Fermentation Display and Job Advice

Daily Hours: 3
Total Hours: 118

I started off the morning by addressing the comments on my Spanish-services project that Chris had sent back to me.  She had suggested that I add a few other resources including additional Joining Forces for Families offices in the vicinity and Briarpatch (homeless youth services).  I have to say that I learned my lesson on one thing: I am embarrassed to say that I had only included Catholic church services, not thinking that other denominations would also offer Spanish-language ministries.  Once Chris mentioned that she thought there were a few other churches offering Spanish services, I found a handful more to add to the list.  How silly of me to have not thought outside the stereotype box, an important lesson in multi-cultural outreach!

Next I consolidated a job-seeking display in order to make room for a display for my fermentation program.  I requested a bunch of fermentation cookbooks etc. through LINKcat and will add them to the display as they come in, but for now there is a poster for the program and some general books on preserving food.  Then, when the day of the program comes along I can just move the display into the meeting room where it is being held and attendees can check out the items that catch their fancy!

The rest of the morning was spent in an impromptu meeting with Michael.  Since he was currently deep in the application review process for the hiring process for his current position, we got into an extended discussion about what he looks for in an application, in particular a cover letter and resume.  I was particularly interested to hear what he had to say from the other side of the interview table after Tanya's job search talk last week.  One tip that stuck out to me was to include the job code (if there was one) at the beginning of the cover letter, not just the title of the position.  And simple things like saving your related documents as .pdfs and with consistent and relevant titles like "Poletti Harp CV" and "Poletti Harp Cover Letter" etc.  Also he gave me the advice to start looking for jobs even earlier than December of next year (the timeline I had heard before), since even just applying is good practice.  With our cover letter exercise and this mini-mentoring session today, I've been thinking even more about going out into "the real world" of libraries soon and how that will all play out.  Always good to start thinking ahead!