3 messages. Please accept the editor's apologies for temporarily
misplacing this batched message. -mt
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Date: Fri, 7 Jul 1995 12:15:33 -0500 (CDT)
From: Corrine Caputo <ccaputo@SUL-ROSS-1.SULROSS.EDU>
Subject: Re: An aspiring serialist... (Jennifer Friedman)

May I suggest to you Jennifer that you have answered your own question.
Reread what was typed. In an interview the answer doesn't have to be a
split second reply. I've been doing some interviewing myself and I talk a
lot which doesn't seem to offend and generally it lightens the atmosphere
if anyone is feeling stiff including me. I would suggest you sit down with
yourself and look at questions you've been asked in interviews, look at
questions you might expect in interviews and then write them out. Also try
role playing the situation using those same questions. It sounds like you
are so uptight in the interview that you may be "blowing" any possibili-
ties because you are not coming in as a "cool cucumber".  Personality is a
factor in evaluating a potential candidate and it matters big time because
one works so closely with people in tech.

When I interview students for positions, besides qualifications on how
they will manage doing the job, I look at how they will blend with who I
have in the department and also how they will fit with the person they
will work closest with and also how I will adjust to them too.

If I were to recommend comments of what you suggest to anyone it would be
the same advice, lighten up and relax.  Be you and if the job is right
you'll get it. It is important to get the job but it is important that it
fit your needs too, otherwise you won't be happy and what was the real
point of getting a job. Also keep in mind most jobs, hopefully, are going
to be ones that you'll be learning a lot not just stepping in and doing it
like you've had it all your life. Most people accept the idea of the new
employee having lots to learn.

I've done some interviewing and been offered several of those jobs. But I
find out information that made it very clear it wouldn't work for me (i.e.
personalities, conflicts the department had--wars I didn't want to be
involved with, heavy pollution/dust in the area that allergies hit
horribly) As I said the job needs to feel right for you.

You'll do better in the interview if what you say is what you really
believe not a repeat of what someone else told you. The answers need to
come from your heart in how you truly feel and that is what will sell you.
Most people I meet at ALA conferences I can usually tell within a few
minutes how I feel about the person--impressed with the high caliber they
are or "what a closed minded idiot" or glad I don't work for them, etc.

I wish you well. If you have any comments you'd like to discuss feel free.

Corinne
"Head of cataloging"
ccaputo@sul-ross-1.SULROSS.EDU
Sul Ross State University
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Date: Fri, 07 Jul 1995 12:49:35 -0400
From: SHEILA DENN <DENN.SHEILA@EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV>
Subject:  An aspiring serialist... (Jennifer Friedman) -Reply

I hope you don't mind a serials paraprof putting in her two cents worth!

1. When you were looking for your present job (or your first serials job),
were you looking particularly for serials work, or did you end up applying
for/taking the job because of other, outside reasons: geographical, just
needed a library job, it was in your promotion chain, pay level, etc.?

**No, I just got lucky! I needed something where I could stay in the
University of North Carolina system, which was at a higher pay level than
the secretarial job I was in, and that hopefully would be a good lead-in
for my entering a Master's program in library or information science in
the fall of 1996.

2. If you were looking seriously for serials jobs, why did you believe
this was a good idea for you?  How did you express this to prospective
employers?

**Well, as I said, I wasn't looking for a serials job at the time, but if
I were *now* to try to express why I wanted to do serials work to
prospective employers, I would probably say that serials work is
especially challenging and exciting now as we face major changes in the
ways serials will be published and consumed due to rapid technological
change. This will require serialists to keep abreast of these
technological changes so that they will be able to provide their patrons
with the best access methods to serials and so that they will be able to
keep up with what will prove to be considerable changes and difficulties
in controlling and cataloging online or electronic serials publications.
Serialists may very well be on the vanguard of how libraries will deal
with electronic information of all kinds in the future.

Good luck in your job search!

Sheila O. Denn
Technical Assistant (UNC Contractor)
US Environmental Protection Agency
Library Services (MD-35)
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
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Date:         Fri, 7 Jul 1995 13:24:05 -0400
From: Jana Apergis <japergis@KRAKEN.MVNET.WNEC.EDU>
Subject:      Re: An aspiring serialist... (Jennifer Friedman)

Jennifer, I have worked in a serials dept as a paraprofessional for six
years. Over that time my work has become all automated. This could be your
angle...that you want to be in the middle of the automation explosion
occurring in the 90's.

-- Jana Apergis (japergis@wnec.edu)
   Springfield, Mass USA