“I was offered two interviews at separate institutions, and both disrespected my time.”

Gentry George, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Please note: this is an anonymous response to an online survey; I do not have any way of contacting the respondent or verifying responses. Their answers may reflect good, bad, or middling job searching practices. I invite you to take what’s useful and leave the rest.

Your Demographics and Search Parameters

How long have you been job hunting?

√ A year to 18 months 

Why are you job hunting?  

√ Looking for more money 

√ I want to work with a different population

√ I want to work at a different type of library/institution

√ I want to work with a different type of collection

√ Looking for remote/virtual work (or at least hybrid) 

√ My current job is awful/toxic 

√ I need more flexibility in my schedule (to care for dependents or otherwise) 

Where do you look for open positions?  

INALJ, ALA JOBList, professional listservs, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google, state job boards.

What position level are you looking for?  

√ Requiring at least two years of experience

√ Supervisory

√ Department Head 

√ Branch Manager 

What type(s) of organization are you looking in? 

√ Academic library

√ Archives

√ Library vendor/service provider 

√ Special library 

What part of the world are you in?

√ Mid-Atlantic US 

What’s your region like? 

√ Urban area

√ Suburban area 

Are you willing/able to move for employment? 

√ Yes, within my country

√ Yes, to a specific list of places 

How many jobs have you applied to during your current search? (Please indicate if it’s an estimate or exact)

18 (exact)

What steps, actions, or attributes are most important for employers to take to sell you on the job?  

√ Pay well

√ Having (and describing) excellent benefits

√ Introducing me to staff

√ Having a good reputation  

√ Prioritizing EDI work

√ Prioritizing work-life balance 

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

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

Other than not listing a salary range, are there other “red flags” that would prevent you from applying to a job?

Negative reviews on Glassdoor or Indeed.

The Process

How much time do you spend preparing an application packet?

3 hours minimum

What are the steps you follow to prepare an application packet?

Connecting with people on LinkedIn to get an idea of what the work environment is like, tweak my resume, tweak my cover letter, connect with the hiring manager, and square away my references (if necessary). 

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Email 

When would you like potential employers to contact you? 

√ To acknowledge my application

√ To tell me if the search is at the interview stage, even if I have not been selected

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

How long do you expect an organization’s application process to take, from the point you submit your documents to the point of either an offer or rejection?

2-3 months

How do you prepare for interviews?

Practing alone out loud, practicing with a friend. 

What are your most hated interview questions, and why?

Any weird question with zero relevance to the job itself. “If you could be a color, what color would you be?” 

During your current search, have you had any of the following experiences:

  • Submitted an application and got no response  √ Happened more than once  
  • Had an interview and never heard back  √ Happened once 
  • Interviewed for a job where an internal candidate was eventually chosen  √ I don’t know 
  • Asked for an accommodation for a disability  √ Not Applicable
  • Withdrawn an application before the offer stage  √ Happened more than once 
  • Turned down an offer √ Not Applicable

If you have ever withdrawn an application, why?

Yes, twice. I was offered two interviews at separate institutions, and both disrespected my time. The first institution only offered one date and time for the interview, and the second institution took a month to get back to me to set up an interview. 

What should employers do to make the hiring process better for job hunters?

Decency goes a long way in the hiring process. Do I expect to get ghosted after submitting an application? Yes. Now, if I drive 5 hours to your library and you ghost me after an interview? Yikes. Sending a rejection email would take less than 5 minutes. Am I really not worth 5 minutes? 

You and Your Well-Being

How are you doing, generally?

√ I’m somewhat depressed 

√ I feel alone in my search 

What are your job search self-care strategies?

Taking breaks when necessary. Only applying for jobs that resonate with me.  

Job Hunting Post Graduate School 

If you have an MLIS or other graduate level degree in a LIS field, what year did you graduate? (Or what year do you anticipate graduating?)

2020

When did you start your first job search for a “professional” position (or other position that utilized your degree)?

√ After graduating with my MLIS/other LIS degree 

In relation to your graduation, when did you find your first “professional” position?

√ I was actually hired before I graduated 

What kind of work was your first post-graduation professional position? 

√ Full Time 

Did you get support from your library school for your first job hunt (and/or any subsequent ones)?

No 

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“Interviews make me feel like I’m being psychoanalysed and I have to word every sentence perfectly”

Series: Reagan White House Photographs, 1/20/1981 – 1/20/1989 Collection: White House Photographic Collection, 1/20/1981 – 1/20/1989, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Please note: this is an anonymous response to an online survey; I do not have any way of contacting the respondent or verifying responses. Their answers may reflect good, bad, or middling job searching practices. I invite you to take what’s useful and leave the rest.

Your Demographics and Search Parameters

How long have you been job hunting?

√ Six months to a year 

Why are you job hunting?  

√ This is the next step after finishing library/archives/other LIS graduate degree√ I’m underemployed (not enough hours or overqualified for current position)

√ Looking for more money 

√ I want to work at a different type of library/institution 

√ My current job is temporary

√ My current job provides insufficient or no benefits (Healthcare or beyond) 

√ Because I’m worried about a possible recession

√ Other: looking for work in a different location

Where do you look for open positions?  

any job posting website that sends email notifications 

What position level are you looking for?  

√ Entry level 

What type(s) of organization are you looking in? 

√ Archives 

√ Other: historical society, National Park Service, state park service, local government, records management, museums

What part of the world are you in?

√ Midwestern US 

What’s your region like? 

√ Urban area 

Are you willing/able to move for employment? 

√ Yes, to a specific list of places

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

location, pay, benefits

How many jobs have you applied to during your current search? (Please indicate if it’s an estimate or exact)

15

What steps, actions, or attributes are most important for employers to take to sell you on the job?  

√ Pay well

√ Having (and describing) excellent benefits

√ Introducing me to staff 

√ Prioritizing work-life balance

√ Other: describing/showing daily duties

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

√ Only for certain kinds of employers

Other than not listing a salary range, are there other “red flags” that would prevent you from applying to a job?

application link does not go directly to an employer’s website, website looks like a scam, description is vague or does not list expectations and requirements in detail, there is no direct contact information and name for the hiring manager/person 

The Process

How much time do you spend preparing an application packet?

10 hours

What are the steps you follow to prepare an application packet?

revise CV, revise Linked In, revise online portfolio, contact references, write cover letter, fill out application materials

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Email 

When would you like potential employers to contact you? 

√ To acknowledge my application 

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

How long do you expect an organization’s application process to take, from the point you submit your documents to the point of either an offer or rejection?

*lmfao* This differs so widely that I have no idea. It would be nice though if employers gave an accurate estimation of the time; they usually don’t provide one, but when they do its is often weeks off. 

How do you prepare for interviews?

practice, review cv, study the institution 

What are your most hated interview questions, and why?

all: none of them are straightforward and honest questions. Interviews make me feel like I’m being psychoanalysed and I have to word every sentence perfectly. 

During your current search, have you had any of the following experiences:

  • Submitted an application and got no response  √ Happened the majority of the time or always 
  • Had an interview and never heard back  √ Not Applicable
  • Interviewed for a job where an internal candidate was eventually chosen  √ Not Applicable
  • Asked for an accommodation for a disability  √ Not Applicable
  • Withdrawn an application before the offer stage  √ Not Applicable
  • Turned down an offer √ Happened once 

If you’ve turned down an offer (or offers), why?

got a better part-time position 

What should employers do to make the hiring process better for job hunters?

be honest, provide benefits, change interviews to demonstrations of skill/knowledge and tests of team cohesion rather than psychoanalyst questions, let people know they weren’t hired, write clear job descriptions/qualifications, include expected start dates/interview process dates in the job posting 

You and Your Well-Being

How are you doing, generally?

√ I’m running out of money 

√ Other: about to start looking for work in a different field

What are your job search self-care strategies?

only apply to what matches my ‘perfect’ description: I’ll apply to anything once I’m desperate enough to start applying outside GLAMs

Do you have any advice or words of support you’d like to share with other job hunters, is there anything you’d like to say to employers, or is there anything else you’d like to say about job hunting?

Communication is key: when you don’t contact people to let them know about a job, you make your institution look like it sees people as resources not people. We put a lot of time into these applications, so don’t dismiss us.   

Do you have any comments for Emily (the survey author) or are there any other questions you think we should add to this survey?

Just want to note that I am focused on a very narrow location region, and very few jobs are posted for this region (I’m trying to move home to care for ailing parents), so my job search experience and strategies might be very different than others who have more flexibility in their location options. 

Job Hunting Post Graduate School 

If you have an MLIS or other graduate level degree in a LIS field, what year did you graduate? (Or what year do you anticipate graduating?)

May 2023

When did you start your first job search for a “professional” position (or other position that utilized your degree)?

√ More than six months before graduating with my MLIS/other LIS degree 

In relation to your graduation, when did you find your first “professional” position?

√ I was actually hired before I graduated 

What kind of work was your first post-graduation professional position? 

√ Part Time 

√ Temporary/Limited Term 

Did you get support from your library school for your first job hunt (and/or any subsequent ones)?

kind of: they send out emails about positions 

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“Not being able to tell me what you are reading. You must have read something to apply to the job”

American Library Association – Library Personnel – Camp Greene Volunteer Library Workers. National Archives and Records Administration, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Please note: this is an anonymous response to an online survey; I do not have any way of contacting the respondent or verifying responses. Their answers may reflect good, bad, or middling hiring practices. I invite you to take what’s useful and leave the rest.  

This person hires for a:

√ Public Library 

Title: Director

Titles hired include: Clerk technician shipper librarian assistant 

Who makes hiring decisions at your organization:

√ HR

√ Library Administration

√ The position’s supervisor

√ A Committee or panel 

Which of the following does your organization regularly require of candidates?

√ Online application

√ Cover letter

√ Resume 

√ References

√ Proof of degree

√ Supplemental Questions

√ Written Exam

√ Oral Exam/Structured interview

√ Demonstration (teaching, storytime, etc)

√ More than one round of interviews 

Does your organization use automated application screening? 

√ No 

Briefly describe the hiring process at your organization and your role in it:

Posting review. Posting. Resume review. 1st short interview. Written test. 2nd long interview. Hire. On boarding. Probation. 

Think about the last candidate who really wowed you, on paper, in an interview, or otherwise. Why were they so impressive?

They knew about the library services and collections and believed in intellectual freedom. 

Do you have any instant dealbreakers?

Late. Swearing. Not knowing about or using the library. Not being able to tell me what you are reading. You must have read something to apply to the job. Not knowing what edi means for them. 

What do you wish you could know about candidates that isn’t generally revealed in the hiring process?

Capacity to support the member who hasn’t talked to anyone all day

How many pages should each of these documents be?

Cover Letter: √ Only One!  

Resume: √ Two is ok, but no more 

CV: √ We don’t ask for this  

What is the most common mistake that people make in an interview?

Too many umms. Not being themselves. 

Do you conduct virtual interviews? What do job hunters need to know about shining in this setting?

Be yourself. 

How can candidates looking to transition from paraprofessional work, from non-library work, or between library types convince you that their experience is relevant? Or do you have other advice for folks in this kind of situation?

Tell us what you did. Why it matters. How you did it. When and where and then tell us why you think that makes you the best person for this role. 

When does your organization *first* mention salary information?

√ It’s part of the job ad 

What does your organization do to reduce bias in hiring? What are the contexts in which discrimination still exists in this process?

Exists in Screening. To reduce bias we ask everyone how they use their privilege, opportunity and challenges in life to enhance their practice as a public servant.  

What questions should candidates ask you? What is important for them to know about your organization and the position you are hiring for?

What do you want to see in the first 3-6 months. 

Additional Demographics

What part of the world are you in?

√ Canada 

What’s your region like?

√ Urban 

Is your workplace remote/virtual?

√ Never or not anymore 

How many staff members are at your organization?

√ 201+ 

Is there anything else you’d like to say, either to job hunters or to me, the survey author? 

What percentage of the library team represents the community as a mirror

Author’s note: Hey, thanks for reading! If you like reading, why not try commenting or sharing? Or are you somebody who hires Library, Archives or other LIS workers? Please consider giving your own opinion by filling out the survey here.

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Filed under 1 A Return to Hiring Librarians Survey, 200+ staff members, Canada, Public, Urban area

“One time someone asked me what my favorite show on Netflix was and I was confused why he asked that question.”

Hollingsworth John and Karen, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Please note: this is an anonymous response to an online survey; I do not have any way of contacting the respondent or verifying responses. Their answers may reflect good, bad, or middling job searching practices. I invite you to take what’s useful and leave the rest.

Your Demographics and Search Parameters

How long have you been job hunting?

√ More than 18 months 

Why are you job hunting?  

√ I’m underemployed (not enough hours or overqualified for current position) 

√ Looking for more money

√ Looking for a promotion/more responsibility 

√ I want to work at a different type of library/institution 

√ Looking for remote/virtual work (or at least hybrid) 

√ I need more flexibility in my schedule (to care for dependents or otherwise) 

Where do you look for open positions?  

INALJ, LinkedIn, Flexjobs, Simply Hired, Archives List

What position level are you looking for?  

√ Requiring at least two years of experience

√ Supervisory 

√ Senior Librarian 

What type(s) of organization are you looking in? 

√ Archives 

√ Special library 

What part of the world are you in?

√ Midwestern US 

What’s your region like? 

√ Urban area

√ Suburban area 

Are you willing/able to move for employment? 

√ Other: I am not allowed to move

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

flexibility, salary, experience

How many jobs have you applied to during your current search? (Please indicate if it’s an estimate or exact)

30

What steps, actions, or attributes are most important for employers to take to sell you on the job?  

√ Pay well

√ Having (and describing) excellent benefits

√ Introducing me to staff

√ Having a good reputation 

√ Funding professional development 

√ Prioritizing work-life balance

√ Other: Plenty of vacation and sick time

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

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

Other than not listing a salary range, are there other “red flags” that would prevent you from applying to a job?

can’t think of any right now

The Process

How much time do you spend preparing an application packet?

5 hours

What are the steps you follow to prepare an application packet?

read the job description, highlight my skills, prepare resume and cover letter

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Phone for good news, email for bad news 

When would you like potential employers to contact you? 

√ To acknowledge my application

√ To tell me if the search is at the interview stage, even if I have not been selected

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

How long do you expect an organization’s application process to take, from the point you submit your documents to the point of either an offer or rejection?

One month

How do you prepare for interviews?

I take deep breaths.  I have the resume, cover letter and job description in front of me.

What are your most hated interview questions, and why?

One time someone asked me what my favorite show on Netflix was and I was confused why he asked that question.  I don’t like any questions that deal with my personal life because I don’t want to talk about it and it created biases.

During your current search, have you had any of the following experiences:

  • Submitted an application and got no response  √ Happened more than once 
  • Had an interview and never heard back √ Happened more than once
  • Interviewed for a job where an internal candidate was eventually chosen √ I don’t know 
  • Asked for an accommodation for a disability  √ Not Applicable
  • Withdrawn an application before the offer stage  √ Not Applicable
  • Turned down an offer √ Happened more than once

If you’ve turned down an offer (or offers), why?

The jobs were out of state and my parents did not want me to move out of state.  I was crushed.

If you want to share a great, inspirational, funny,  horrific or other story about an experience you have had at any stage in the hiring process, please do so here:

Last summer I had an interview with Ohio State for their audiovisual position.  Originally it was going to be a virtual interview.  So I turn on my computer and logged into the Zoom room and waited.  After 10 minutes I contacted the HR rep and asked what was going on.  Without warning the HR rep said that the interviewer changed her mind and wanted to do a phone interview instead and tried to call me.  So I went upstairs, grabbed my phone and called the interviewer.  What was suppose to be a 20 minute interview turned into a 45 minute interview because the calls kept dropping on her end; it was also hard to hear.  Then after 4 weeks I contacted the HR rep to ask for an update and the HR rep said they already hired someone and that I should interview for a lesser audiovisual position.  Reluctantly I agreed and that was also a disaster.  The Zoom connection was bad and I never heard from Ohio State.  My experience with Ohio State was so bad that I urge people not to apply there.

What should employers do to make the hiring process better for job hunters?

Not ghost job applicants

You and Your Well-Being

How are you doing, generally?

√ I’m maintaining

√ I’m somewhat depressed  

√ Other: I’m burnt out from job searching and I feel hopeless that I will be stuck in my current job forever making $14.98 an hour for the rest of my working life.

What are your job search self-care strategies?

Breaks

Do you have any advice or words of support you’d like to share with other job hunters, is there anything you’d like to say to employers, or is there anything else you’d like to say about job hunting?

Job hunting truly is a full-time job.  

Do you have any comments for Emily (the survey author) or are there any other questions you think we should add to this survey?

Thank you for allowing me to share by Ohio State horror story.

Job Hunting Post Graduate School 

If you have an MLIS or other graduate level degree in a LIS field, what year did you graduate? (Or what year do you anticipate graduating?)

2013

When did you start your first job search for a “professional” position (or other position that utilized your degree)?

√ After graduating with my MLIS/other LIS degree 

In relation to your graduation, when did you find your first “professional” position?

√ Six months to a year after graduating 

What kind of work was your first post-graduation professional position? 

√ Temporary/Limited Term 

Did you get support from your library school for your first job hunt (and/or any subsequent ones)?

Hell no

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about searching for or finding your first post-graduation position?

Since I didn’t have previous library experience it was hard to get in.  I felt that it was used against me.

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Have you been on a library interview recently? Or are you prepping for one?

Sounds like you could use The Interview Questions Repository!

This resource holds questions that people were asked in interviews from more than 550 respondents over nearly a decade.

Click on the upside down triangle to the right of the question in the header row to sort by things like interview type, position, etc.

Please help this resource grow! Share the link widely with your friends and colleagues and if you’ve had a library interview recently, report the questions you were asked.


Interested in viewing Salary Info from more than 300 LIS workers? The second page of the Interview Questions Repository shares that data. If you are interested in adding your own salary info, please use this form.

If you have feedback, I’d love to hear it. Please feel free to email me or use the contact form.

Please note: The links should give you everything you need – please use and share those rather than requesting access through Google Drive. You can always find these links in the static pages listed in the tabs up top (Interview Questions and Salary Info).

yellow compact shelving
A View of the Yellow Repository. The National Archives (UK), CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Filed under Interview Questions Repository

“If i’m not getting interviewed or being considered, I don’t want to hear from them”

Richey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Please note: this is an anonymous response to an online survey; I do not have any way of contacting the respondent or verifying responses. Their answers may reflect good, bad, or middling job searching practices. I invite you to take what’s useful and leave the rest.

Your Demographics and Search Parameters

How long have you been job hunting?

√ A year to 18 months 

Why are you job hunting?  

√ This is the next step after finishing library/archives/other LIS graduate degree 

√ Looking for more money

√ Looking for a promotion/more responsibility 

√ I want to work at a different type of library/institution

√ I want to work with a different type of collection 

Where do you look for open positions?  

Archives Gig, Indeed

What position level are you looking for?  

√ Entry level

√ Requiring at least two years of experience 

What type(s) of organization are you looking in? 

√ Academic library

√ Archives 

√ Special library 

What part of the world are you in?

√ Northeastern US 

What’s your region like? 

√ Suburban area 

Are you willing/able to move for employment? 

√ Yes, anywhere 

√ Yes, as long as at least some of my moving costs are covered 

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

Interesting collection to work with, good pay/benefits and positive work environment

How many jobs have you applied to during your current search? (Please indicate if it’s an estimate or exact)

10-15

What steps, actions, or attributes are most important for employers to take to sell you on the job?  

√ Pay well

√ Having (and describing) excellent benefits 

√ Prioritizing work-life balance 

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

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

Other than not listing a salary range, are there other “red flags” that would prevent you from applying to a job?

“we’re like a family”, requiring odd hours or overtime

The Process

How much time do you spend preparing an application packet?

1-2 hours

What are the steps you follow to prepare an application packet?

gather all my documents, read through them and compile as I go

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Phone for good news, email for bad news 

When would you like potential employers to contact you? 

√ Other: If i’m not getting interviewed or being considered, I don’t want to hear from them

How long do you expect an organization’s application process to take, from the point you submit your documents to the point of either an offer or rejection?

2 months max

How do you prepare for interviews?

meditate

What are your most hated interview questions, and why?

Questions about weaknesses. You either lie and say something that is really a strength, or you have to reveal a weakness to your potential employer.

During your current search, have you had any of the following experiences:

  • Submitted an application and got no response  √ Happened more than once 
  • Had an interview and never heard back  √ Not Applicable
  • Interviewed for a job where an internal candidate was eventually chosen  √ Happened once
  • Asked for an accommodation for a disability  √ Not Applicable
  • Withdrawn an application before the offer stage  √ Happened once 
  • Turned down an offer √ Not Applicable

If you have ever withdrawn an application, why?

Got a full-time job and the other was only part-time  

What should employers do to make the hiring process better for job hunters?

Transparency. And don’t waste peoples time by asking them to submit the same info over and over again in different forms.

You and Your Well-Being

How are you doing, generally?

√ I’m maintaining 

What are your job search self-care strategies?

Remind myself that rejection is part of the process and natural.

Job Hunting Post Graduate School 

If you have an MLIS or other graduate level degree in a LIS field, what year did you graduate? (Or what year do you anticipate graduating?)

Graduating this year (2023)

When did you start your first job search for a “professional” position (or other position that utilized your degree)?

√ More than six months before graduating with my MLIS/other LIS degree 

In relation to your graduation, when did you find your first “professional” position?

√ I was actually hired before I graduated 

What kind of work was your first post-graduation professional position? 

√ Part Time 

Did you get support from your library school for your first job hunt (and/or any subsequent ones)?

Yes! SJSU 

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Filed under 2023 Job Hunter's Survey

“To job hunter, i will say never give up on your dream. Pursue it”

National Archives at College Park, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Please note: this is an anonymous response to an online survey; I do not have any way of contacting the respondent or verifying responses. Their answers may reflect good, bad, or middling job searching practices. I invite you to take what’s useful and leave the rest.

Your Demographics and Search Parameters

How long have you been job hunting?

√ Six months to a year 

Why are you job hunting?  

√ I’m employed outside of the field and I’d like to be in it 

√ I want to work with a different population 

Where do you look for open positions?  

ALA JobLIST, LinkedIn 

What position level are you looking for?  

√ Entry level

√ Requiring at least two years of experience 

What type(s) of organization are you looking in? 

√ Academic library 

√ Public library 

What part of the world are you in?

√ Canada 

What’s your region like? 

√ Urban area 

Are you willing/able to move for employment? 

√ Yes, anywhere 

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

Career progression,good salary and flexible job

How many jobs have you applied to during your current search? (Please indicate if it’s an estimate or exact)

16

What steps, actions, or attributes are most important for employers to take to sell you on the job?  

√ Pay well 

√ Having a good reputation 

√ Funding professional development 

√ Prioritizing work-life balance 

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

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

Other than not listing a salary range, are there other “red flags” that would prevent you from applying to a job?

Lack of career progression 

The Process

How much time do you spend preparing an application packet?

An hour

What are the steps you follow to prepare an application packet?

Check through application requirements,

List out relevant work experience on my resume

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Email 

When would you like potential employers to contact you? 

√ To tell me if the search is at the interview stage, even if I have not been selected 

How long do you expect an organization’s application process to take, from the point you submit your documents to the point of either an offer or rejection?

Two weeks 

How do you prepare for interviews?

By going through the organization website to know more about them and learn more about the job role i applied for

What are your most hated interview questions, and why?

None

During your current search, have you had any of the following experiences:

  • Submitted an application and got no response  √ Happened more than once

What should employers do to make the hiring process better for job hunters?

Employers should please understands that not every qualified applicants have many years of work experience, we should be considered for entry level role to build up the experience needed

You and Your Well-Being

How are you doing, generally?

√ I’m optimistic 

√ I’m energized 

√ I feel alone in my search 

What are your job search self-care strategies?

To always send mail to organisation asking if the application process is still on, most especially when i dont get a feedback in time

Do you have any advice or words of support you’d like to share with other job hunters, is there anything you’d like to say to employers, or is there anything else you’d like to say about job hunting?

To job hunter, i will say never give up on your dream. Pursue it

Do you have any comments for Emily (the survey author) or are there any other questions you think we should add to this survey?

I would like to say  thank you for this opportunity 

Job Hunting Post Graduate School 

If you have an MLIS or other graduate level degree in a LIS field, what year did you graduate? (Or what year do you anticipate graduating?)

2018

When did you start your first job search for a “professional” position (or other position that utilized your degree)?

√ After graduating with my MLIS/other LIS degree 

In relation to your graduation, when did you find your first “professional” position?

√ Hasn’t happened yet – I’m still looking 

What kind of work was your first post-graduation professional position? 

√ Contract 

Did you get support from your library school for your first job hunt (and/or any subsequent ones)?

No

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“I went to two in person interviews during the pandemic and they ghosted me.”

U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Please note: this is an anonymous response to an online survey; I do not have any way of contacting the respondent or verifying responses. Their answers may reflect good, bad, or middling job searching practices. I invite you to take what’s useful and leave the rest.

Your Demographics and Search Parameters

How long have you been job hunting?

√ A year to 18 months 

Why are you job hunting?  

√ Looking for more money

√ Looking for a promotion/more responsibility 

√ My current job is awful/toxic 

Where do you look for open positions?  

Local job sites like NJLA and LubrarylinkNJ

What position level are you looking for?  

√ Requiring at least two years of experience

√ Supervisory 

√ Senior Librarian 

What type(s) of organization are you looking in? 

√ Public library 

What part of the world are you in?

√ Northeastern US 

What’s your region like? 

√ Urban area

√ Suburban area 

Are you willing/able to move for employment? 

√ Yes, within my state 

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

Better pay better coworkers, 

How many jobs have you applied to during your current search? (Please indicate if it’s an estimate or exact)

Four or five estimated

What steps, actions, or attributes are most important for employers to take to sell you on the job?  

√ Pay well

√ Having (and describing) excellent benefits 

√ Having a good reputation 

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

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

Other than not listing a salary range, are there other “red flags” that would prevent you from applying to a job?

Reposting the job a lot

The Process

How much time do you spend preparing an application packet?

An hour

What are the steps you follow to prepare an application packet?

Work in my cover letter

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Email 

When would you like potential employers to contact you? 

√ To acknowledge my application

√ To tell me if the search is at the interview stage, even if I have not been selected

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

How long do you expect an organization’s application process to take, from the point you submit your documents to the point of either an offer or rejection?

One to two months

How do you prepare for interviews?

Looking up interview questions online and going through my successful programs

What are your most hated interview questions, and why?

What is your biggest weakness because frankly it’s bullshit

During your current search, have you had any of the following experiences:

  • Submitted an application and got no response  √ Happened more than once 
  • Had an interview and never heard back  √ Happened more than once
  • Interviewed for a job where an internal candidate was eventually chosen  √ Happened more than once
  • Asked for an accommodation for a disability  √ Not Applicable
  • Withdrawn an application before the offer stage  √ Happened once 

 If you’ve turned down an offer (or offers), why?

Would basically be taking a pay cut for a worse commute 

If you want to share a great, inspirational, funny,  horrific or other story about an experience you have had at any stage in the hiring process, please do so here:

I went to two in person interviews during the pandemic and they ghosted me. 

You and Your Well-Being

How are you doing, generally?

√ I’m despondent

√ I’m frustrated  

Job Hunting Post Graduate School 

If you have an MLIS or other graduate level degree in a LIS field, what year did you graduate? (Or what year do you anticipate graduating?)

2017

When did you start your first job search for a “professional” position (or other position that utilized your degree)?

√ Six months before graduating with my MLIS/other LIS degree 

In relation to your graduation, when did you find your first “professional” position?

√ I was actually hired before I graduated 

What kind of work was your first post-graduation professional position? 

√ Full Time 

Did you get support from your library school for your first job hunt (and/or any subsequent ones)?

Not really 

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“no boss-nanny software, no micromanaging”

Walton LaVonda, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Please note: this is an anonymous response to an online survey; I do not have any way of contacting the respondent or verifying responses. Their answers may reflect good, bad, or middling job searching practices. I invite you to take what’s useful and leave the rest.

Your Demographics and Search Parameters

How long have you been job hunting?

√ Less than six months

Why are you job hunting?  

√ Looking for more money 

√ Looking for remote/virtual work (or at least hybrid) 

√ Other: current job NEVER gives raises, even COLA is rare, and we’re facing big budget cuts which will significantly change the nature of my work in ways I do not want

Where do you look for open positions? (e.g. INALJ, ALA JobLIST, professional listserv, LinkedIn)  

all of the above, plus Indeed and a Discord I’m part of

What position level are you looking for?  

√ Other: expert in grant writing, maybe something like project manager? feeling necessary to look outside libraries

What type(s) of organization are you looking in? 

√ Academic library 

√ Library vendor/service provider

√ Public library 

√ Special library

√ Other: outside of libraries but still in information-based roles

What part of the world are you in?

√ Midwestern US 

What’s your region like? 

√ Rural area 

Are you willing/able to move for employment? 

√ No 

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

100% remote, relative autonomy (no boss-nanny software, no micromanaging), pays decent with benefits for me + spouse

How many jobs have you applied to during your current search? (Please indicate if it’s an estimate or exact)

0 yet

What steps, actions, or attributes are most important for employers to take to sell you on the job?  

√ Pay well

√ Having (and describing) excellent benefits 

√ Having a good reputation 

√ Prioritizing EDI work

√ Prioritizing work-life balance

√ Other: assurance of relative autonomy to do my job without being babysat

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

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

Other than not listing a salary range, are there other “red flags” that would prevent you from applying to a job?

bro-speak

The Process

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Email 

When would you like potential employers to contact you? 

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

You and Your Well-Being

How are you doing, generally?

√ I’m optimistic  

Job Hunting Post Graduate School 

If you have an MLIS or other graduate level degree in a LIS field, what year did you graduate? (Or what year do you anticipate graduating?)

2001 

In relation to your graduation, when did you find your first “professional” position?

√ I was actually hired before I graduated 

What kind of work was your first post-graduation professional position? 

√ Full Time 

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“I wish there was a better way to know their personality and if they actually know how to do the tasks they say.”

220 Years of the Library of Congress–cataloging for the nation (LOC). By Flickr user The Library of Congress

Please note: this is an anonymous response to an online survey; I do not have any way of contacting the respondent or verifying responses. Their answers may reflect good, bad, or middling hiring practices. I invite you to take what’s useful and leave the rest.  

This person hires for a:

√ Public Library 

Title: Youth Services Manager

Titles hired include: Childrens librarian, youth program specialists, seasonal staff; helped with library director, public services manager.

Who makes hiring decisions at your organization:

√ Library Administration

√ The position’s supervisor 

√ Employees at the position’s same level (on a panel or otherwise) 

Which of the following does your organization regularly require of candidates?

√ Online application 

√ References 

√ Oral Exam/Structured interview

√ Demonstration (teaching, storytime, etc)

√ More than one round of interviews 

Does your organization use automated application screening? 

√ No 

Briefly describe the hiring process at your organization and your role in it:

I review incoming applications and decide who to interview and hire for the positions I supervise. I assist with interviews and give opinions on who to hire for some other FT staff at my own level and when we looked for a new director. HR handles the paperwork. 

Think about the last candidate who really wowed you, on paper, in an interview, or otherwise. Why were they so impressive?

When they take the time to show that they actually looked into our community and our library. When they give concrete examples of work they have done in or out of libraries (instead of generalities) and they can tie it into how that experience may relate to the current position. When they show excitement about the potential work.

Do you have any instant dealbreakers?

If they want the job only bc they like books. If they don’t also indicate they like people, they don’t belong working in a public library. 

What do you wish you could know about candidates that isn’t generally revealed in the hiring process?

I wish there was a better way to know their personality and if they actually know how to do the tasks they say. It seems we have hired a few people in the last few years who said all the right things but then couldn’t do basic management tasks like making a schedule or communicate with other coworkers.

How many pages should each of these documents be?

Cover Letter: √ Only One!  

Resume: √ Two is ok, but no more 

CV: √ Two is ok, but no more 

What is the most common mistake that people make in an interview?

Not having any questions for us.

Do you conduct virtual interviews? What do job hunters need to know about shining in this setting?

We do offer this option. To have a professional and quiet background.

How can candidates looking to transition from paraprofessional work, from non-library work, or between library types convince you that their experience is relevant? Or do you have other advice for folks in this kind of situation?

If there is any way they can get their employer to let them run a special project or if they can volunteer for an event that gives them similar experience. Or if the can even verbalize the connection between what they have done and how it would translate to the requirements 

When does your organization *first* mention salary information?

√ It’s part of the job ad 

What does your organization do to reduce bias in hiring? What are the contexts in which discrimination still exists in this process?

The birth year isn’t shown to reduce age bias. 

What questions should candidates ask you? What is important for them to know about your organization and the position you are hiring for?

What are the priorities for their position. What is our library culture. 

Additional Demographics

What part of the world are you in?

√ Midwestern US 

What’s your region like?

√ Suburban 

Is your workplace remote/virtual?

√ Never or not anymore 

How many staff members are at your organization?

√ 11-50 

Author’s note: Hey, thanks for reading! If you like reading, why not try commenting or sharing? Or are you somebody who hires Library, Archives or other LIS workers? Please consider giving your own opinion by filling out the survey here.

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Filed under 1 A Return to Hiring Librarians Survey, 10-50 staff members, Midwestern US, Public, Suburban area