s Thoughts from the Physics Chick: Dream Job: Interior Design Resource Librarian

Sunday, May 14, 2006

Dream Job: Interior Design Resource Librarian

I am in the habit of checking librarian job bulletin boards from time to time, mostly because I just to see what’s out there, and if I’ll be even remotely qualified for any interesting jobs by the time I graduate. (I won’t graduate for over a year, so I’m not really doing serious job hunting right now.) Most of the listings are run-of-the mill librarian positions in public or academic libraries, but you do run across the occasional specialty librarian position. Yesterday I found an ad posted by a large interior design firm that wants an in-house librarian.

Good points:

Working in an environment like this would combine the good points of being a generalist and a specialist. As a generalist, I’d get to do acquisitions, cataloging, reference and circulation in my own little library. On the other hand, the library itself would be highly specialized, so I’d be a de facto specialist in interior design, which could be fun. (Although I somewhat prefer graphic design to interior design, I really love all types of design and would be happy to “settle” for this.) Also, I used to work early morning custodial in the Brimhall Building (back when it housed part of the College of Fine Arts) and I loved spending time in the interior design section. I used to vacuum really slowly in the stock room, just so I could spend more time looking at all the samples.

Also:

Ideal candidate should possess the following skills:

be a self-starter – Check.

have excellent verbal and written skills – Check.

be detail oriented – Check.

knowledge of digital photography and Photo Shop **A MUST** – Check.

We are looking for someone who is serious about working as a Librarian. This is not a design position. – Check. While I love design, I am clearly aware of where my strengths actually lie. I am a librarian, not a designer.

Bad points:

They don’t require an MLS, which means that they’re probably not willing to pay for an MLS. (They don’t list a salary range, they just say that it depends on experience.) Also, it’s an hourly job, which is a little odd. If the amount per hour is high enough, it’s not necessarily worse than a salaried position, and at least you get paid extra for overtime, but the prestige factor isn’t as high. (Not that I care significantly about prestige, but the job status associated with being paid hourly might also lead to being treated horribly by the snooty salaried interior designers.)

Along those same lines, this is clearly a paraprofessional job, and not a professional job, and accepting a paraprofessional position in lieu of a professional one is supposed to be really bad for my career or my karma or the balance of the librarian Force or something.

The position is in San Francisco, which means a horrible commute or living in an apartment the size of a refrigerator box or both. (Or worse.) Also (and I mean no offense to Thmazing et femme or to anyone else who lives there), I really hate California, and would be willing to go to great lengths not to live there. Plus, this is a high-end interior design firm, and interior design firms care about image (by definition), which means that it’s probably full of tan, blonde Beautiful People, and I don’t really want to be spending my days with Beautiful People. They make me depressed.

Furthermore:

background in Interior Design and/or Architecture **A PLUS** – Not so much.

Reality check:

I don’t graduate for over a year, by which time this position will most certainly be filled.

5 Comments:

At May 14, 2006 10:23 PM, Blogger B.G. Christensen said...

Ah, but you don't need an MLS so you could start now. Why bother finishing the degree when you don't need it?

 
At May 15, 2006 11:26 AM, Blogger Braden said...

Huh. I had no idea you were into design. Hurrah for learning about Katya.

 
At May 17, 2006 2:53 AM, Blogger Melyngoch said...

I think you could have totally gotten this job. Anything they call a "plus" is pretty much non-necessary if you're good at interviewing.

 
At June 19, 2007 8:16 PM, Blogger Th. said...

.

I've decided to be offended after all.

 
At June 19, 2007 8:55 PM, Blogger Katya said...

Well, thanks for letting me know. I've valued our friendship, but I understand if it can't last.

 

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