This anonymous interview is with a public librarian who has been a hiring manager and a member of hiring committees at a library with 0-10 staff members
What are the top three things you look for in a candidate?
Customer service skills
Competence and willingness to work with technology
Professionalism
Do you have any instant dealbreakers, either in the application packet or the interview process?
During interview, individuals who lack basic knowledge about the library. They should present some evidence that they visited our website or did some basic research about our location.
What are you tired of seeing on resumes/in cover letters?
Very generic cover letters that don’t speak to the specific position applied for. I want to know why they are applying for this particular job.
Is there anything that people don’t put on their resumes that you wish they did?
Non library job experience and volunteer experience
How many pages should a cover letter be?
√ Only one!
How many pages should a resume/CV be?
√ Two is ok, but no more
Do you have a preferred format for application documents?
Should a resume/CV have an Objective statement?
√ I don’t care
If applications are emailed, how should the cover letter be submitted?
√ Both as an attachment and in the body of the email
What’s the best way to win you over in an interview?
Demonstrate sense of humor, patron focus, and knowledge of the job.
What are some of the most common mistakes people make in an interview?
Talk too much about things or people they dislike
