Latest / The Comeback Career Podcast with Fexingo: Returning After a Gap, Stay-at-Home Re-Entry / Returning to Work as a Librarian After a Career Gap
Transcript
- Lucas: So Luna, I was reading a report from the American Library Association earlier this week, and one stat jumped out at me. They surveyed library directors and nearly sixty percent said they struggle to find candidates with both the technical skills and the people skills for public-facing librarian roles. Luna: Sixty percent? That's huge. But I guess it makes sense, because being a librarian isn't just about shushing people anymore. Lucas: Exactly. And that's the angle I want to dig into today. A stay-at-home parent who's managed a household, run a school fundraiser, or coordinated a playdate schedule has a ton of transferable skills. The problem is most of them don't know how to translate that on a resume. Luna: So we're talking about the parent who spent a decade at home and now wants to become a librarian. That's a big pivot. How do they even start? Lucas: Right, and that's exactly what we're going to unpack today. We've got a guest story that's really illustrative. Her name is Sarah, and she spent eleven years at home raising two kids. Before that, she had a degree in English and worked briefly in publishing, but she'd been out of the workforce for over a decade. Luna: Eleven years. That's a long gap. What made her decide to go into libraries? Lucas: She told me it started with a trip to the local library when her youngest started kindergarten. She walked in and just felt this pull. She'd always loved books and research, but she never thought of it as a career. Then she saw a job posting for a part-time library assistant and thought, why not? Luna: So she applied and got it, just like that? Lucas: Not exactly. She didn't even get an interview. The posting said they wanted someone with library experience, and she had none. So she did something smart. She started volunteering at the library's summer reading program. Just a few hours a week, helping kids pick books and logging their reading minutes. Luna: That's a classic move. Volunteer to get your foot in the door. Lucas: And it worked. After a few months, the same librarian remembered her when a temporary position opened up. She got that temp role, and then she was hooked. But she realized that to move beyond entry-level, she'd need a master's in library science. So she started researching online programs. Luna: A master's? That's a big commitment. How long did that take? Lucas: She did it part-time over three years while working at the library. And that's actually a common path. Many library systems offer tuition reimbursement for employees, and some states have loan forgiveness programs for librarians in underserved communities. Luna: So she was working, studying, and probably still doing school runs. That's intense. Lucas: Yeah, she said the first year was brutal. But she also said the parenting skills kicked in. She was used to juggling schedules, mediating disputes, and teaching patience. And those are exactly the skills that make a good children's librarian. Luna: I love that. So when she finally applied for a full-time librarian position, how did she frame those eleven years on her resume? Lucas: She didn't try to hide them. Instead, she listed them as a career break, but then she listed the transferable skills she'd kept sharp. Things like budget management for the household, event planning for school fundraisers, and digital literacy from helping her kids with homework. She reframed it as a period of skill development, not a void. Luna: That's so important. And it's a strategy we've talked about before on the show, but it never gets old. Lucas: And it's especially relevant here because library work is all about serving the public. So being able to say, 'I've spent the last decade managing a household and coordinating volunteers,' that's not nothing. That's real project management experience. Luna: And I bet her interviewers loved that. It's rare to find someone who's both passionate about books and has real-life people skills. Lucas: She definitely impressed them. But she also came prepared. She researched the library's strategic plan, knew their collection development policy, and even brought a list of program ideas for teens, which they hadn't focused on much before. Luna: That level of preparation can really set you apart. And it shows that gap years don't have to be a liability. Lucas: Right. And honestly, if you're listening and this episode has given you a new way to think about your own career gap, that's a small win. If it's helped you see a path forward, that's a bigger win. And if you want to support the show, you can do that at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Luna: Yeah, every little bit helps us keep making episodes like this one. Lucas: So back to Sarah. She got the job, and she's now been a full-time librarian for two years. But the story doesn't end there. She told me the most surprising part was how much the library world had changed since she'd last been a regular patron. Luna: In what way? Lucas: It's not just books anymore. Modern libraries are community hubs. They offer coding classes, resume workshops, even seed libraries where people can borrow seeds for their gardens. Sarah had to learn all that on the fly, but she said her experience managing a busy household made her adaptable. Luna: So it's a lot more than shushing people. I love that. Lucas: And that's also where the digital skills come in. She had to learn the library's cataloging software, how to help patrons with e-books, and even how to troubleshoot public computers. She said it was like learning a new language, but she took online tutorials and asked colleagues for help. Luna: That's a great reminder that you can learn on the job. You don't have to know everything before you start. Lucas: Exactly. And that's a lesson for any career changer. Sarah's story isn't just about libraries. It's about recognizing that your life experience has value and being willing to start at a lower level, like a part-time assistant, to get your foot in the door. Luna: And then you can grow from there. I know a lot of listeners might be thinking, 'But I don't have a master's degree.' Sarah didn't either, at first. She started without one and then worked toward it while employed. Lucas: Right. And that's one of the best pieces of advice I can give. Don't wait until you have all the credentials. Start with a volunteer position or a part-time job, even if it's not exactly what you want. It gets you experience and contacts. Luna: And it gives you a chance to test the waters. You might find out you don't like it as much as you thought, or you might love it even more. Lucas: Sarah loved it so much that she's now considering a certificate in youth services to specialize in teen programming. She says she never expected to find her dream job at forty-five, but here she is. Luna: That's so encouraging. I think a lot of people worry that it's too late, but it's really not. Lucas: And if you're listening and you're thinking about a similar path, here's a concrete takeaway. Look up your local library system's website and find out if they have volunteer opportunities or upcoming job fairs. Many libraries are desperate for bilingual staff or people with tech skills, so if you have any of those, highlight them. Luna: And don't forget to talk to your librarian. They can give you a sense of what the job is really like, and they might even know about openings before they're posted. Lucas: Great point. And one more thing, Sarah mentioned that she was nervous about her age and the gap, but she found that her life experience gave her a depth of empathy that younger candidates didn't have. That's a huge asset when you're dealing with patrons who are homeless, or struggling with addiction, or just having a rough day. Luna: That's a side of librarianship people don't think about. It's a social service as much as an information service. Lucas: Exactly. And Sarah embraces that. She says her favorite part of the job is when a regular comes in and just wants to talk. She's there to listen, and sometimes that's more valuable than finding the perfect book. Luna: That's beautiful. So if someone is listening and they're thinking about this path, what would be your one piece of advice? Lucas: I'd say, start small. Volunteer for a few hours a week. See if it feels right. And if it does, then go for the part-time job, and then maybe the degree. It's a slow build, but it's worth it. Luna: And remember that your gap years aren't a blank space. They're filled with skills that are transferable, if you know how to frame them. Lucas: Well said. And with that, I think we've given our listeners a lot to think about. Whether they're considering libraries or any other field, the lesson is the same. It's never too late to start over, and your past isn't a liability. It's an asset.