Katie Rapp May 2013 MLS Grad Federal Librarian Check out my portfolio for ideas on how to network and enhance your resume while you’re a student: https://katierapp.wordpress.com/ Katie works as a librarian at the National Institute of Standards and Technology library in Gaithersburg, MD, about 10 miles outside the DC beltway.

My timeline to Federal employment September 2011: Started library school and started networking Sept 2011-May 2013: Library school January 2013: Virtual Field Study project for Army Research Laboratory May 2013: Graduated with MLS July 2013: Given heads up about contract job opening; applied Sept 2013: Started working as a contract librarian November 2013: Applied for federal position January 2014: Federal Librarian!

A day in my life as a Federal librarian Reference – science and engineering librarian In depth analyses – lab liaison Library marketing History and archives Team work

How I got here – you can do it, too! Network, network, network! Continuous networking, volunteering for professional orgs and student orgs, applying for scholarships, contacting people for library tours, maintaining contacts and using contacts as resources for class work Enhance your resume through targeted volunteer work and internships with tangible products you can point to See my presentation about enhancing your resume: http://www.slideshare.net/wookyluvr/rapp-job-search-workshop- panel-presentation-45839313 See my handouts with even more helpful hints: https://katierapp.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/enhancing-your-resume-sla- handout-3-20151.pdf

Instigator, Careers in Federal Libraries Google Group Nancy G. Faget Federal Librarian Instigator, Careers in Federal Libraries Google Group The Careers in Federal Libraries online Google group provides lots of good information (job announcements, career advice, mentors, resume reviewers, event info). Join at http://groups.google.com/group/careers-in-federal-libraries Nancy works as a librarian at the Army Research Laboratory library just outside the beltway. She is chair of the Library of Congress FEDLINK Technology Working Group

Known and Unknown More than 1/3 federal employees eligible for retirement by 2017 http://tinyurl.com/p3ewfar “average annual salary for all librarians in the Federal Government in nonsupervisory, supervisory, and managerial positions was $84,796” Occupational Outlook 2010-11, US Bureau of Labor Statistics Flexible schedules, telework options, good benefits Perhaps in future – less hiring, furloughs, fewer pay increases

Federal Libraries medical, academic, school, public, law, scientific technical all around the world you can transfer between libraries and never leave the same employer

Many avenues of entry Contract positions: join list servs, LinkedIn, be open to contract and temp positions for experience and foot in the door https://www.usajobs.gov/StudentsAndGrads for Pathways, Outstanding Scholar, Temporary, Summer, Volunteer, Practicum, Field Experience, Independent study, Internship, Fellowship National Library of Medicine Associate Fellowship Program: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/about/training/associate/ Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) http://pmf.gov/

Careers in Federal Libraries Google Group Federal job listings Chat with Federal Librarians Learn about Career Fairs and other events, internships, fellowships, practicums, scholarships Ask questions to better understand the process

Careers in Federal Libraries Google Group

USAJobs.gov TIP: Set up an account. Perform a search, and save it as an alert. Receive daily emails about new jobs.

1400 jobs Librarian Electronic Resources Librarian Systems Librarian Collection Management Librarian Supervisory Librarian Reference Librarian Cataloging Librarian Embedded Librarian Technical Information Specialist Archivist

You are qualified to be a librarian, content manager, taxonomist, management and program analyst, knowledge manager, wiki gardener, records manager, social media specialist, program and development specialist, writer/editor, technical information specialist, metadata specialist, bioinformationist, community facilitator, associate fellow, and more

Applicant’s Road Map to Federal Job Agency Job Announcements Eligibility for Position Qualifications for Targeted Position Winning Application and Resume Verifiable Education and Experience Successful Interview Positive References Job Offer Patience!

Screening of Applications Evaluation of your application against the position’s qualification requirements Review by Agency Human Resources Specialist and/or Automated System (NOT a Career Librarian) Ranking relative to the other candidates (for some agencies)

Referral List to Selecting Official List of Highly Qualified Candidates or Most Highly Qualified Candidates issued by Human Resources Office to Selecting Official Agency Review by Panel or Selecting Official TIP: Remember that there is competition for the position. Being Qualified does not guarantee that you will be interviewed or selected for the job.

Winning Application & Resume Create an account on USAJOBS and build your resume. Write information in advance and save separate text files according to required sections for future editing. Check the word count before copying and pasting sections to your resume. Include awards, certifications, and special skills that pertain to this career field. Be specific about computer training, systems, and databases.

Successful Interview Prepare! Review your printed copy of the job announcement and your submitted application. Write down building, room #, and time. Check directions to the location in advance. Be on time. Have the contact number with you in case of an emergency. Dress professionally. Relax! You are considered a highly qualified candidate. Send brief thank you message - nice gesture & memorable.

Positive References Notify your references in advance so that they will expect queries about you. You may request that agencies should not notify your current employer unless you are a final candidate. Before final selection, your current employer should be contacted.

Virtual me – Katie Rapp Other great contacts! Portfolio: http://katierapp.wordpress.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/katierappmls Contact me any time: rapp.mls@gmail.com Other great contacts! Careers in Federal Libraries: Nancy Faget zemogogog@yahoo.com Pathways: Katie Chan, National Library of Medicine: kmchan314@gmail.com Presidential Management Fellow: Jodie Peterson, Office of Natural Resources Revenue, jodie.peterson@onrr.gov National Library of Medicine Associate Fellows: Kristina Elliott kristina.elliott@nih.gov