r/librarians • u/Walidazeve • 25d ago
Job Advice I’m so disheartened, I really don’t know what to do.
Hi guys.
I just finished my Master's in Librarianship (UK) this year and honestly thought that would be the hard part.
I've rewritten my CV more times than I can count, done every free course I could find (can't afford the paid ones) and volunteered constantly, library and archives work at my university all year, a curatorial/archival stint at an art gallery, and I'm starting at a local museum next week.
And I still can't get so much as an assistant library job. It’s worse that I cannot get feedback because “too many applicants”. It feels like a total shutdown for what I actually need to grow.
I know the sector is tight right now, especially in the uk, but it's hard not to take it personally when you've done everything you're "supposed" to do and it's still not enough. Just needed to vent this frustration.
Anyone else in this position? How are you dealing with it? I’ve seen so many people in the sector trying to get out of public library, and I’m just trying to squeeze my way in 😂
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u/h8ste36 24d ago
Branch out into applying for digital content management, records management, knowledge management, and database management positions if you're just looking for a job. I work in foreign service but I did my MLIS at Clarion in Pennsylvania in 2022.
These are positions that require the same skill set https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/285013?language=en
https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/285225?language=en
https://careers.un.org/jobSearchDescription/284581?language=en
I currently work in Seoul, South Korea and I do some online instruction librarian stuff. I didn't have an issue getting a job perse but I couldn't get a job where I wanted to be which was the library of Congress in Washington DC. My point is to broaden your horizons and apply for other things. I believe in the law of numbers and eventually something will come through for you.
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u/Mysterious-Past-8134 23d ago
Hi, I would love to know more about the your job in Seoul, if you dont mind sharing? I am finishing my MLIS next year but would love to live abroad somewhere in Asia after.
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u/h8ste36 23d ago
I have a position called knowledge management officer. The basics of it are really law Librarian tasks and responsibilities. Help people retrieve cases and files from other locations and archiving on a schedule. I answer RFIs (request for information) on a service level agreement (3 days). The job has a good amount of perks. They pay for dwelling, subsidized healthcare although it's fairly inexpensive compared to America, and there's a retirement plan. There are multiple UN NGO agencies so you can find a position just about anywhere in the world.
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u/Mysterious-Past-8134 23d ago
Wow thank you so much! I will save this for when I start my job search!
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u/angrymagiclibrarian 24d ago
Depending on where you are in the UK, I highly recommend signing up for Sue Hill: https://www.suehill.com/. They are a LIS specific temp agency. As a temp, you can also apply for internal posts. When I moved to the UK I really struggled to find a job until I registered with Sue Hill. I temped for two years, then transitioned into a permament post.
The job market is very dire atm, and sadly not limited to librarianship posts. I haven't left my current library role getting my degree as the posts I've seen advertised would generally require a pay cut.
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u/ephemeral_librarian 24d ago
Hi, from the UK also. You're in a great position to apply for graduate trainee positions (if you haven't already).
This community is a great resource. They have job listings and a section on grad trainee schemes. Early Career Library & Information Resource (ECLAIR) Community: https://eclaircommunity.wordpress.com/
Also the CILIP LIS Professional site is good to bookmark too: https://informationprofessionaljobs.com/
The pay may not start out great but for a year you'll get experience that'll set you up nicely. I worked in a health library that did this and the grad trainees we had always went on to excellent jobs after. They'd get experience with each team so they gained different library skill sets too.
I'd also say that if you see an organisation you like the look of, it's worth adding the organisation's direct careers page, as they don't always advertise on outside sites.
Keep going, you're doing all the right things, you'll get there.
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u/Sad-Peace Special Librarian 24d ago
If they already have the degree, trainee jobs may not accept them. Still worth trying, but usually it’s for people who have zero library experience at all.
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u/ephemeral_librarian 24d ago
True, but it is still worth a go as you say. We had a few who already had the LIS degree get onto the scheme and with a foot in the door they quickly moved up one or two rungs.
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u/a-suitcase Academic Librarian 24d ago
What kind of libraries are you applying to? I’m really sorry it’s been so tough. When I first started at my current workplace (uni library in London) 8 years ago only one or two people actually had a library degree at my grade. Now almost everyone hired for the lowest paid jobs (library assistant) has a library qualification. It’s a really tough market but please hang in there! What may end up happening is you get hired for entry-level positions but then you’ll be in a place where you can climb the ladder. Much of senior management at my place started as a library assistant!
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u/New-Inspection2665 24d ago
If you’re open to working in a school I would sign up for mynewterm, I found my current job as a reading coordinator in a secondary school on there with a BA English degree and minimal library experience (micro-internship as archives assistant at uni library)
While my title isn’t librarian, I am solely responsible for administration and day-to-day running of the library. The kids all call me ‘the librarian’ and it’s where I spend all my time.
I do other things too, including conducting reading fluency assessments and teaching phonics, but I’m building contacts with the local council (schools library service) and publishers. Aiming to find my way back into a uni library or maybe a museum after a CILIP-accredited masters degree, but honestly I’m really happy where I am for now.
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u/zoozoo216 24d ago edited 24d ago
It’s just as bad here in the United states because of the federal government making cuts to federal workers and flooding the market with dispersed federal workers.
I wish I had an answer for you other than keep applying - a door will open for you eventually.
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u/Few-Professional-193 24d ago
I live in a rural area and it’s been hard to find jobs here for a long time. When positions open up, a lot of rural libraries would rather hire someone that doesn’t have an MLIS because they can pay that person less than the poverty pay the offer someone with a MLIS.
It’s wild out here!
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u/ShapeCommercial3769 24d ago
Think out of your city and state. I have so many applications received as status. I have been declined due to not meeting when I do meet the requirements. I am on the list for a library assistant, and librarian 1 in a different county 3 hours away. I still have apps in different counties in which I would have to move out of my city. Keep applying to different places. It rough out here
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u/PumpkinDawn28 24d ago
I've had interviews only to be rejected. I have MLIS and internship and still nothing
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u/bootscat4 24d ago
Are you just looking at public libraries? My advice would be to look more broadly — think other sectors. I ended up working in an NHS library, having originally hoped for a public or university library job. Also consider that many library/information jobs will not necessarily have ‘library’ or ‘librarian’ in the title! (Did you do the Sheffield librarianship course by any chance?)