Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Job Seeking In An Academic Environment: A Dual Perspective, Claudene Sproles, Robert Detmering

The Southeastern Librarian

Libraries, unfortunately, are not immune to the current economic climate, which translates not only into budget cuts, but also into fewer vacant positions being posted and filled. Library school graduates entering the profession not only are forced to compete for fewer jobs, but face stiff competition from other applicants with previous professional experience. In the current economy, many applicants in various stages of their careers are competing for the few entry-level positions available. Furthermore, applicants seeking tenure-track positions in college and university libraries often confront challenges that are unique to the academic environment.

In this essay, the Chair of the …