Learning From Interviews

Posted October 15, 2025 by Michaela O'Gara-Pratt

I have been doing a lot of job interviews recently. As a second-year student at SLIS, applying for jobs this year feels a lot different than it did last fall when I first started the program. I have new skills to highlight on my resume, and I have the knowledge I have gained from internships and coursework. Despite this, I am still new to applying to jobs in the field and I have discovered that interviews are a great place to learn more about what these jobs really look like, even if you are not offered a position after the interview. 

Historically, I have always been a big fan of informational interviews. I enjoy conversation and I feel like I learn a lot about my options by talking to people who have been in similar situations. Before I pivoted to Library Science, I worked at an in-patient psychiatric care unit. At the time, I thought I wanted to work full-time as a mental healthcare professional, so I spoke to everyone I could. I scheduled meetings with social workers, psychologists, child life specialists, and nurses from around the hospital to understand what their daily life looked like and if it was a career I wanted to pursue. Ultimately, these interviews in combination with my work experience, were incredibly helpful. They helped me determine that the healthcare field was not where I was meant to work full-time, despite my appreciation for the work they do. At first, I felt a lot of shame for starting down a path I could not continue on, but then I reframed it: instead of punishing myself for not doing the job I thought I should do, I needed to think critically about what job I wanted to do. 

So, this led to a lot more informational interviews. I reflected on where my natural interests led, and then started asking professionals what their experiences were like. Once I determined that Library Science was the path for me, I even scheduled multiple informational zooms with department leaders at SLIS to understand the programs better and which concentration it made sense for me to add to my degree. 

Overall, I have learned that you should never be afraid to ask. I am so happy that I have found myself in libraries and as a student at Simmons University. I could not have made the decisions I have without first asking a lot of questions to a lot of different people. I am still asking questions every day, trying to thoughtfully navigate the future and the role I could play in it. Just a few weeks ago, I cold emailed a librarian in North Carolina because I was interested in their research. I did not expect them to respond, but they did! I was honored that this librarian answered all of my questions and took the time to respond to an email from a stranger. As I apply to jobs now, I try not to take rejection to heart. Instead, I am treating every interview like a learning opportunity, a chance to ask questions and build my understanding of the field plan to dedicate my career to.