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I'm currently in the process of finding and applying for jobs in the lower echelons of the world of libraries. A couple of likely looking assisstant/trainee jobs have come up, jobs where I could get the experience I need to become a lot more employable in the jobs that really interest me (data manipulation and other such arcane arts). However after submitting my CV to each of them I've not been asked in for an interview for any of the jobs.

So, I'm just wondering if I'm missing some key qualities they might be looking for, and if people can suggest areas I should look into strengthening skills sets, courses I can do to get an edge over the other candidates, or perhaps just better ways of phrasing the standard skills to be more attention grabbing to the people looking at my CV. Cheers.

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Can you share your CV for us to take a look? – Ed Summers Aug 28 '12 at 11:18
How do you suppose would be the best way for me to do that? It's PDF format, so photobucket won't accept it. – Alice Rees Aug 28 '12 at 14:22
Hi Alice, unfortunately, I don't think we have a verdict on whether very specific career advice will be on-topic here, but for the time being we will consider general advice to be off-topic. Most of the issues that you are seeking help about are not specific to library professionals. However, there is an entire site devoted to workplace questions (workplace.stackexchange.com), which may have some information that can help you. I offered your question to them, but they have said they already have lots of questions on these issues, so you can probably find what you need. – jonsca♦ Aug 28 '12 at 16:52
If you or anyone would like to start a topic on meta.libraries.stackexchange.com as to what types of career advice should/could be within our scope, please feel free. – jonsca♦ Aug 28 '12 at 16:55
Our local ASIS&T chapter ran a few workshops where members would review and critique student's resumés. Even if there aren't groups doing these things, it's still worth going to whatever professional groups there might be in your area to do some networking. (and at my local branch, many of the library assistants were interns / volunteers when they were in high school ... it might be a little late to go that route, though) – Joe Aug 29 '12 at 2:47
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closed as off topic by jonsca♦ Aug 28 '12 at 16:49

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