Happy Friday, dear readers! I hope those of you in the United States had a very happy Fourth of July yesterday. It is very quiet on my campus this morning as a lot of people took a vacation day to have a long weekend. One has to love summer for the more relaxed pace and time to breathe. Today I just want to share a few articles that I think will be useful for new grads and others looking for jobs this summer.

Even with the economy picking up, it is still a very tough job market in many fields, including libraries and archives. So I think that Lifehacker’s article on 6 of the most common resume flaws and how to fix them is rather timely. A good resume or CV is still one of the best ways to convey your experience, skills, and knowledge to potential employers. A good cover letter never hurts either. As I’ve served on multiple hiring committees, I can definitely say that a readable resume that is tailored to the position is very useful to the committee. No one wants to search through a poorly constructed resume and many won’t take the time. Lifehacker’s article also gives good advice on how to make your resume as positive as possible, which I think is always a good thing.

Although not strictly about job seeking, I think Lifehacker’s article on break the ice in any situation is useful for those going on job interviews, too. Being able to connect and talk easily with people on a job interview can be difficult, but having some ideas of good conversation starters can be helpful. I think this is especially useful for those who have all-day interviews as there will always be an awkward silence or two that you might feel the need to break during the day.

Also, for those looking for jobs (especially in the library and archives fields), don’t give up hope, do try to continue to build your skills, and do try to remain positive. Don’t be afraid to ask others in your field who have more experience than you to look over your resume and cover letter. Having an extra pair of eyes, especially someone who has hired people before, look over your application materials is very valuable. Also, always get the names of the members of the hiring committee correct. Do your homework and come prepared to interviews with questions. Practice your answers to interview questions. Do send a thank you card or thank you email after an interview. And, once you get a job, give back. Offer to read resumes, talk with people who want informational interviews with you, and share your skills and knowledge.

And, just for fun, take a look at this chart explaining the difference between a geek and a nerd. I quite enjoyed it.

Have a wonderful weekend and I’ll be back soon with more. Allons-y!