Category Archives: 200+ staff members

by | May 4, 2013 · 8:00 am

That MLS and Undergraduate Degree, Everyone Has One

Librarian's_grave_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1232991

This anonymous interview is with a librarian who has been a hiring manager and a member of a hiring committee. This person works at a public library with more than 200 staff members.

What are the top three things you look for in a candidate?

match of knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for the specific job
interpersonal skills
passion for people

Do you have any instant dealbreakers, either in the application packet or the interview process?

 This depends on the job and on what the candidate says. For example, a cataloging job would cause me to look very closely at details of the application. A candidate who says “detail-oriented”, better be just that.

In the interview: more than 15 minutes late (though I can easily understand emergencies–in that case, the candidate should ask to re-schedule), obvious lack of knowledge about or interest in the employer and/or the specific position.

What are you tired of seeing on resumes/in cover letters?

Objectives. Why? We all know you want a job.

Is there anything that people don’t put on their resumes that you wish they did?

Generally, librarians do a great job. What people should remember though is that *every single candidate* meets the minimum qualifications. So, that MLS and undergraduate degree, everyone has one. What makes you different? What do you bring that other candidates don’t? How might you be a better fit for the job? Once, a candidate neglected to mention on her resume that she had been the treasurer of a touring choir (based in her church, but acting as a 501(c)3) in an interview for a job that required budgeting skills. She did mention this in the interview, but almost didn’t get considered (she got the job, by the way).

How many pages should a cover letter be?

√ Two is ok, but no more

How many pages should a resume/CV be?

√ As many as it takes, but keep it short and sweet

Do you have a preferred format for application documents?

√  .pdf

Should a resume/CV have an Objective statement?

√  No

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?

Be prompt, know about the job, use humor appropriately, be yourself (not a plastic version of a librarian). Pay attention to the questions. Don’t be afraid to challenge the logic of the questions. Ask a few questions yourself.

What are some of the most common mistakes people make in an interview?

 Generic answers.

How has hiring changed at your organization since you’ve been in on the process?

In each organization where I’ve had a hiring role, I’ve moved to include more peers and immediate supervisors in the hiring process.

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by | May 2, 2013 · 8:00 am

Residency Run-Down: Los Angeles Public Library Innovation Leadership Program

I know a lot of you readers are new librarians or current students.  And we all know it’s a tough market for emerging information professionals.  That’s why I’m really happy to be able to share this interview with Dawn Coppin, Director of Foundation & Corporate Relations for the Library Foundation of Los Angeles.  Los Angeles Public Library has the only public library residency program that I know of.  In this interview, Ms. Coppin describes the scope and goals of the program, as well as providing a few tips for those of you graduating this year or next, who may be interested in this fantastic opportunity to get a comprehensive introduction to working as a public librarian. 

Can you give us a brief introduction to the Los Angeles Public Library Residency Program?

LAPL ILP 2013 cohortThe Innovation Leadership Program (ILP) is a unique approach to cultivating the next generation of library leaders by teaming ‘residents’ who are recent library school graduates with ‘fellows’ who are mid-career librarians. The two-year, full-time, program provides them with resources to develop new library programs and the opportunity to gain the skills necessary to lead the Los Angeles Public Library in the twenty-first century.

Why did LAPL decide to develop this program?

The original planning started in 2010 at a time when the Los Angeles Public Library was experiencing early retirements, layoffs, and a long-term hiring freeze that meant we were in danger of losing a generation of newly credentialed librarians who were dedicated to public service. The ILP is a way for the Library to benefit from the new skills, knowledge, and enthusiasm of graduates *and* develop the leadership skills and experiences of ambitious, talented, mid-career librarians to expand internal capacity to ensure the Library’s succession plan.

What will be the main job duties of residents – do they differ from those of “regular” librarians?

The residents’ experiences will change over the course of the two year program. Initially, they will spend the majority of their time doing usual entry-level librarian duties. However, their location will change every three months as they rotate to different libraries to see how parts of the whole system are the same and different from one another: subject departments and branch libraries; suburban and urban branches; poor and rich neighborhoods; public-facing and back-of-house departments; etc. Residents will also be involved with many ILP-specific meetings, workshops, and interactions with other major cultural and educational institutions.

Are residents paid? Do they get any other special benefits?

Yes, residents are paid full time employees of the Library Foundation of Los Angeles at the equivalent entry-level librarian rate for two years. Health insurance, sick and vacation leave, and 401(k) matching are standard, plus they get a travel allowance for professional conferences and other leadership development opportunities.

What would you tell a potential applicants in order to convince them to apply for the program?

Central Library - LAPLThe Innovation Leadership Program will provide the successful applicant with unparalleled experiences to understand how a large urban public library system operates, to obtain the skills necessary to be in a leadership position, and with networking opportunities that are essential to a long successful career.

What are the eligibility requirements?

Applicants to be an ILP Resident must have graduated with an MLIS from a credentialed school within 12 months of the program start date. They must have a demonstrated commitment to public librarianship and be eligible to work in the USA.

What does the selection process entail? How does it differ from the regular job application process?

The selection is made by a sub-committee of the ILP advisory group that includes that cohort’s fellows. Initial selection is based on the written application essay and resume that show those with the best fit and strongest promise. The next step is an interview either in-person or via video conference, followed by background checks to the top candidates’ references.

Any tips for students? Is there anything they could do to improve their chances of winning a spot in your program?

Be succinct and don’t repeat in your essay what we can see in your resume. Instead, show us your commitment to public librarianship and innovative approaches to the future of the public library; that you desire to be a leader and know why that will make a difference to our society.

When will the next residents be picked?

We haven’t determined this yet but most likely it will be to begin late 2014.

Anything else you want to tell us about the program?

Please check in with the ILP online at http://ilpinfo.wordpress.com/ or follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@ilpLAPL). We will also be at the major professional conferences, including ALA in Chicago, so stop by and talk with us.

Thank you to Ms. Coppin for taking the time to answer my questions!

If you run a LIS residency program and you’d like to discuss it here, please contact me.  I’d love to talk to you.

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by | March 18, 2013 · 8:00 am

As long as the candidate shows they have taken care over their appearance that day … it doesn’t matter what they wear

ama interview by Flickr user MaryN1234

 

This anonymous interview is with an Academic librarian who has been a hiring manager and a member of a hiring or search committee. This librarian works at a library with 200+ staff members in an Urban area in the UK.

What Candidates Should Wear

Should the candidate wear a suit to the interview?

√ Probably, yes (but it’s ok if the candidate wears something a little less formal)

An outfit with a coordinated blazer and trousers:

√ Counts as a suit
:

Bare arms are inappropriate in an interview, even in the summer.

√ False

If a woman wears a skirt to an interview, should she also wear pantyhose?

√ Other: Who cares?

Women should wear make-up to an interview:

√ I don’t care what’s on the face, it’s what’s in the brain that counts

Is there anything a candidate might wear that would cause them to be instantly out of the running? If you have any funny stories about horrifying interview outfits, we’d love to hear them.

A mask and cape… Seriously, as long as the candidate shows they have taken care over their appearance that day (showing commitment to the interview) it doesn’t matter what they wear.

Exception is higher level posts where they are expected to talk to senior staff inside and out of the service… need them to at least vaguely conform to the norm in that case.

Do you expect different levels of formality of dress, depending on the position you’re hiring for?

√ Yes, the higher the position, the more formal I expect the candidate to dress

Which jewelry may candidates wear: (Please select all that are acceptable)

√ Single, simple necklace, bracelet, and/or ring
√ A few simple necklaces, bracelets, and/or rings
√ All of the simple necklaces, bracelets, and rings he or she can load on
√ Arty or more elaborate necklaces, bracelets, or rings
√ Nose Ring (nostril)
√ Eyebrow Ring, Monroe piercing, septum piercing, or other face piercing
√ Earrings
√ Multiple Ear Piercings
√ Large gauge ear jewelry (stretched ears)

Which hair colors are acceptable for candidates:

√ All of them, even pink

The way a candidate dresses should:

√ I don’t really care how a candidate dresses

What This Library Wears

How do you dress when you are going to conduct an interview?

Smart – suit.

On a scale of one (too dressed up for my workplace) to five (too casual), khakis and a polo shirt are:

3

What’s the dress code at your library/organization?

√ Other: No real dress code…

Are there any specific items of clothing, etc. that are forbidden by your dress code?

√ N/A: We wear what we want!

Librarians at your organization wear: (Please check all that apply)

√ Name tags

This survey was co-authored by Jill of Librarian Hire Fashion – submit your interview outfit to her blog!

Photo: ama interview by Flickr user MaryN1234 via Creative Commons License

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by | December 3, 2012 · 8:00 am

I Wouldn’t Advise a Job Candidate to Take Chances with an Out-of-the-Ordinary Wardrobe

business lady with diary

This anonymous interview is with an academic librarian who has been a member of a hiring or search committee.  This librarian works in an urban area of the Western United States, at a library with 200+ staff members.

What Candidates Should Wear

Should the candidate wear a suit to the interview?

√ Other: I don’t care if they show up in a suit, but they definitely should not be dressed casually.

An outfit with a coordinated blazer and trousers:

√ I do not know and/or care

Bare arms are inappropriate in an interview, even in the summer.

√ Other: I think it’s okay in the summer as long as the candidate is carrying a suit jacket and otherwise dressed appropriately.

If a woman wears a skirt to an interview, should she also wear pantyhose?

√ Either pantyhose or tights. Bare legs are inappropriate

Women should wear make-up to an interview:

√ I don’t care what’s on the face, it’s what’s in the brain that counts

Is there anything a candidate might wear that would cause them to be instantly out of the running? If you have any funny stories about horrifying interview outfits, we’d love to hear them.

Jeans
athletic shoes

Do you expect different levels of formality of dress, depending on the position you’re hiring for?

√ Yes, the higher the position, the more formal I expect the candidate to dress

Which jewelry may candidates wear: (Please select all that are acceptable)

√ Single, simple necklace, bracelet, and/or ring
√ Earrings
√ Multiple Ear Piercings
√ Other: depends on person, position, reason, and how people in the hiring institution dress

Which hair colors are acceptable for candidates:

√ All of them, even pink

The way a candidate dresses should:

√ Other: Show personality, but in a toned-down way

How does what a candidate wears affect your hiring decision?

Probably the least important factor. The substance (knowledge of subject area) and style (e.g., show of confidence) on display at interviews and during the presentation count much, much more.

What This Library Wears

How do you dress when you are going to conduct an interview?

Depends on the weather. I don’t like suits — they aren’t me — but I like skirts and dresses. I always wear tights and nice shoes.

On a scale of one (too dressed up for my workplace) to five (too casual), khakis and a polo shirt are:

3

What’s the dress code at your library/organization?

√ Other: we don’t have one

Are there any specific items of clothing, etc. that are forbidden by your dress code? Please check all that apply

√ N/A: We wear what we want!

Librarians at your organization wear: Please check all that apply

√ Other: none of the above, although we’ve requested some kind of tag or badge that identifies us as librarians

Do you have any other comments?

In this economy, and with library jobs so scarce, I wouldn’t advise a job candidate to take chances with an out-of-the-ordinary wardrobe. Instead, dazzle with your knowledge, experience, enthusiasm, and forward-looking approach to the job.

This survey was co-authored by Jill of Librarian Hire Fashion – submit your interview outfit to her blog!

Photo: sippakorn on FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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by | November 15, 2012 · 8:00 am

Religious Signifiers are a Different Story, and Completely Acceptable

Business Woman by a Window by Flickr user Victor1558

Do you remember the interview from the original survey entitled “Customer Service Outside the Library World Can Make Your Resume Stand Out“? This anonymous interview is with that same librarian!  This librarian works at Public library with more than 200 staff members in an urban area of the Western US.  S/he has been a hiring manager  and a member of a hiring or search committee.

What Candidates Should Wear

Should the candidate wear a suit to the interview?

√ Probably not (but it’s ok if the candidate does wear one)

An outfit with a coordinated blazer and trousers:

√ Is totally different

Bare arms are inappropriate in an interview, even in the summer.

√ True

If a woman wears a skirt to an interview, should she also wear pantyhose?

√ No, but it’s not a dealbreaker

Women should wear make-up to an interview:

√ I don’t care what’s on the face, it’s what’s in the brain that counts

Is there anything a candidate might wear that would cause them to be instantly out of the running? If you have any funny stories about horrifying interview outfits, we’d love to hear them.

Political or religious tee-shirts would indicate a total misunderstanding of what’s OK in a public library (headcoverings, beards and/or other religious signifiers are a different story, and completely acceptable).

Can you share any stories about how a candidate nailed the proper interview outfit, especially if your organization does not expect suits?

Clothes should show respect for the process/organization, and shouldn’t overshadow the candidate.
I’d recommend younger candidates skew more formal – probably not fair, but you’ll want to project confidence and maturity, even if we’re hiring you for your youthful energy and enthusiasm.
Similarly, I’d recommend more mature candidates consider a little more zing, again to counterbalance prejudices about what older librarians are “like”.
That said, anything that feels like a costume is going to hurt your performance more than an outfit that doesn’t exactly match interviewer expectations.

Do you expect different levels of formality of dress, depending on the position you’re hiring for?

√ Yes, the higher the position, the more formal I expect the candidate to dress

Which jewelry may candidates wear: (Please select all that are acceptable)

√ Single, simple necklace, bracelet, and/or ring
√ A few simple necklaces, bracelets, and/or rings
√ Arty or more elaborate necklaces, bracelets, or rings
√ Earrings
√ Multiple Ear Piercings
√ Other: It depends. But I’d recommend you go very subtle if you’re not opting to remove non-ear piercings.

Which hair colors are acceptable for candidates:

√ Other: Again, depends, but I’d go subtle (pink hair styled conservatively is better than natural hair in an extreme style).

The way a candidate dresses should:

√ Show personality

How does what a candidate wears affect your hiring decision?

I want to know that the candidate understands that this is a formal process, and dressing up is part of the game.
With a very few exceptions, clothes may color perceptions of the candidate, but won’t make or tank an interview.
An interesting accessory can be a nice touch, but you don’t want your outfit to be the most memorable thing about you!

What This Library Wears

How do you dress when you are going to conduct an interview?

Probably what would be called “business casual” – I work in a very casual part of the country, though.

On a scale of one (too dressed up for my workplace) to five (too casual), khakis and a polo shirt are:

3

What’s the dress code at your library/organization?

√ Casual

Are there any specific items of clothing, etc. that are forbidden by your dress code? Please check all that apply

√ Logos/band insignia/slogans
√ Other: Religious/political slogans

Librarians at your organization wear: Please check all that apply

√ Name tags
√ Badges

Do you have any other comments?

It really depends on the workplace – if you have time, check out the library and see what staff are wearing, and aim for a step or two above that level or formality. When in doubt, go more formal – you can always ditch the jacket/cardigan/ironic pearls once you’re there.

Don’t assume that because you’re interviewing for a children’s or a teen position you can throw formality out the window – yes, there is more latitude, but that’s not without limits.

Visible tattoos, facial piercings, etc., are not dealbreakers, but the interview is your chance to show folks (some of whom are going to be uncomfortable with such things) how “normal” you can present, and you should treat it as such.

This survey was co-authored by Jill of Librarian Hire Fashion – submit your interview outfit to her blog!

Photo: Business Woman by a Window by Flickr user Victor1558

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by | October 1, 2012 · 8:00 am

No Skirts

Business Woman by a Window by Flickr user Victor1558

Business Woman by a Window by Flickr user Victor1558

 

 

This anonymous interview is with an Academic librarian at an institution with over 200 staff members in a suburban area of the Western US.  This librarian has been a hiring manager and a member of a hiring or search committee.

What Candidates Should Wear

Should the candidate wear a suit to the interview?

√ Yes, absolutely! It shows respect and professionalism

An outfit with a coordinated blazer and trousers:

√ Counts as a suit

Bare arms are inappropriate in an interview, even in the summer.

√ True

If a woman wears a skirt to an interview, should she also wear pantyhose?

 √ Other: no skirts

Women should wear make-up to an interview:

√ Always

Do you expect different levels of formality of dress, depending on the position you’re hiring for?

√ Yes, the higher the position, the more formal I expect the candidate to dress

Which jewelry may candidates wear: (Please select all that are acceptable)

√ Other: Use your best judgement as long as you wear a suit

Which hair colors are acceptable for candidates:

√ Other:  Use your best judgement as long as you wear a suit

The way a candidate dresses should:

√ Be fairly neutral

What This Library Wears

How do you dress when you are going to conduct an interview?

suit

On a scale of one (too dressed up for my workplace) to five (too casual), khakis and a polo shirt are:

3

What’s the dress code at your library/organization?

√ Business casual

Are there any specific items of clothing, etc. that are forbidden by your dress code? Please check all that apply

√ Flip flops
√ Short skirts/shorts
√ Logos/band insignia/slogans

Librarians at your organization wear: Please check all that apply

√ Name tags

This survey was co-authored by Jill of Librarian Hire Fashion – submit your interview outfit to her blog!

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by | September 23, 2012 · 8:00 am

New Blood is the Chant Around Here

Director of the John F. Kennedy Library Dan Fenn, Jr., 1971

 

 

 

This anonymous interview is with a public librarian who has been a hiring manager and a member of a hiring committee at a library with more than 200 staff members.

What are the top three things you look for in a candidate?

The ability to give an articulate answer
Making a human connection
Up-to-date knowledge of what’s going on in libraries

Do you have any instant dealbreakers, either in the application packet or the interview process?

Arrogance
Gap between job posting and applicant experience
Poor social skills

How many pages should a cover letter be?

√ Two is ok, but no more

How many pages should a resume/CV be?

√ Two is ok, but no more

Do you have a preferred format for application documents?

√ .doc

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?

Look like you’re listening, and address your answer to the question. Stop when you’re done.

What are some of the most common mistakes people make in an interview?

Blathering on. Using each question to make a prepared speech that doesn’t necessarily answer the question.

How has hiring changed at your organization since you’ve been in on the process?

Yes. Panels are always the norm, ever bigger panels. And there’s very little in-house recruiting. New blood is the chant around here.

Anything else you’d like to let job-seekers know?

Go where the jobs are. Don’t be afraid to move to a smaller town to get your experience. The biggies are not all they’re cracked up to be.

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by | September 17, 2012 · 8:00 am

Full-on Personality Dressing Should Be Reserved for Your Free Time

Business Woman by D. Clow

Business Woman by Flickr user D. Clow

 

This anonymous interview is with a person who is in human resources at a public library with more than 200 staff members in an urban area of the Midwestern United States. When asked “Are you a librarian?” this person replied “It’s complicated.”

 

What Candidates Should Wear

Should the candidate wear a suit to the interview?

√ Probably, yes (but it’s ok if the candidate wears something a little less formal)

An outfit with a coordinated blazer and trousers:

√ Counts as a suit

Bare arms are inappropriate in an interview, even in the summer.

√ True

If a woman wears a skirt to an interview, should she also wear pantyhose?

√ Other: depends on season and frankly, how her legs look. If they don’t look great, they should be covered somehow in a way that makes them look good, neat, tidy, clean

Women should wear make-up to an interview:

√ Other: again, depends. what is the comfort level, a natural look is very appealing, but more makeup can look great, if done well

Is there anything a candidate might wear that would cause them to be instantly out of the running? If you have any funny stories about horrifying interview outfits, we’d love to hear them.

anything that shows cleavage is a problem for me as interviewer. it shows a lack of good judgment/planning/preparation

Do you expect different levels of formality of dress, depending on the position you’re hiring for?

√ Yes, the higher the position, the more formal I expect the candidate to dress

Which jewelry may candidates wear: (Please select all that are acceptable)

√ Single, simple necklace, bracelet, and/or ring
√ A few simple necklaces, bracelets, and/or rings
√ Arty or more elaborate necklaces, bracelets, or rings
√ Eyebrow Ring, Monroe piercing, septum piercing, or other face piercing
√ Earrings
√ Multiple Ear Piercings

Which hair colors are acceptable for candidates:

√ Other: depends on the whole package. can’t dismiss pink out of hand depending on job and the rest of the outfit, makeup and jewelry

The way a candidate dresses should:

√ Other: restrained personality. full on personality dressing should be reserved for your free time

How does what a candidate wears affect your hiring decision?

It guides the first impression, so the key is to make sure that how you have chosen to represent yourself is positive or neutral.

I am very conscious of my own biases and personal tastes because I interview all the time, but the interview team is usually comprised of at least a few who interview only rarely. I need to help them balance their biases and personal tastes, but that can be hard when the first impression is negative. The candidate who creates a negative first impression has to really knock em dead in the interview conversation in order to make up for that.

What This Library Wears

How do you dress when you are going to conduct an interview?

always wear a nice jacket, a heeled/closed toe shoe, small amount of jewelry, neutral makeup and natural hair color

On a scale of one (too dressed up for my workplace) to five (too casual), khakis and a polo shirt are:

3

What’s the dress code at your library/organization?

√ Business casual

Are there any specific items of clothing, etc. that are forbidden by your dress code? Please check all that apply

√ Jeans
√ Flip flops
√ Tank tops
√ Logos/band insignia/slogans
√ Sneakers/trainers
√ Other: Cleavage

Librarians at your organization wear: Please check all that apply

√ Badges
√ Uniforms

Do you have any other comments?

I hate to hear from staff, “the public doesn’t care what we wear.” Well, sure, the public is not protesting the attire of our staff, but part of that is because our staff presents itself well. Unfortunately, I don’t know that that would be true without a dress code. Also, there seems to be resistance to the concept that we are judged by our appearance. Sorry, folks, it’s true. How together we look as a staff does influence (subconsciously or not) how we are perceived by our customers. If we want to inspire confidence and appear competent, we should dress that way. My rule of thumb is if you would wear it to a picnic or to wash your car, it’s too casual for this type of work setting.

This survey was co-authored by Jill of Librarian Hire Fashion – submit your interview outfit to her blog!

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by | September 4, 2012 · 8:00 am

Know Stuff About Me and the Library.

Egyptologist and Librarian Hans Ostenfeld Lange and his wife Joanna

 

This anonymous interview is with a public librarian who has been a hiring manager and a member of a hiring committee at an organization with more than 200 staff members.

What are the top three things you look for in a candidate?

personality, flexibility, brains

Do you have any instant dealbreakers, either in the application packet or the interview process?

Not too many – I’d rather look at the whole package – but a completely generic cover letter that refers to my library as “your firm,” etc. is pretty bad.

What are you tired of seeing on resumes/in cover letters?

Dangling participles. “Very” and “extremely.” Mixing tenses.

How many pages should a cover letter be?

√ Two is ok, but no more

How many pages should a resume/CV be?

√ As many as it takes, I want to look at every accomplishment

Do you have a preferred format for application documents?

√ .pdf

Should a resume/CV have an Objective statement?

√ No

If applications are emailed, how should the cover letter be submitted?

√ As an attachment only

What’s the best way to win you over in an interview?

Have a sense of humor. Know stuff about me and the library.

What are some of the most common mistakes people make in an interview?

Being defensive. Using acronyms or shortened names of schools/libraries/etc. that I’ve never heard of.

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by | August 27, 2012 · 8:00 am

Tell Your Boss You’re Applying … So That They Can Support You

Charles Burleigh Galbreath Ohio State Librarian

This anonymous interview is with an Academic librarian who has been a hiring manager and a member of a hiring committee at a library with more than 200 staff members.

What are the top three things you look for in a candidate?

Enthusiasm, their core values (such as respect, openness to others’ opinions), and interest in making true contributions to the position/organization.

Do you have any instant dealbreakers, either in the application packet or the interview process?

Not mentioning the library by name or, worse, naming another library entirely! A single typo can be ignored but multiple incorrect spellings will sink you. Not meeting the minimum job requirements.

What are you tired of seeing on resumes/in cover letters?

Objective statements. They are not useful for library positions. Lack of context for some of the committee work listed. Listing every CE course you’ve taken, or conference you’ve attended. That helps fill out a less experienced librarian’s CV early in their career, but is not useful after they have a year or two under their belt.

Is there anything that people don’t put on their resumes that you wish they did?

Evidence of why they have the skillset for the position. If you are a career changer, make the case in your CV for your transferable skills. If you are moving from one type of library to another, show us why your experience supports our taking a chance on you. The resume is very important, particularly when you are competing for a position against dozens of candidates who can state their case more eloquently.

How many pages should a cover letter be?

√ Two is ok, but no more

How many pages should a resume/CV be?

√ Other: I don’t want to see every accomplishment — I want to see the majority of your experience but if you have 10 pages of experience, can you narrow that down to the 5-6 most relevant items? The longer your career and the more senior the position has an effect.

Do you have a preferred format for application documents?

√ pdf

Should a resume/CV have an Objective statement?

√ No

If applications are emailed, how should the cover letter be submitted?

√ As an attachment only

What’s the best way to win you over in an interview?

Be honest and genuine. Have prepared fully, both yourself (lots of rest the night before, good healthy eating habits in general so you have adequate energy) and your stories. I need to convinced that you will add value to my organization. Have intelligent questions beyond the immediate library where you’ll work — we’re almost all part of larger organizations, and if you’re not interested beyond your work team, I don’t want you on my staff. Know who the head administrators are, what the strategic directions are, etc.

What are some of the most common mistakes people make in an interview?

Chew gum! Arrive late. Aren’t friendly. Treat different people differently (this is the cardinal sin and I’ve seen candidates drop from #1 to off the list b/c of this). Don’t be arrogant. Wear appropriate, comfortable clothing. Ask when you don’t understand jargon or what the interviewers are saying/asking. Be professional at all times, even when you don’t think someone is watching you, as they may be.

How has hiring changed at your organization since you’ve been in on the process?

It’s about the same.

Anything else you’d like to let job-seekers know?

Look to mentors to help you prepare for your interview. Have friends/bosses review your application materials. Tell your boss you’re applying — it doesn’t mean you’re jumping ship — so that they can support you.

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