Librarian careers beyond the Public Library and all over the world

02/11/24 • 48 min

1 Listener

Summary

In this conversation, Karen Holt, a Library Director in a national lab for the Department of Energy, shares her journey and experiences in the field of librarianship. She discusses the different types of libraries and the various roles within the profession. Karen explains her daily responsibilities as a library director. She has also worked in diverse roles all over the world. She shares insights into her career path and the value of her diverse experiences. Karen goes on to provides advice for aspiring librarians and shares ideas on job searching and what skills she looks for when interviewing potential job seekers.
JobGuppy show notes and other related items at:
https://jobguppy.com/librarians/library-director-karen-holt/

Takeaways

The role of a librarian offers a wide range of career opportunities in different types of libraries in the U.S. and abroad, including schools, college academia, museums, corporate companies, law firms, medical libraries, Congress, and even international organizations like NATO and the United Nations.
Librarians often have diverse responsibilities, including managing, removing, and adding new collections, assisting patrons, conducting research, and implementing new technologies.
Building relationships and providing excellent customer service are essential skills for librarians.
Librarians can benefit from a variety of educational backgrounds, and there are different paths to enter the profession, including obtaining a master's degree in library science or information studies.
Networking, reaching out to professionals in the field, and being open to new experiences can help aspiring librarians navigate their career paths.
Being a librarian allows for flexibility to relocate to many different geographical locations over ones career.

Chapters

00:00 Episode Introduction – How many kinds of librarians are there?

02:19 Karen's Introduction – Her Career Journey and the Role of a Library Director

02:58 What is the role of a Library Director?

06:06 What are different places librarians can work?

07:33 How do you allocate your time and do you travel?

11:45 How did you know you wanted a career as a librarian?

26:43 What would surprise people to know about you?

29:02 What are your likes and dislikes about working in a library?

30:16 What is the work-life balance like for a librarian?

31:13 Is there anything unique that sets you apart from other librarians?

32:37 What kind of education is required to be a librarian?

37:02 How to search for librarian jobs

40:08 What hiring managers look for in librarian candidates

40:53 What is the income for a librarian?

45:26 What advice can you share with listeners about career exploration?

47:14 The wrap-up

Summary

Takeaways

The role of a librarian offers a wide range of career opportunities in different types of libraries in the U.S. and abroad, including schools, college academia, museums, corporate companies, law firms, medical libraries, Congress, and even international organizations like NATO and the United Nations.
Librarians often have diverse responsibilities, including managing, removing, and adding new collections, assisting patrons, conducting research, and implementing new technologies.
Building relationships and providing excellent customer service are essential skills for librarians.
Librarians can benefit from a variety of educational backgrounds, and there are different paths to enter the profession, including obtaining a master's degree in library science or information studies.
Networking, reaching out to professionals in the field, and being open to new experiences can help aspiring librarians navigate their career paths.
Being a librarian allows for flexibility to relocate to many different geographical locations over ones career.

Chapters

00:00 Episode Introduction – How many kinds of librarians are there?

02:19 Karen's Introduction – Her Career Journey and the Role of a Library Director

02:58 What is the role of a Library Director?

06:06 What are different places librarians can work?

07:33 How do you allocate your time and do you travel?

11:45 How did you know you wanted a career as a librarian?

26:43 What would surprise people to know about you?

29:02 What are your likes and dislikes about working in a library?

30:16 What is the work-life balance like for a librarian?

31:13 Is there anything unique that sets you apart from other librarians?

32:37 What kind of education is required to be a librarian?

37:02 How to search for librarian jobs

40:08 What hiring managers look for in librarian candidates

40:53 What is the income for a librarian?

45:26 What advice can you share with listeners about career exploration?

47:14 The wrap-up

Previous Episode

Wired for Success: Career Insights from a Master Electrician

Summary

In this conversation, Josh Grooms, a master electrician, discusses his role and experiences in the electrical trade. He shares insights into the daily tasks and projects of an electrician, including working in attics and troubleshooting electrical issues. Josh also highlights the variety of work and job satisfaction that comes with being an electrician. He discusses the transition to business ownership and the responsibilities that come with it. Josh provides advice for those considering a career as an electrician, emphasizing the importance of physical labor and the ability to adapt to different tasks. He also shares insights into income and financial growth in the field and provides resources for job searches and union information.

Takeaways

· Being an electrician involves a wide range of tasks, from working in attics and troubleshooting electrical issues to installing fixtures and completing wiring projects.

· There are different industries and specializations within the electrical trade, including residential, commercial, and industrial work.

· The job of an electrician requires physical labor, adaptability, and the ability to work independently.

· Transitioning to business ownership as an electrician brings additional responsibilities, such as managing finances and finding new clients.

· Income in the electrical trade can vary depending on location, experience, and specialization, with opportunities for growth through leadership roles.
JobGuppy show notes and other related items at:
https://jobguppy.com/the-trades/master-electrician-josh-grooms/
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
02:34 Career Path and Experience
03:28 What does your week look like?
05:08 What are the various electrician industries?
06:14 What are some example tasks?
10:22 Time breakdown
13:51 Options to work alone or in a group
15:31 Different ‘niches’ for electricians
16:14 Experience needed to be a Service Electrician
16:49 How did you know you wanted to be an electrician?
18:50 What can a career path look like?
23:30 Discussing the Electrician’s Union
24:22 Surprises, likes, and dislikes
25:33 Education requirements and ongoing certification requirements
28:30 Income growth opportunities
32:19 Importance of location and weather conditions
33:05 Job searching
34:29 Parting advice and inspirational words
35:33 That’s a wrap

Next Episode

How to become an IC Layout Designer in the Semiconductor Industry

Harrison Chau shares the story of his career journey and the path that led him to become an IC Layout Designer. He also discusses what it's like to be an IC Layout Designer, the education required, and some general information about income.
@JobGuppy show notes and other related items at https://jobguppy.com/engineering/electrical-engineering/semiconductor-ic-layout-engineer-harrison-chau/.

Takeaways
• IC layout engineering and design is a niche field within the semiconductor industry, requiring specialized knowledge and skills.
• The role of an IC layout engineer involves using computer-aided design tools to build circuits based on schematics and design rules.
• Work-life balance in the industry can vary depending on the company and project, but it is generally manageable. It is always good to ask when interviewing how the project cycles are structured to help manage the work-life balance. Some companies are known for high stress project cycles, but may also have high reward benefits. But it all depends on what is important to you.
• Some roles can offer hybrid in-office and remote work opportunities.
• Education requirements for IC layout engineering can range from specialized training programs without a college degree to advanced levels of college degrees, depending on the level of expertise desired.
• IC layout jobs can be found on company websites, job search platforms like Indeed and LinkedIn, and specialized IC layout school websites.
• IC layout professionals often work closely with others and need to be in sync with the overall design process.
• Teamwork, communication, and creativity can help you become a better IC layout designer overall.
• A good analogy to IC layout is like building a house. First the architect designs the home based on things like features, costs, and size. Then they hand the design over to a general contractor who is then in charge of building the design. The IC Layout Designer is like the general contractor in this example. They are responsible for building the circuit design provided to them.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
09:55 Career Path and Transition to IC Layout
12:49 Understanding the Semiconductor Industry
19:26 Work-Life Balance in IC Layout
23:15 Education and Training for IC Layout
30:17 Job Search and Hiring Insights
33:37 Salary Expectations and Career Growth
36:59 The Future of IC Layout and AI
38:28 Career Advice and Final Thoughts