Librarian CV example

A librarian’s CV should be as well-structured as a carefully curated archive. If it’s difficult to navigate or doesn’t clearly highlight your key qualifications, a hiring manager might move on before discovering the value you bring.

This guide walks you through each step, from structuring and writing a CV correctly to crafting content that showcases your expertise. Because let’s be honest – if you can organise thousands of books using the Dewey Decimal System, writing a well-structured CV should be a breeze.

A librarian’s CV structure should be methodically arranged – just like the resources you manage. Hiring managers, like library visitors, need to find information quickly. If your CV is difficult to scan, key details could get lost, and your application might be overlooked.

Here’s the structure to follow:

• Name and contact details – Keep contact information at the top so employers can easily reach you, alongside a picture of yourself if you want.
• Profile – Open with a strong summary that highlights your expertise in library services, research, and information management.
• Core skills – Provide a concise list of your most relevant skills, such as cataloguing systems, database management, and user support.
• Work experience – Present your employment history in reverse chronological order, focusing on key responsibilities and achievements.
• Education – List your degrees and any library-related certifications in order from most recent to oldest.
• Additional info – You can optionally mention hobbies, additional languages, or relevant voluntary work and awards.

A well-formatted CV should reflect the organisation and attention to detail that defines a great librarian. If a recruiter has to work too hard to find key details, your application might get shelved indefinitely, so make sure your layout is clear.

Keep these formatting tips in mind:

• Bullet points – Break up long text with clear, skimmable bullet points.
• Divide sections – Structure your CV logically so each section is easy to navigate.
• Use a clear and readable font – Professionalism matters, so choose a simple, legible font.
• No more than 2 pages – Keep it the right length. If your CV is longer than War and Peace, it’s probably time for an edit.

Your CV profile is like a book blurb – it should be concise, engaging, and make the reader want to know more. Just don’t leave them on a cliffhanger: this is your chance to quickly highlight your expertise and convince recruiters to keep reading.

Tailoring your profile to the job description is crucial. Think about the skills and experience the employer is looking for and make sure they feature prominently in this section.

To create a strong professional profile, consider the following:

• Where you worked – Mention whether you’ve worked in public libraries, academic institutions, corporate libraries, or archives.
• Your top qualifications – If you have a degree in Library and Information Science or a CILIP-accredited qualification, highlight it in your CV here.
• Key library skills – Whether it’s cataloguing, research support, or digital archiving, emphasise your strongest abilities.
• User services and engagement – Libraries are about more than books; highlight your experience in supporting patrons, delivering workshops, or community outreach.
• Technical expertise – If you’re skilled in library management software, digital databases, or archival systems, make sure to mention them.

A core CV skills section provides a quick way to showcase your key strengths at a glance. Think of your core skills section as a subject index – it helps recruiters locate the key details without flipping through every page of your CV.

Don’t make the mistake of sending the same CV off to every job. Customise this section to the job description, ensuring the listed skills align with the role you’re applying for.

Your work experience is the most important chapter of your CV. A hiring manager wants to know what you’ve actually done. While listing skills is useful, recruiters are most interested in seeing how you’ve applied them in real-world library environments.

List your roles in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent. If you don’t have extensive professional experience, highlight relevant internships, volunteer work, or academic projects that demonstrate your library and research skills.

• Outline – Describe the type of library or organisation you worked in and how your role fit within the team. Mention who you reported to and any specialist areas you focused on.
• Responsibilities – List your key duties, such as managing collections, assisting with research inquiries, or implementing digital cataloguing systems. Use action words like “curated”, “managed”, and “developed” to bring your experience to life.
• Achievements – Did you increase membership numbers? Improve research access? Implement a new database system? Prove your impact with numbers – just like library fines, they add up.

The education section should list your most relevant qualifications, such as degrees, diplomas, and professional certifications. Since recruiters prioritise experience, this section should be brief unless you’re a recent graduate.

If you’re early in your career, you can highlight relevant coursework, dissertation topics, or research projects that showcase your library and information skills.

List qualifications in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent.