.
 Keep your references apprised of your job search, but don’t inundate
them with information. A good time to let them know they may be
contacted is if your interview went well. By knowing what the position is,
they can speak to your strengths in that regard during a telephone call
from the employer.

29. Interviewing
The purpose is for an employer to get to
know as much as possible about your
qualifications for the job
and
for you to get to know as much as possible
about the job duties and environment.

30. Preparing for interviewing success
1. Know your expertise.
2. Know the job.
3. Prepare for questions.
4. Make the day easier.

31. 1. Know your expertise: education
Your expertise comes from two areas: education and
experience.
Know your degrees and what they represent.
Any certifications, especially if related to the job.
Specific classes you’ve taken related to the position.
Workshops and training.
Other professional achievements and activities.

32. 1. Know your expertise: experience
For each position you’ve held, know the title of the job,
a summary of the responsibilities, and its relation to
the organization.
Be prepared to discuss less related job experience, if
they ask, but avoid discussing unrelated job
experience.

33. 2. Know the job
Use the Internet to help you learn about the
organization.
In Georgia, examine the University System of Georgia
website, the individual institution’s website, and the
library’s website or the GPLS site.
GPLS publishes “A Current Look at Georgia’s Public
Libraries and GPLS” annually in February. That
resource is listed in the “Public Library Info” section
under the “Resources for Libraries” menu.

36. The PR &
Advocacy
section also
offers a
number of
resources
that may
help you.

37. 2. Know the job, continued
School librarians should look to their state
organizations. In Georgia, this includes the
Georgia Department of Education, the Georgia
Library Media Association, Inc., and info about
the individual school system and their
library/media center website.

38. 2. Know the job, continued
Look at the community.
Examine city and county government where the
position is located; become knowledgeable through
the local library’s website.
Check the cost of living (real estate, apartment
rentals).
Does the community mesh with your interests; e.g.,
sports, civic organizations, urban v. rural, etc.?

39. 2. Know the job, continued
Know the salary context of the job.
In Georgia, the GPLS website provides a “State-
Paid Professional Public Librarians Monthly
Salary Schedule” for downloading. It’s on the
Directors’ Knowledge Base of GPLS, but just
Google it to find it.

41. 2. Know the job, continued
Know the salary context of the job.
The Georgia State Auditor’s Report is relevant
for academic librarians, school librarians, and
media specialists (open.ga.gov).

42. open.ga.gov

45. 3. Prepare for questions
There are two categories of questions:
standard, and illegal or odd. Hopefully the
interviewers will ask only standard
questions. Use examples from your
experience and education to answer.
Practice before the interview by thinking
about your response to these questions:

46. Common interview questions
What made you apply for this position?
What special aspects of your work experience
have prepared you for this job?
What would you say is the most important thing
you are looking for in a job?
What would you most like to accomplish if you
had this job?

47. Common interview questions, continued
Tell us about a time you had to work with a “difficult”
person.
Describe a situation in which you were able to use
persuasion to successfully convince someone to see
things your way.
Give me a specific example of a time when you used
good judgment and logic in solving a problem.
Conversely, tell us about a time when things didn’t go
well. What did you learn from it?

48. Common interview questions, continued
Tell us about the most significant work-related
risk you have taken.
Have you handled an ethical dilemma in one of
your past jobs? Tell us about it.
What specific goals have you accomplished
during your library career?
How do you determine or evaluate work-related
success? Give us an example.

49. Illegal or odd questions
It is possible that you may be asked an illegal or odd question. Some
interviewers may simply be unaware that they should not ask a particular
question, and ask out of ignorance. Others might ask in an attempt to gain
information that could be used to discriminate against you. Examples of
these types of illegal or odd questions include:
 Do you have any kids?
 Where are you from?
 Are you related to the dentist in town?
 Which church do you want me to drive by during the tour?

50. Answering illegal or odd questions
In the Southern culture, people are often
genuinely interested in knowing where you
are from, who your family is, and who you
know. You might be tempted to answer such
a seemingly harmless question, but it would
be better to prevent any possible
discrimination by answering something like:

51. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think that
question is relevant to the
position for which I’m
interviewing.”

52. “I’m very excited about this
position and what I could bring to
it. During this interview, I just
want to focus on those things that
directly relate to my qualifications
for the job, if that’s okay.”

53. “I’m not sure how that relates
to the job.”

54. “I would rather stick with
discussing the job.”

55. Answering illegal or odd questions
Bridge an awkward gap and allow the
interviewer to save face after your answer by
immediately asking the interviewer a
question, like “what do enjoy most about
working here?”

56. Ask your questions
Prepare a list of questions that indicate you have
studied and know the position, organization, and
how you relate to it.
Follow-up and clarification questions are fine,
but don’t try to redirect questions addressed to
you back at the interviewer.

57. Ask your questions, continued
Get the full names of those with whom you interview,
and how to spell their names, so you can write a
thank-you letter or note to them later. Ask for their
business cards, if you want them. This is a good way
to be sure of their email addresses, too.
Based on your research about the organization, what is
still unclear to you? Think about how to ask your
questions in a way that does not offend anyone, but
rather invites them to share what they know.
(Cataloger manager example)

58. Asking about the next step
They may tell you what the next steps will
be and when they expect to make a decision,
but they may not. It’s okay to ask for a
general timeline of when they expect to
make a decision.

59. 4. Make the day easier
Get a good night’s sleep.
If possible, visit beforehand. Know where to
park and how to get around.
Arrive early; never cut it close.

60. 4. Make the day easier, continued
Eat mild, filling foods. Use moderate caffeine
intake.
Pack your prescription medicines and include
over-the-counter pain and anti-diarrheal
medicines, if you might need them.
Have sufficient cash and credit.

61. 4. Make the day easier, continued
Bring job paperwork, such as additional copies
of your résumé, CV, references, and any
required in-house job applications. You can
hand one over to a person interviewing you who
is not prepared. You may be more prepared
than the person in front of you!

62. 4. Make the day easier, continued
Focus on others: listen, connect, and interact. Be
yourself.
Employers hire the person they like the best—
not necessarily the most qualified.
Before you leave, verbally express your thanks.

63. After the interview
Follow up is very important!
Immediately write a thank-you letter or note to everyone
you interviewed with: the search committee members, the
dean/director, chairs of library departments (e.g., the chair
of the cataloging department if you met with the whole
department in a Q&A session), a person who drove you
around the campus or the town, etc.
If you had lunch or dinner with a few people, you could
send each an email to tell them you appreciated that.

64. After the interview, continued
Don’t hound them! Don’t telephone or
email to ask the status of filling the job.
They will contact you if they want to offer
the job.
Contact them only if you are withdrawing
your application (e.g., because you accepted
another offer).

65. After the interview, continued
If they offer the job, negotiate a starting
salary. Don’t be afraid to ask for the high
end of the range or even a higher figure, if
you can justify it. They want you! You are
in the catbird seat and this is your chance to
get what you want.

66. Questions
What questions do you have for me?
Shelley Rogers
Senior Cataloger and Professor
University of West Georgia
shelley@westga.edu