Comments on: Education & Employers http://tametheweb.com/2008/01/30/education-employers/ Libraries, Technology and People Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:01:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Alan Kirk Gray http://tametheweb.com/2008/01/30/education-employers/comment-page-1/#comment-716 Alan Kirk Gray Wed, 30 Jan 2008 23:44:12 +0000 http://tametheweb.com/2008/01/30/education-employers/#comment-716 Maybe we're at one end of the spectrum and everyone else is down at the other end, but when we look at candidates for positions at Darien Library, and someone is at a point where their education is a large part of the experience and credentials they bring, we look at grades. What you have done in your career, and how well you have done it, matters. Early in your career, what you have done in grad school, and how well you have done it, is a big part of what matters. That will fade over time, but it *will* get you started. Surely in many other libraries, too, newly-minted librarians with good grades are going to continue to have an advantage. That advantage may or may not outweigh other attributes, but does count for something. Maybe we’re at one end of the spectrum and everyone else is down at the other end, but when we look at candidates for positions at Darien Library, and someone is at a point where their education is a large part of the experience and credentials they bring, we look at grades.

What you have done in your career, and how well you have done it, matters. Early in your career, what you have done in grad school, and how well you have done it, is a big part of what matters. That will fade over time, but it *will* get you started.

Surely in many other libraries, too, newly-minted librarians with good grades are going to continue to have an advantage. That advantage may or may not outweigh other attributes, but does count for something.

]]> By: Leah http://tametheweb.com/2008/01/30/education-employers/comment-page-1/#comment-712 Leah Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:20:46 +0000 http://tametheweb.com/2008/01/30/education-employers/#comment-712 I found this out just a little while ago when I went to my career counselor to prepare my resume for the big post-grad school job search. I had my GPA from both grad school and undergrad because I'm just kind of proud of it. She crossed out my GPA in red pen and said "No one cares about this". I was so disappointed. Years of obsession over that little number and all that work, for naught....unless, of course, I end up doing a second master's. ;) I found this out just a little while ago when I went to my career counselor to prepare my resume for the big post-grad school job search. I had my GPA from both grad school and undergrad because I’m just kind of proud of it. She crossed out my GPA in red pen and said “No one cares about this”. I was so disappointed. Years of obsession over that little number and all that work, for naught….unless, of course, I end up doing a second master’s. ;)

]]> By: Larry http://tametheweb.com/2008/01/30/education-employers/comment-page-1/#comment-710 Larry Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:38:52 +0000 http://tametheweb.com/2008/01/30/education-employers/#comment-710 No ones does look at grades. After 30 years in the life, what I see happening is a move towards hiring non degreed part time staff because it's cheaper. I don't fault the administrators - they know better. but public libraries are first on the chopping block when yet another "required" social services program gets started. My place is losing 10 per cent of it's budget, in mid year, thanks to a local safety initiative. I would rather be safe than stabbed, but now that puts the kibosh on hiring, on buying more materials etc. THAT is something that library schools should address with their new recruits - I am a real technology hound and love to make things more available for my patrons. Yet we need to have a job at all in order to do so. No ones does look at grades. After 30 years in the life, what I see happening is a move towards hiring non degreed part time staff because it’s cheaper. I don’t fault the administrators - they know better. but public libraries are first on the chopping block when yet another “required” social services program gets started. My place is losing 10 per cent of it’s budget, in mid year, thanks to a local safety initiative.

I would rather be safe than stabbed, but now that puts the kibosh on hiring, on buying more materials etc.

THAT is something that library schools should address with their new recruits - I am a real technology hound and love to make things more available for my patrons. Yet we need to have a job at all in order to do so.

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