Category Archives: Special

by | May 12, 2013 · 8:00 am

Write the Sweetest Rejection Letters

Eerste Wereldoorlog, luchtoorlogThis anonymous interview is with a job hunter who is not currently employed, has not been hired within the last two months, and has been looking for a new position for More than 18 months. This person is looking in Academic libraries, Public libraries, and Special libraries, at the following levels: Entry level. This job hunter is in a rural area in the Western US and is willing to move to the Eastern US.

What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?

Congenial working conditions
salary & benefits
professional development

Where do you look for open positions?

Alerts from particular employers
ALA joblist
INALJ
SLA
USAjobs

Do you expect to see salary range listed in a job ad?

√  No (even if I might think it *should* be)

What’s your routine for preparing an application packet? How much time do you spend on it?

I review and reread the job posting several times. I consider whether I have a reasonable “argument,” that I am a candidate for the job. I consider how to address weak spots. I review my resume and tweak it if I need to. I write a cover letter. Then I go online and complete the application. It takes 2-8 hours.

Have you ever stretched the truth, exaggerated, or lied on your resume, or at some other point during the hiring process?

√ No

When would you like employers to contact you?

√ To acknowledge my application
√ To tell me if I have or have not been selected to move on to the interview stage
√ To follow-up after an interview
√ Once the position has been filled, even if it’s not me

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Phone for good news, email for bad news

What do you think employers should do to get the best candidates to apply?

Simplify and clarify the job posting. It’s easier for a candidate to determine whether they’d be a good fit that way. Some of the job postings I’ve seen want a candidate to do everything and be qualified for everything. I’ve seen job postings offering ten dollars an hour and requiring years of experience for a person who will do everything, even walk the dog. It’s just crazy.

What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?

More communication. Write the sweetest rejection letters. I wish employers would be more honest. Sometimes I know that is not possible, but I would like to know if the interview process is a charade (that is, they already have someone in mind) or if I actually have a chance.

What do you think is the secret to getting hired?

Knowing people before the job posting.

This survey was co-authored by Naomi House from I Need A Library Job - Do you need one?  Check it out!

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by | May 9, 2013 · 8:00 am

If They Are Going to Weed Out Potential Employees by Their Resumes Anyway, Don’t Expect Every Applicant to Write a Paper or Essay

Rabbit hunting on the Otago Central Railway, ca 1900This anonymous interview is with a job hunter who is currently employed (even if part-time or in an unrelated field), has not been hired within the last two months, and has been looking for a new position for More than 18 months. This person is looking in Academic libraries, Public libraries, and School libraries at the following levels: Requiring at least two years of experience. S/he is in a city/town in the Southern US and is not willing to move.

What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?

Location
Hours
Opportunity for growth

Where do you look for open positions?

Local sites
LinkedIn
INALJ

Do you expect to see salary range listed in a job ad?

√ Yes, and it’s a red flag when it’s not

What’s your routine for preparing an application packet? How much time do you spend on it?

4 hours

Have you ever stretched the truth, exaggerated, or lied on your resume, or at some other point during the hiring process?

√ No

When would you like employers to contact you?

√ To acknowledge my application
√ To tell me if I have or have not been selected to move on to the interview stage
√ Once the position has been filled, even if it’s not me

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Email

Which events during the interview/visit are most important to your assessment of the position (i.e. deciding if you want the job)?

√ Meeting department members/potential co-workers

What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?

If they are going to weed out potential employees by their resumes anyway, don’t expect every applicant to write a paper or essay if you are not going to use them. It really wastes a lot of time for applicants. Please ask for those additional items only from people who make it past the first cut.

What do you think is the secret to getting hired?

Knowing someone

This survey was co-authored by Naomi House from I Need A Library Job - Do you need one?  Check it out!

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by | May 1, 2013 · 8:00 am

A Positive Work Environment

This interview is with Ta-Shire Tribbett, a library associate at the Thurgood Marshall Law Library , where Edgar Allen Poe lies buried in the courtyard. Ms. Tribbett is pursuing her life-long dream of becoming a librarian as a result of winning an IMLS scholarship to North Carolina Central University. She has been looking for a new position for six months to a year in academic and special libraries, at the following levels: Department Head, Senior Librarian, and Branch Manager. Ms. Tribbett is in an urban area, in the Northeastern US, and is willing to move anywhere. You can find her on LinkedIn here, or on Twitter @l8teebug.

What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?

Room for advancement
Opportunities for professional development
A positive work environment

Where do you look for open positions?

ALA Joblist, Indeed, LinkedIn, USA Jobs, Twitter

Do you expect to see salary range listed in a job ad?

√ Yes, and it’s a red flag when it’s not

What’s your routine for preparing an application packet? How much time do you spend on it?

I have a standard resume and cover letter and I tweak it according to the job description. I spend at least an hour making sure my information matches up with the requirements listed. I usually ask a friend to look over my application once before I turn it in.

Have you ever stretched the truth, exaggerated, or lied on your resume, or at some other point during the hiring process?

√ No

When would you like employers to contact you?

√ To acknowledge my application
√ To tell me if I have or have not been selected to move on to the interview stage
√ To follow-up after an interview
√ Once the position has been filled, even if it’s not me

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Email

Which events during the interview/visit are most important to your assessment of the position (i.e. deciding if you want the job)?

√ Tour of facility
√ Being taken out to meal
√ Meeting department members/potential co-workers
√ Meeting with HR to talk about benefits/salary

What do you think employers should do to get the best candidates to apply?

Be upfront about duties and expectations in the job listing.

What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?

Acknowledge receipt of materials, and I think they should let you know when you didn’t move to the next phase.

What do you think is the secret to getting hired?

Flexibility and a great attitude.

Do you have any comments, or are there any other questions you think we should add to this survey?

I read the prior poster’s short blurb, and I’m sorry you had to deal with a snarky attitude! I love INALJ as it keeps me updated with library culture and the nuances of the employment process. Keep up the good work!

*Referring to this post:
http://hiringlibrarians.com/2013/01/31/since-i-have-an-advanced-degree-ph-d-in-addition-to-the-lis-degree-i-am-pickier-than-most/

This survey was co-authored by Naomi House from I Need A Library Job – Do you need one? Check it out!

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by | April 25, 2013 · 8:00 am

At This Point Actually Getting an Interview Would Be Great

Getting the scentThis anonymous interview is with a job hunter who is currently employed (even if part-time or in an unrelated field), has not been hired within the last two months, and has been looking for a new position for Six months to a year. This person is looking in Library vendors/service providers, Public libraries, School libraries, and Special libraries, at the following levels: Entry level and Requiring at least two years of experience. Here is how she describes her internship/volunteering experience:

Student teaching

This job hunter is in a rural area in the Northeastern US and is willing to move anywhere.
What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?

A livable salary

Where do you look for open positions?

INALJ
Websites of individual organizations
professional listserv(s)

Do you expect to see salary range listed in a job ad?

√ Yes, and it’s a red flag when it’s not

Have you ever stretched the truth, exaggerated, or lied on your resume, or at some other point during the hiring process?

√ No

When would you like employers to contact you?

√ To tell me if I have or have not been selected to move on to the interview stage
√ To follow-up after an interview
√ Once the position has been filled, even if it’s not me

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Email

Which events during the interview/visit are most important to your assessment of the position (i.e. deciding if you want the job)?

√ Other: At this point actually getting an interview would be great.

This survey was co-authored by Naomi House from I Need A Library Job – Do you need one? Check it out!

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by | April 17, 2013 · 12:43 pm

Lately I Have Seen Ads That Read Like Wish Lists

Tracy Stoller is an Assistant Librarian in a small urban academic library in the Midwest. Although it began as a part-time paraprofessional position, her job is now full time and professional. Ms. Stoller does a little bit of everything, but she is most proud of implementing a move to a new ILS without much help; she says she is tech-savvy by necessity rather than natural inclination. She has been looking for a new position for six months to a year in Academic libraries, Public libraries, Special libraries, and other positions in higher education, at the following levels: requiring at least two years of experience and supervisory. Here is how she describes her path to librarianship:

Librarianship was a mid-life career change for me–I went back to school for my MLS in my mid-40s after being a homeschooling mom and working in a family business. It was one of the best decisions I ever made, even considering the awful job market that faced me when I graduated in 2010. Although I do have a job in my field (thank the Lord), I am always looking…

Ms. Stoller is not willing to move from her current location. You can find her on Twitter @TracyStoller

What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?

Pay that fits within the average for librarians in my state.
Within commuting distance of where I live, since I cannot move.
Work in academia.

Where do you look for open positions?

INALJ-Naomi rocks!
Indiana University SLIS listserv (open to anyone and jobs are posted on the school’s web site)
Custom delicious.com list I made of libraries within commuting distance

Do you expect to see salary range listed in a job ad?

√ No (even if I might think it *should* be)

What’s your routine for preparing an application packet? How much time do you spend on it?

I have several different styles of resumes/CVs so I take the one that fits the job and tweak it to the ad–changing key words to reflect their listing, removing skills that don’t fit, then write a cover letter from scratch. I probably spend 2-3 hours because I agonize over the cover letter. I have my daughter proofread and edit.

Have you ever stretched the truth, exaggerated, or lied on your resume, or at some other point during the hiring process?

√ Other: I may claim competence on computer software, then brush up on them (but only if I am already somewhat familiar with using them)

When would you like employers to contact you?

√ To tell me if I have or have not been selected to move on to the interview stage
√ To follow-up after an interview
√ Once the position has been filled, even if it’s not me

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Phone

Which events during the interview/visit are most important to your assessment of the position (i.e. deciding if you want the job)?

√ Tour of facility
√ Meeting department members/potential co-workers

What do you think employers should do to get the best candidates to apply?

Be realistic in what experience the job requires. Lately I have seen ads that read like wish lists: The candidate has to fill every weak spot in the organization AND have three years experience. If you really want to hire an uber-librarian, then post the salary and make it match the skills.

What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?

Post the salary, give a time frame for hiring, send letters out to anyone who is not moving on to the interview process and notify those who are not hired as soon as you are able.

I used to think I would rather get an email telling me that another person was hired, but I recently got a phone call and it was much better. I found that they had hired an internal candidate, but thought I was a strong candidate and hoped I would apply for a job that would soon be posted. That feedback helped a lot and I was able to tell her how much I appreciated being considered and hoped to work for her organization some day in the future.

What do you think is the secret to getting hired?

You need to be a good fit for the people and the organization–credentials and skills are not enough. Sometimes it is just whether you “click” with them (and whether you and they are having a good day). Library jobs are getting scarce in my area with cutbacks. I am fortunate to have a (not-so-great) job as a librarian, but I am now looking outside of the traditional library area to widen my options.

Do you have any comments, or are there any other questions you think we should add to this survey?

I think many people answer what they think the ideal is for job searches and they do not reflect reality that is a search that goes through HR channels. They are not going list salaries many times, or acknowledge your resume. It sucks, but HR doesn’t care (even when the actual library professionals do), and what we think SHOULD happen doesn’t matter.

This survey was co-authored by Naomi House from I Need A Library Job – Do you need one? Check it out!

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by | April 13, 2013 · 8:00 am

Give Me a Rough Idea of How Many Others I’m Up Against

President Roosevelt is now hunting in the Louisiana canebrakes. (LOC)This anonymous interview is with a job hunter who is currently employed (even if part-time or in an unrelated field), has been hired within the last two months, and has been looking for a new position for a year to 18 months. This person is looking in Academic libraries, Public libraries, and Special libraries, at the following levels: Requiring at least two years of experience.

This job hunter is in a suburban area in the Northeastern US and is not willing to move.

What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?

Right now, the 3 things I’m looking for are: location, level of skill/requirements for the position and salary to a lesser degree. At this point, salary is moot since I just want to be hired full-time.

Where do you look for open positions?

I look on INALJ mostly; I also subscribe to a couple of listservs that send out job announcements.

Do you expect to see salary range listed in a job ad?

√ Yes, and it’s a red flag when it’s not

What’s your routine for preparing an application packet? How much time do you spend on it?

My routine? Holy cow…first I print out the ad and highlight key words that THEY use to put in my resume/cover letter to match my skills/experience. Then I go into my trove of cover letters to pick one that will closely match what I want to say to this particular employer then I spend as much as 2 hours tweaking and retrofitting it. Then I go into my selection of resumes (I currently have 5 different versions) and tweak that. Then I have my husband proofread everything and then I send it off. I also keep digital copies of all of the cover letters and resumes I send to people. This whole process can take a few hours for EACH application.

Have you ever stretched the truth, exaggerated, or lied on your resume, or at some other point during the hiring process?

√ No

When would you like employers to contact you?

√ To tell me if I have or have not been selected to move on to the interview stage
√ To follow-up after an interview
√ Once the position has been filled, even if it’s not me

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Phone for good news, email for bad news

Which events during the interview/visit are most important to your assessment of the position (i.e. deciding if you want the job)?

√ Tour of facility
√ Meeting department members/potential co-workers

What do you think employers should do to get the best candidates to apply?

Stop listing everything under the sun that the potential candidate needs to know in order to apply. I’m not going to have two Master’s degrees AND know how to program in HTML AND know Mandarin. Someone out there might, but do you really, really need to have someone who has ALL of those skills for THIS particular job? Be clear and list a few key things.

What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?

1. Tell me when the final decision will be made and be real about it. Don’t say “”in a couple of days”" when you know darn well, it’s going to take HR 3 weeks just to put a package together.
2. If I have interviewed with you and we both feel like it’s a good fit, give me a rough idea of how many others I’m up against. Are there 8 others? Or just one other? I’m a math geek and I’m into numbers like that.
3. Respond, respond, respond. Don’t keep me on pins and needles waiting to hear (even if you don’t want me).
4. Give me some feedback, especially if you don’t want me. Do I need more tech skills? Did I fumble during the interview? Was I too eager? Too desperate?

What do you think is the secret to getting hired?

After going to a zillion hiring workshops and talking to many employers and wannabe employees, I don’t really think there is a secret. I used to think that knowing people could give you an edge (and it still does in some instances) but these days even that isn’t enough. I was close to being hired but even knowing people on the hiring committee and knowing the director weren’t enough to get me in. There just aren’t enough jobs to go around. The most I can say is do your homework, cross your T’s and dot your I’s, have a respectable web/social media presence and light a candle for whoever you might pray to. And hope.

Do you have any comments, or are there any other questions you think we should add to this survey?

I really appreciate all of the great information that you’ve provided through Hiring Librarians and INALJ. It helps to know that others are struggling but then it stinks to know that there are so many great people out here who just can’t get a job (or at least a better job). Thank you.

This survey was co-authored by Naomi House from I Need A Library Job – Do you need one? Check it out!

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by | April 11, 2013 · 8:00 am

Remember That Years of Experience Is Not Everything

William Williams on a railway jigger, rabbit hunting in Otago, ca 1900This anonymous interview is with a job hunter who is currently employed (even if part-time or in an unrelated field), has not been hired within the last two months, and has been looking for a new position for a year to 18 months. This person is looking in Academic libraries, Archives, Public libraries, School libraries, and Special libraries, at the following levels: Entry level, Requiring at least two years of experience. Here is how this person describes his or her experience with internships/volunteering:

I have five years of pre-MLS/MLIS experience, including two library practicums, an archival internship , a special collections project, and a multi-year graduate assistantship in an academic library. Currently I am volunteering with a digitization project.

This job hunter is in an rural area in the Midwestern US and is willing to move depending on the location.

What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?

1. Entry-level or minimal experience
2. Job description is something I can do and, ideally, would love to do.
3. Geographic location

Where do you look for open positions?

ALA Joblist, INALJ, HigherEd Jobs, LibGig, ArchiveGig, USAJobs, LinkedIn, local library association websites, institutions’ websites, and over two dozen professional listservs.

Do you expect to see salary range listed in a job ad?

√ Other:Employers should include the salary. Past experience shows that lack of listing it leads to inability to take the job because it wouldn’t cover living expenses if I moved to the location.

What’s your routine for preparing an application packet? How much time do you spend on it?

I type the cover letter, then tweak the resume and add relevant references. Next, I edit and spellcheck the material multiple times. I use the position description to assist at all steps. I spend at least one to two hours on the process.

Have you ever stretched the truth, exaggerated, or lied on your resume, or at some other point during the hiring process?

√ No

When would you like employers to contact you?

√ To acknowledge my application
√ To tell me if I have or have not been selected to move on to the interview stage
√ To follow-up after an interview
√ Once the position has been filled, even if it’s not me

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Phone for good news, email for bad news
√ Other: Detailed information needs to be by e-mail

Which events during the interview/visit are most important to your assessment of the position (i.e. deciding if you want the job)?

√ Tour of facility
√ Meeting department members/potential co-workers
√ Meeting with HR to talk about benefits/salary
√ Being able to present

What do you think employers should do to get the best candidates to apply?

Remember that years of experience is not everything. Too many recent job descriptions want post-MLS/MLIS experience for jobs that those with pre-MLS/MLIS experience otherwise could handle, especially if they has a library graduate assistantship or worked in a paraprofessional role. Sometimes those who recently graduated could be the best fit-they have enthusiasm and are still willing to learn.

What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?

Simply keep applicants informed of the process! Waiting is painful!

What do you think is the secret to getting hired?

If someone knows the secret, I would like to know!

Do you have any comments, or are there any other questions you think we should add to this survey?

1. If I was not still looking for a job, I would happily provide my name. However, I do not want to jeopardize any chance I have at a position.

2. For the questions about if we are employed, I would add freelance and volunteer categories. That’s all I have been able to do since graduating for income and experience.

3. I would add the question “”Did you begin your job search before graduating? If so, how long before?”"

4. Just an observation, but it seems that employers care more about experience than anything. Everytime I am interviewed and I find out why I was not hired, I am told it is because the chosen candidate had more experience. Recent graduates are stuck in a no-win situation: we cannot get a job without experience, but we cannot get (further) experience without a job!

This survey was co-authored by Naomi House from I Need A Library Job – Do you need one? Check it out!

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by | April 10, 2013 · 8:00 am

Be Clear about the Good Stuff, But Also Honest about the Challenges

Judy AndersonJudy Anderson has a JD and is also a 2002 graduate of San Jose State University SLIS.  She volunteers at a Department of Natural Resources Geology Library, where she likes the collaborative spirit. She has been job hunting for more than 18 months, in Academic libraries, Archives, Public libraries, School libraries, Special libraries, and for Non-library work, at the following levels: Entry level, Requiring at least two years of experience, Supervisory, Department Head, Senior Librarian, Branch Manager, Director/Dean, and

Any library work, including paraprofessional.

She is in a city/town in the Western US, and is not willing to move.

What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?

I want it to be a library job or library related. (eg, working as an archivist, record keeper, etc.)
I want the chance to make use of my diverse background as a librarian and library director (mostly academic) and my medical and legal background.
I can’t relocate, so it has to be in reasonable driving distance.

Where do you look for open positions?

Publib, government sites (state and local), PNLA, career builder, college library listserv, and individual business and agency sites.

Do you expect to see salary range listed in a job ad?

√ Yes, and it’s a red flag when it’s not

What’s your routine for preparing an application packet? How much time do you spend on it?

That depends on the position and what they require. I can spend an hour to all day working on an application. It also depends on how much I really want the job.

Since I am forced to even apply for non-library entry type jobs, my efforts aren’t as intense as when I apply for positions appropriate to my background.

Have you ever stretched the truth, exaggerated, or lied on your resume, or at some other point during the hiring process?

√ Other: No. But I have left off graduate degrees if I thought it would hurt my chances.

When would you like employers to contact you?

√ To acknowledge my application
√ To tell me if I have or have not been selected to move on to the interview stage
√ To follow-up after an interview
√ Once the position has been filled, even if it’s not me

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Phone for good news, email for bad news.

Which events during the interview/visit are most important to your assessment of the position (i.e. deciding if you want the job)?

√ Tour of facility
√ Meeting department members/potential co-workers
√ Other: An honest statement of the real challenges of the position.

What do you think employers should do to get the best candidates to apply?

Not ask people to list their salary requirements. It says they are looking for the cheapest candidates.

Be clear about what they want. Be clear about the good stuff, but also honest about the challenges. 

List preferred qualifications that are really relevant, not designed to keep people from applying. 

Have a clear job description and information about the company. If people don’t understand what the position involves, or what the company/agency does, then you get a mismatch of applicants and position. For example, I just applied for an archivist job that talks about having a biology degree and being able to go out in hazardous terrain. But the job description was about archiving legal and regulatory information and nothing to do with biology field work.

What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?

Don’t have people come for an interview if they already know who they want to hire. If they need to interview a certain number of people by law or policy, then just do it by phone. It’s frustrating to spend time and money going to an interview only to realize when you get there that they have no intention of hiring you.

Don’t have people do supplemental questions that have nothing to do with the job. Make them relevant.

Let people know what’s going on. It’s very frustrating to apply for jobs and never hear anything. Let people know if they don’t get it. If there is a delay in hiring, tell them. Be honest in the job description about the timeline or if their is still a question of funding for the position.

What do you think is the secret to getting hired?

If I knew that, I would have a job.

I think age is a big factor. The younger the better.

This survey was co-authored by Naomi House from I Need A Library Job – Do you need one?  Check it out!

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Filed under Academic, Archives, City/town, Job hunter's survey, Law Library, Other Organization or Library Type, Public, School, Special, Western US

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by | April 8, 2013 · 8:00 am

I Agonize Over Every Sentence

Leslie Norman has a  MLIS (Rutgers, 2005) and a MA in Political Science (John Hopkins, 1997).  She has worked as a news librarian, and has research credits for eight published articles and two books. However, newspapers have shrunk and Ms. Norman is currently without a job. She is looking for a research position in the metro NYC area, while contemplating a change to cataloging or archive work.  She has been looking for more than 18 months, in Academic libraries, Archives, and Special libraries, for positions requiring at least two years of experience. Ms. Norman is in a city/town in the Northeastern US, and would be willing to move:

Only if my husband found work also

She is an information junkie, loves mystery books and long-form non-fiction essays, kills tomatoes in the summer, forgets to feed the backyard birds, and watches too much TV. You can find her on Twitter@no1newshound

What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?

Challenging work where I learn new technologies, new ways of improving  work skills, and help the organization achieve its goals.

A manager that knows how to manage, provides essential training and wants me to succeed in my position while I give my best to move the company forward.

Decent salary for the area I live in.

Where do you look for open positions?

Many job boards

LinkedIn

Job alerts set up from job boards

LibGig

Emails from local library schools, local library associations, Chronicle of Higher Education, and local SLA chapters listservs

I Need a Library Job

Do you expect to see salary range listed in a job ad?

√ Yes, and it’s a red flag when it’s not

What’s your routine for preparing an application packet? How much time do you spend on it?

Tweak resume to match job ad

Write cover letter to address the qualifications listed in the ad

It takes a long time for me to write cover letters because I agonize over every sentence. Unfortunately that effort is not resulting in interviews.

Have you ever stretched the truth, exaggerated, or lied on your resume, or at some other point during the hiring process?

√ No

When would you like employers to contact you?

√ To follow-up after an interview

√ Once the position has been filled, even if it’s not me

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Phone for good news, email for bad news

Which events during the interview/visit are most important to your assessment of the position (i.e. deciding if you want the job)?

√ Tour of facility

√ Meeting department members/potential co-workers

What do you think employers should do to get the best candidates to apply?

Write job announcements with detail.

Place the ad in as many local places as possible.

Specifically target local chapters of library associations, alumni associations of library schools and library groups like SLA and ALA.

What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?

Provide application deadlines if possible.

Notify applicant if she doesn’t get the job after the interview.

Provide some information as to why an applicant didn’t get the position within.

What do you think is the secret to getting hired?

I think it’s having the right experience and good internships. Previously, I didn’t understand the importance of internships.   Now that I need to possibly change specializations, the market is saturated and only students can get internships. I have two MAs but I don’t have enough experience to get an academic position. It’s difficult to live in the metro NYC area which is a competitive market.

Networking is important also but it can be very difficult for an introverted person like myself.  The bottom line is applying for jobs where one’s experience matches the ad and believing in oneself despite the circumstances.

This survey was co-authored by Naomi House from I Need A Library Job – Do you need one?  Check it out!

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by | April 6, 2013 · 8:00 am

I’m a Fast Learner and am Looking for a Place to Stay, Get Me While I’m Young

mary michelle mooreMary-Michelle Moore is a library assistant at the UC Irvine’s Langson library with a background in interlibrary loan and circulation.  She is currently working towards her MLIS through Rutgers State University of New Jersey and will be graduating in May 2013. Ms. Moore has been looking for a new position for less than six months, in Academic and Special libraries, at the entry level and requiring at least two years of experience (she is transitioning from staff to librarian). Here is how she describes her internship/volunteering experience:

- 5 years experience working as a paraprofessional – primarily in access services, with some student worker supervision experience
- Digital reference internship with the ipl2

Ms. Moore is in a city/town in the Western US, and is willing to move

Anywhere in CA and Western US or to the Smithsonian or American Museum of Natural History

She serves as Webmaster for the Rutgers Association of School Librarians (RASL) and as an Online Student Representative for the Student College, Academic and Research Librarian Association (SCARLA).  She volunteers with I Need a Library Job and Reading to Kids.

What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?

- room for advancement/ professional development support

- interesting job duties

- location

Where do you look for open positions?

- ALA JobList

- INALJ.com

- professional listservs

Do you expect to see salary range listed in a job ad?

√ Yes, and it’s a red flag when it’s not

What’s your routine for preparing an application packet? How much time do you spend on it?

~5-10 hours: read through job description, look up the library and find out a little about the institution, update the resume/CV, create cover letter, send CV & cover letter to friend w/ job description for proof reading, contact references to verify their willingness to vouch for me.

Have you ever stretched the truth, exaggerated, or lied on your resume, or at some other point during the hiring process?

√ No

When would you like employers to contact you?

√ To acknowledge my application

√ To tell me if I have or have not been selected to move on to the interview stage

√ Once the position has been filled, even if it’s not me

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Phone for good news, email for bad news

Which events during the interview/visit are most important to your assessment of the position (i.e. deciding if you want the job)?

√ Tour of facility

√ Meeting department members/potential co-workers

√ Meeting with HR to talk about benefits/salary

What do you think employers should do to get the best candidates to apply?

- give candidates enough time to get a application packet together, short advertising times are difficult for everyone involved

- talk a bit about the work environment, work is important but if you do social activities, this is a big plus

- write better job descriptions, some of the descriptions are either too broad or too specific – if you’re willing to mentor a new librarian, please let me know, I’m a fast learner and am looking for a place to stay, get me while I’m young so I can learn the habits you want in the position instead of waiting to train me out of old habits

What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?

- Be more communicative, even if you just send a generic trigger email, let me know you have received my application, an approximate start date for the interview process, and follow up when the position has been filled.  I’ve applied for jobs in the past and received a “we regret to inform you we’ve gone with another candidate” letter in the mail more than a year later.  If you expect me to jump through hoops, please at least be polite about it.

What do you think is the secret to getting hired?

Choose jobs carefully so you are excited about what you are applying for and can generate some genuine enthusiasm. Apply to positions that may not be a perfect fit based on the job description, you may find out more about the position when you get to the interview that is more encouraging.  Don’t get discouraged when you aren’t called back, there are a lot of people going out for these positions and you cannot know what everyone is looking for, chances are it’s nothing you’ve done anyway.

Do you have any comments, or are there any other questions you think we should add to this survey?

Maybe a section on soft skills and a section on publications?

This survey was co-authored by Naomi House from I Need A Library Job – Do you need one?  Check it out!

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