This past November, SCARLA hosted a career panel featuring Chelsea Rizzolo, Lisa Thornton, and Taylor Baugher, three Rutgers MI alumni who work in academic libraries. As a current Rutgers MI student, I know I am not alone in my constant underlying anxieties about finding my place in the workforce following graduation. However, I find that every opportunity to be a part of any sort of “intergenerational” sharing between those who have been through the program and those who are currently going through it is a deeply enriching way to quell those anxieties. Rather than pushing them to the side, it allows for productive conversations around how to utilize my time in the MI program to strengthen my skills, build connections, and enter into the job search and academic librarian workforce with confidence.
This event was a great opportunity to have these intergenerational moments for sharing. Collectively, our panelists showed the connections between their time in the MI program and their current work and shared unique insights into the world of academic librarianship. The panelists talked about how the things they learned in classes like Search and the Information Landscape (530), Information Technologies (55)0, and Reference Sources and Services (540) play directly into their everyday job functions and gave them the foundation for understanding and performing various responsibilities. Another common theme was the importance of getting involved: following various listservs, utilizing the Rutgers SC&I job board, and getting involved in organizations (like SCARLA!) is a hugely beneficial way to learn about and prepare for different opportunities.
While I know that the importance of school work, involvement, and networking can’t be stated enough, I also know that it’s not necessarily new advice. With that said, what was most interesting about this panel were the specific insights gained into the world of academic librarianship. This information isn’t built into typical MI curriculum or SC&I programming. However, it is incredibly important for students to learn about and understand. Entering into the world of academia doesn’t look the same as other sorts of library jobs. One major difference is the unique academic interview process, called the “job talk”. This is often a full-day or multi-day process, in which you meet with various levels of library leadership and prepare a presentation on a topic relevant to your position. Our panelists demystified this process and gave some useful advice, such as the importance of tailoring your job talk presentation to the visual brand of the institution for which you are applying. Our panelists also discussed the various tracks you can enter as an academic librarian. Academic librarian positions can either be tenure or non-tenure track. It’s important to know which sort of position you are applying for, and, if you are on a tenure track, to be aware of the research and/or service expectations that are a part of your position so that you can stay on track.
Overall, the exchange of insight, questions, and advice from this panel was an incredible way to connect with alumni and build confidence as I forge my way through the MI program. The job search, and the specific complications of the academic world, can certainly be stressful to think about. However, the more I learn about the process and how to approach it, the more my stress has been able to turn into excitement. Thank you so much to our panelists, and a huge shoutout to SCARLA’s secretary Tallulah Pentecost for her leadership in setting up this fantastic event!
by Adrianna Bugliarello-Wondrich