Careers in the Information Sciences
The careers that fall within the Information Sciences category cover a vast range of opportunities – from a children’s librarian to a network engineer for an international government agency or from a records manager in a federal repository to a Web designer at a not-for-profit organization. Depending upon your chosen degree program, where you work and what you can earn will differ. This Web page will provide some guidance about resources to help you understand your career options, effectively prepare for your job search, and plan for your future as an Information Professional.
iSchool Resources
Resume Reviews and Mock Telephone Interviews
Many iSchool alumni volunteer to review current students’ professional resumes and to conduct practice telephone interviews – all to help prepare students for a very competitive job market. The iSchool thanks all of these amazing alumni who are graciously volunteering their time and talents to benefit students as they enter the job market. On this page, you’ll find a list of those alumni who are willing to participate in either resume reviews and/or telephone interviews. Select the alumni whose profession most closely matches your career goals.
LinkedIn – This is a group for alumni, students, faculty and friends of the iSchool. You can network with iSchool alums, who are working in your chosen profession!
University Resources
Pitt’s Career Development Office (CDO) is here to help you find the perfect job when you graduate from the iSchool. At the CDO, experts will help you with career planning, creating effective resumes or portfolios, and effective interviewing techniques. Emily Bennett is the Career Consultant for the School of Information Sciences; contact her at [email protected].
While the CDO focuses on helping iSchool students to develop the tools they need to conduct an effective internship or job search, the Office of Student Employment and Placement Assistance (SEPA) works to connect businesses and organizations with those iSchool students actively seeking jobs or internships.
Pitt’s Career Network provides our students with an opportunity to interact with people who have experience in the many professions that are associated with the Information Sciences. This is a network of alumni who want to help you to improve your career prospects!
Pitt’s FutureLinks, an online database of job postings exclusive to Pitt students and alumni.
Professional Resources
There are so many career resources on the Web. These are just a few that are most pertinent to the University of Pittsburgh and to graduates of the iSchool. Please note that we do not endorse any of these information providers.
Pitt’s List of Networking Resources
ALA Library Education and Careers
America's Job Bank
CareerBuilder
CareerJet
ComputerJobs
Dice
Flipdog
JobCircle
JobList
Jobs
Library Job Postings on the 'Net
Metro
Monster
The Networked Librarian Job Search Guide
Pittsburgh Area Library Jobs
Pittsburgh Technology Council
Neuvoo
Statistics about the Information Professions
As Information Professionals are employed in many different fields (librarianship, education, manufacturing, healthcare – to name just a few), statistics about employment and earnings vary greatly. For example, the salary range for a software engineer in a multinational corporation is vastly different than the range for a systems administrator in the insurance industry. Similarly, the earnings potential for a public librarian in a major metropolitan area differs greatly from that of a school librarian in a rural district. Below, you’ll find a listing of Web resources that explore employment projections and earning potential in some of the fields that depend upon the skills and knowledge of Information Professionals. This is not an exhaustive list; you’ll find a great many information resources in addition to these. But, they may offer you at least a start on your career research.
The Future of Librarians in the Workforce – IMLS-funded study of library and information science field
Occupational Outlook Handbook (Bureau of Labor Statistics) – Archivists
Occupational Outlook Handbook (Bureau of Labor Statistics) – Librarians
Occupational Outlook Handbook (Bureau of Labor Statistics) – Computer and Information Research Scientists
Occupational Outlook Handbook (Bureau of Labor Statistics) – Computer network, systems and database administrators
Earnings information for Archivists
Earnings information for librarians
Earnings information for network and computer systems administrators
Earnings information for computer systems analysts
