When he was a student, Dan Andree (MS/LIS '18) became involved in the School's mentoring program for the chance to have a one-on-one exchange with a professional in his field of interest. He was matched with Marci Cohen (MS/LIS '00), assistant head of the music library at Boston University. In addition to speaking with his mentor over the phone, Andree had the opportunity to visit her place of work in Boston and get an idea of her day-to-day work.
"As a music librarian, I was excited to work with Dan because of his interest in music librarianship," said Cohen. "I was fascinated to hear about his background as a musician who had traveled the world but who turned to librarianship as a more viable long-term career. We talked about his career aspirations, my own career path, what the job market looked like, and the pluses and minuses of different types of jobs and institutions."
In addition to reviewing Andree's resume and advising him on cover letters and interviewing, Cohen discussed the career advantages she gained through her involvement in professional organizations.
For Andree, the mentoring experience gave him valuable insight into the role and responsibilities of a professional in music librarianship.
"All students should take advantage of this great opportunity to build professional relationships," he said. "Whether you know what direction you will take your degree, or you are still exploring the many pathways made possible by an MS/LIS, mentorship provides invaluable perspective while pursuing career opportunities."
Likewise, Cohen recommends mentoring to all iSchool alumni.
"I recently blurted out, 'What's the point of knowing stuff if you don't share it with others?' which summarizes my attitude towards mentorship and librarianship," she said. "It's a meaningful way to give back to the university community, and it bridges the gap between the classroom curriculum and what it takes to land that first job. Mentoring also gives students insight into how they want to build their career beyond just getting to that first paycheck."