We're thrilled to have you on board as a Reffie! To help you do your best now and in the future, we've collected some resources based on previous Reffies' questions and experiences, as well as the things we wish we knew when we were about to be launched into the professional world.

This is an evolving resource, so please check back for updates!

Wishing you all the very, very best,

Amanda Izenstark

Peter Larsen

Alicia G. Vaandering

Amanda Crego-Emley

(and everyone else in Public Services who may have contributed to the guide and may not yet have added their names)

First of all, be accurate and honest. Some of us have reviewed former Reffie application materials where they indicated they were "librarians" or "graduate assistants," both of which are very different from the position you've filled here.  Unless you were provided with another title when you were hired with Public Services, you should use "Reference Graduate Student Assistant" as your title.

Second, describe your great work clearly and concisely! You've supported researchers at all levels in person and online, and led sessions for the introductory Writing courses. You may have created and updated LibGuides, assisted with collection development, analyzed data, and written and/or contributed to reports. These are transferrable skills to a variety of positions!

Here are some ways you could refer to some of the work you might have done for us:

• Provided in-person and online programmatic, one-shot instruction for first-year writing courses
• Offered in-person and online research support to undergraduate and graduate students and faculty
• Developed and/or updated LibGuides on (summarize the topics)
• Supported collection development of ____ materials (feel free to be specific if you helped develop collections that would be good to highlight)
• Helped with assessment for IL instruction
• Analyzed reference statistics [or other data]
• Written and/or contributed to [instruction, reference] reports
• Developed book displays

Here's a list of great resources that new librarian (as of 2022) Dymond Bush shared at an ACRL NEC presentation, "Being The Newbie: How to Support the Successful Integration of a New Librarian."  You may want to check out her website for more tips about getting started as a professional librarian!