The Biggest Career Mistake Library Professionals Make Isn’t Their Resume

Photo by Zulfugar Karimov on Unsplash

It’s their job search.

Most library professionals approach career transitions by searching for job titles.

They type things into LinkedIn like:

• Librarian
• Research Librarian
• Digital Librarian
• Knowledge Manager
• Archivist

Then wonder why they feel stuck in their roles.

The problem is that job titles are a terrible way to explore careers. Exploring careers through skills sets, now that’s a far more productive way to search for your next career move.

Think about it. A librarian might spend their day:

• Conducting research
• Managing projects
• Training staff
• Creating content
• Analyzing data
• Building partnerships
• Solving problems
• Supporting customers

Those activities exist in thousands of organizations. The title doesn’t.

That’s why two people can have wildly different jobs while using many of the same skills.

A Project Coordinator and a Librarian may both manage timelines, communicate with stakeholders, coordinate resources, and evaluate outcomes.

A Customer Success Manager and a Librarian may both build relationships, solve problems, answer questions, and improve user experiences.

A Learning & Development Specialist and a Librarian may both create educational content, facilitate workshops, and assess learning outcomes.

The title is may be different but the skills are not.

When library professionals focus too heavily on titles, they unintentionally shrink the number of opportunities available to them.

So instead of asking: “What jobs can I get?”

Try asking: “What skills do I use every day?”

Then look for roles that value those skills. You may discover that your career options expands outside of the stereotypical librarianship.

Because the title you’re searching for may not be the title you’re qualified for. You may be qualified for much more.

Ready for More Support?

If you’d like personalized guidance, I offer one-on-one career coaching, resume rewrites, LinkedIn optimization, interview preparation, and career transition support for library professionals and information workers.

Whether you’re exploring a career change, pursuing a promotion, or trying to better communicate your value to employers, I’m here to help.

Book my services here: Gabby Smith’s Coaching

Prefer a more DIY approach?

I’ve also created digital resources designed specifically for library professionals who want practical tools, templates, and guidance at their own pace.

Browse my digital products here: Gabby Smith’s DigiProducts

No matter which path you choose, remember:

You are not limited by your job title. Your skills are far more transferable than you think.