Staci B Elliott

DOLF the Resume Spam
June 8, 2008

Want to land your dream job? Looking for more ways to bring yourself to the attention of library hiring committees everywhere? Ever hear of resume spamming?

PubLib Digest, Vol 39, Issue 4 (membership required) had some really interesting things to say about sending out “Cold Resumes” last week. The original inquiry asked what sort of reception an unsolicited resume would receive at a library, if  that institution was not actually hiring at the time the resume was received. Since this is an approach to finding employment that I had not previously considered, I was extremely interested to learn whether or not I should follow suit. Should I start researching institutions where I’d LIKE to work, and sending them my resume—just in case they have a job opening down the road? Honestly, I hope I'm checking the HR information on those institutions regularly enough to catch an opening when it happens... but you never know.

Interestingly enough, of the ten or so responses, few were favorable. Most Librarians seem to feel that it is rude or inappropriate to “spam” a library when no opening exists. One or two, however, felt that a well-researched cover letter and a resume with skills that his or her library could use would be well-received. Libraries seem either to “circular file” such resumes, or keep them on file for up to a year, just in case a position does open up. Then the submitted resume would be included with all other applications for the position. Some of the responses were so negative, however, that you may want to ask about that library's policy regarding cold resumes before sending one out. It would be a sad paradox to ruin chances of getting hired for a job that doesn't even exist yet.

I’ve concluded that I should add this to my short-list of reasonable questions to ask an institution when I want to learn more about them or gain their attention in a positive manner. “Do you accept unsolicited resumes for future consideration?” I also ask about a library system's level of support for attending national library conferences, and where I can find information about their current Strategic Plan for desired outcomes. A future employee can learn a LOT from actually reading their library’s Strategic Plan, and figuring out what you bring to the table to help the library attain their current goals or promote their current areas of emphasis.

Another interesting point that was made and seconded during the PubLib digest discussion emphasized the importance of maintaining an online presence. I know from experience that hiring committees often “google” their applicants to look for any websites, news articles or blogs relating to or authored by the applicant. Such an online presence can both help and hurt an applicant’s chances of success, depending on its content and presentation. Libraries seem to crave librarians with social networking skills, individuals who can prove their knowledge of the latest web-based services and technologies. What I didn’t know before reading this particular digest is that many hiring committees won’t consider an applicant who does NOT maintain an online presence.

Personally, I have intentionally kept my personal blog anonymous—no names, no locations, nothing. I once (long ago, in a far away kingdom) worked at a place I like to call the “institution for the criminally insane,” and I really don’t think that sort of an online presence is going to help me make my case for being a loyal and dedicated worker (which I am—right up until you do something really illegal and then downsize me for pointing out the mistake)… I hadn’t realized that keeping my private opinions private might actually be holding me back!

Many web experts and headhunting gurus profess that a job-seeker’s online presence is now as important as creating a professional resume. That having a web-based portfolio of one’s professional skills and experiences is now as important as a company’s online presence was to their success in the business market ten years ago (that’s back in 1998, folks)… I guess I’d better add another blog to my string—the one where I display my skills and professional background, my goals and motivations… for all the world to see.

I know it’s Monday, and I didn’t give you anything fun last week (I was busy holding up half of a really awkward portable clothes bag, among other fun moving day activities-- ALL WEEK!!)…

So today I’m recommending a really interesting book. The Island of Lost Maps: A true story of cartographic crime, by Miles Harvey. It came out in 2000, and is the biographical story of the Map-Thief who started a revolution in library security. There’s a bit of a review on www.archivists.org, if you want to know more. Personally, I found the author’s search for information every bit as fascinating as the information he eventually found… and I have it on good authority that anyone who deals in the world of archival and rare books will be able to recognize many of the map dealers involved—renamed or not.

Happy DOLF Day—See you next week! And don’t worry. I’ve ALMOST got my new internet connection figured out.

Posted by Staci B Elliott on June 8, 2008 | Comments (4)