L595 Workshop on
Career Strategies, 1.5 credits
Version of May 5, 2006
Class meets Summer I 2006, Wednesdays 9:30-12:15, Room 001, May 10 - June 14
Instructor: Debora Shaw (shawd@indiana.edu)
Course description: This workshop is intended for students nearing completion of their master=s programs in library science, information science, or a cognate discipline. Participants will develop their understanding of how to identify employment opportunities and present their credentials for professional positions.
Goals: Upon completion of the course students will be able to:
1. identify their professional skills and aptitudes in relation to the job market
2. identify potential employers and to locate and assess information about them
3. present their qualifications for professional employment
4. plan for maintaining professional competencies
Link to e-reserves
http://ereserves.indiana.edu/eres/coursepage.aspx?cid=4482&page=docs
password: <given by e-mail and OnCourse>
Definitions of letter grades: The SLIS faculty=s definition of letter grades specifies that a grade of B be assigned for “Student performance meets designated course expectations and demonstrates understanding of the course materials at an acceptable level.” Higher grades would exceed this level of performance. The complete definition of letter grades is available at: http://www.slis.indiana.edu/courses/forms/grades.html
Accommodation of religious holidays: If you anticipate a conflict between the requirements for this class and your religious holidays, please inform the instructor as early in the semester as possible. The Indiana University Bloomington policies on religious holidays and the form to request accommodation are available at: http://www.indiana.edu/~deanfac/holidays.html
Class participation: This is a workshop course; attendance and participation in all class sessions is especially important. You will be expected to make at least one individual presentation to the class and to participate in critiquing the work of other students.
Evaluation will be based on the following assignments:
$ Four position announcements and listing of your relevant skills (15% of grade)
$ Draft résumé (15%)
$ Constructive comments on two other draft résumés (5%)
$ Draft cover letter (15%)
$ Constructive comments on two other draft cover letters (5%)
$ Interview questions, responses, and comments (15%)
$ Job talk (20%)
$ Constructive comments on three other job talks (10%)
Class schedule
Pre-first-class assignment: From magazines, online job postings, listings on SLIS bulletin board, and any other sources you identify, collect at least four examples of position announcements for which you might apply. Keep track of the sources you consult to locate these announcements. For two of your position announcements, highlight the required and desirable skills (or write your assessment of what these would be if they are not stated explicitly). For each skill listed, summarize in a sentence or two how you would present your abilities to meet this qualification.
May 10 - The market: identifying potential employers and open positions
Self-assessment: explore your interests, strengths
Skim: Bing, G. (2002). The employer: General
information. In Selecting your employer: A guide to an informed pursuit of
the best career for you (pp. 15-31, 36).
Hand in: Your four position announcements and a list of the sources you consulted to locate them. For two of your position announcements, highlight the required and desirable skills (or write your assessment of what these would be if they are not stated explicitly). For each skill listed, summarize in a sentence or two how you would present your abilities to meet this qualification.
Assignment for next week: Draft résumé, one or two pages, on regular paper (not expensive bond to impress your future employer)
May 17 - Self presentation: Résumé/CV; Web presence
Guest speaker: Beverly Martin, Director, Johnson County
Public Library (
Read:
Assembly and layout. (2005). In Resumes for college
students and recent graduates (Chapter 3, pp. 21-32).
Newlen, R. R. (1998). Library school student (recent graduate)
sample resumes. In Writing resumes that work: A how-to-do-it manual for
librarians ( pp. 97-107).
Optional: Tribble, Ivan. (2005, July 8). Bloggers need not apply. Chronicle of Higher Education. [Available online from IU Libraries]
Tribble, Ivan. (2005, September 2). They shoot messengers, don=t they. Chronicle of Higher Education. [Available online from IU Libraries]
Hand in: 1) Your draft résumé with any changes or comments following class discussion.
2) Key suggestions/comments on two of your classmates= résumés you will review in class.
Assignment for next week: Draft a cover letter applying for one of the positions you identified at the start of the workshop.
May 24 - Cover letters
Guest speaker: Rick Provine, Director of Media and
Read: Newlen, Robert R. (1998). The cover letter. Writing
resumes that work: A how-to-do-it manual for librarians (pp.129-135).
Hand in: 1) Your draft cover letter with any changes or comments following class discussion.
2) Key suggestions/comments on two of your classmates= cover letters you will review in class.
Assignment for next week: Prepare or select two questions you would expect in interviewing. Draft an outline of how you would respond to these.
May 31 - Interviews
Guest speaker: Richard Kuster, Reference Services Librarian
Boca Raton Public Library,
Read: Amdursky, Saul J. (2001, October). Confessions of an interview junkie. American Libraries, 32(9), 66-68. [Available online from IU Libraries]
Schott, Michael. (2005, December). The Jedi job guide. Library Journal, 130(20), 86. [Available online from IU Libraries]
Topper, Elisa F. (2004, August). Working knowledge: Manners matter for employers and applicants. American Libraries, 35(7), 84. [Available online from IU Libraries]
Hand in: Your interview questions, draft responses, and any comments on them following class discussion.
Assignment for next week: Prepare an 8- to 10-minute job talk addressing an area of current interest related to one of the positions you identified at the start of the workshop.
June 7 - The job talk/presentation
Each student will give a presentation to the class. Each job talk will be critiqued by two members of the class.
Read: Booher, Dianna, (2003). Creating your content,
organizing your information, polishing your points. In Speak with confidence
powerful presentations that inform, inspire, and persuade (Chapter 4, pp.
43-87).
Fite, Darren. (2005, September 15). Being bad. Chronicle of Higher Education. [Available online from IU Libraries]
Hand in: Written comment sheets on the three presentations you are assigned to critique.
June 14 - More on interviews: telephone interviews; group meetings; Post-interview tasks and position negotiation; Maintaining skills (networking, professional organizations, civic engagement)
Guest speakers: Kathryn
Brooks, Subject Librarian for Germanic Studies, French and Italian, Comparative
Literature, and Classical Studies, Indiana University Libraries
Tiana Tew Page, Teen Services Programming Coordinator, Monroe County Public Library
Read: Shontz, Priscilla K. (2002). Networking. In Jump
start your career in library and information science (pp. 85-99).
Taylor, Jeff, and Hardy, Doug. (2005). Follow up! In Monster
careers. Interviewing : master the moment that gets you the job (pp.
198-209).
Agre, Philip E. (2005). How to Be a Leader in Your Field: A Guide for Students in Professional Schools. (http://polaris.gseis.ucla.edu/pagre/leader.html)
L595 Workshop on Career Strategies Assignments
Assignment: Draft résumé (15%)
For this assignment you will prepare a one- to two-page printed résumé presenting your educational and work experience. You may follow examples from the readings or other sources. Please adapt the general formats to represent yourself as effectively as possible.
If you wish, you may include background on your decisions in preparing the résumé. For example, if you intend this version for a specific (type of) position and have therefore chosen to include or exclude elements, let me know.
Your résumé will be evaluated on appearance, grammar, and spelling, as well as the information presented. Please use standard white paper (save the fancy bond paper for the version you send to a potential employer).
Bring three copies of your résumé to class: one for each of the reviewers to read and comment on and one to hand in, representing your latest thinking. The reviewers= copies, your final version, and any background/discussion will be handed in when the class ends today.
Comments on two other draft résumés (5%)
You will review résumés from two classmates. As you look at each, consider:
1. Is the background and contact information clearly presented?
2. Is the educational information clear and complete? (Is anything missing, does this section raise any questions for you as a reader?)
3. Does the experience information complete and adequately detailed?(Is anything missing, does this section raise any questions for you as a reader?)
4. Does the résumé include unnecessary elements?
5. Is anything lacking from the résumé?
6. What is your overall impression of the résumé?
Assignment: Draft cover letter (15%)
For this assignment you will prepare a one- to two-page letter of application for a professional position. You may adapt examples from the readings and other sources; the goal is to present your qualifications for the position as effectively as possible. This letter will accompany your résumé, so you may refer to it in the letter.
Your letter will be evaluated on appearance, grammar, and spelling, as well as the information presented. Please use standard white paper.
Bring three copies of your cover letter to class: one for each of the reviewers to read and comment on and one to hand in, representing your latest thinking. The reviewers= copies, your final version, and any background/discussion will be handed in when the class ends today.
Comments on two other draft cover letters (5%)
You will review letters from two classmates. As you look at each, consider:
1. Are the addresses for the applicant and the potential employer complete and accurate?
2. Does the letter specify the position for which the applicant is applying?
3. Does the letter present the applicant=s preparation/experience related to the position?
4. Does the letter include unnecessary elements?
5. Is anything lacking?
6. What is your overall impression of the letter?
Interview questions, responses, and comments (15%)
For this assignment you will prepare or select two questions you would expect to be asked in interviewing. For each question, identify what the interviewer would be trying to ascertain from your response. Draft an outline of the points you would make if asked each of the questions.
Evaluation will consider the level of difficulty of the questions (Awhat is your name?@ is not a good one) and the appropriateness and completeness of your points in response.
Assignment: Job talk (20%)
For this assignment you will give an 8- to 10-minute presentation to the class. In some institutions these presentations are opportunities to present your skills, for example as a storyteller or presenter of bibliographic instruction. In other settings your presentation would be more academic, emphasizing your potential to contribute to research in the field. Be sure you introduce the kind of job talk you are presenting.
You may use the computer and projector or bring other aids/props for your talk.
Although in practice this presentation might be expected to last 20 to 40 minutes and include time for questions and interaction with the audience, in the workshop we have limited time. Please keep your talk within the time limits required for this class.
Comments on three other job talks (10%)
You will review presentations by two classmates.
Was the speaker=s purpose for the talk clear?
Was there an opening, body, and closing?
Was the time used effectively?
Was the tone appropriate (could you hear the speaker clearly)?
Were the visual aids appropriate to the presentation?
Suggest two things the speaker did well:
Suggest two things the speaker could improve: