Published: January 15, 2025 by Aryn
Prestia 

It can be exciting to enter your final semester in the MLIS
program. Whether that effort has been months or years in the
making, you are now ready to demonstrate the culmination of your
hard work in your e-portfolio and a degree that will lead you to
a new career. 

Being so close to the finish line, it can be easy to get caught
up in schoolwork, so it’s important to remember that there are
still steps to take in order to help your transition from student
to career professional. 

Polish Your Resume

Make sure you’ve included all new library-related experiences in
your updated resume. Whether it’s an internship you completed, a
position you held in a student organization, or a special studies
project you may have completed with a professor, it’s important
to include all library-related experiences (in addition to your
wonderful new degree). If you want some advice on how AI may be
able to help you as you update your resume, check out this
post.

Conduct Informational Interviews

Whether you’re still trying to figure out what path to take or in
the throes of the job search, informational interviews are an
important part of your career strategy. Check out our series on
before,
during,
and after
the informational interview to get the most out of your
discussion time.

Renew (or Begin) Your Professional Memberships

Professional organizations like the American Library Association
(ALA), the Society for American Archivists (SAA) and more have
many incentives
for members. Whether it’s resume review services,
networking opportunities, or even just job lists, these
affiliations will help with your job search and later as you
continue with professional development in your career. Plus,
while you are still a student, membership fees are often
significantly lower.

Search for Jobs

While this is likely self-explanatory, searching for jobs can, at
times, be easier said than done. Fortunately, there are many
library-specific job search sites and resources that can help
make your search time more efficient. We’ve compiled a list
here. 

Hopefully, this short checklist will help build your excitement
of jumping into the world of professional librarianship. If you
think you may need more specific advice, connect with the
SJSU Career Center or
visit the iSchool’s Career Development page for information on
upcoming Online Career
Workshops. 

Two More Things…

Here are some job opportunities on Handshake that might be of
interest!