Job Hunter Follow Up Year Two: Cristy Moran

Cristy Moran took the Job Hunter’s survey on January 4, 2013.

Her responses appeared as There is a “Black Hole” of Information After One Drops a Resume.

We last followed up with her on December 9, 2013.
What’s your current work situation?

I am working full-time in a paraprofessional role at a college library.

What’s your prediction for the next step in your career?

I don’t know what I predict will happen, but I’ve begun applying for librarian positions in local colleges and universities. I promised myself that, if by the end of 2014, I didn’t see any real movement in my applications to local positions, then I’d start expanding my job search. In that sense, I predict I’ll be taking job hunting quite seriously in 2015.

What’s your ideal work situation?

The goal is to work professionally as a librarian in an academic library. I’ve had a lot of difficulty engaging my professional interests because I’m, technically, in a paraprofessional position at my institution.

Your Job Hunt

When did you start your current job hunt?

I started looking again at the first anniversary of my current job. A position opened up at my institution that I was interested in applying for, so I applied. Since then, I’ve been seeking similar opportunities.

In your job hunt, approximately how many positions have you applied to? How many interviews have you gone on?

I’ve applied to no less than seven positions in the last three months. I was interviewed for one and was one of the final candidates, but the job went to someone with more experience. My application has been rejected for another position that I was very well suited for and that my particular experience qualified me for. I haven’t heard from any of the other positions at all.

State of the Job Market

What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve seen on a job announcement?

I don’t know if I think it’s “ridiculous” but I am bothered that so many job announcements don’t provide a salary range or even a position type/ HR code so that potential applicants can discover salary ranges for themselves.

Your Perspectives

Would you change your answer to “what’s the secret to getting hired”?

I don’t believe there’s a single answer. I don’t think there’s a secret. There’s probably not even a common denominator that any applicant can address. For whatever reason, plenty of wonderful candidates with matching qualifications, desired experience, glowing recommendations, and great personalities don’t even get past applying for a position. They do everything “right.” Yet, they don’t get a call-back. They don’t even get rejection emails. They just stall in application limbo. The only thing they can do is keep being good at what they do now. They can continue acquiring work experience, continue gathering glowing recommendations, and not let disappointment and frustration ruin their good attitudes. Then, they need to keep applying. Because, if there is one thing that ensures one will not get the job it’s not applying for it.

Do you have any advice for job hunters and/or library school students?

Librarianship, in my opinion, is a vocational calling. It’s not something one does for the money or because they just “ended up” with their job. If either of those things is true for you, then it’s going to be an unhappy life of employment and it’s a disservice to the community the library serves and to the library community at-large. Based on that, my advice is simple: If it’s not your calling, then don’t bother looking at it for a paycheck.