This anonymous interview is with a librarian who has been both a hiring manager and a member of hiring committees, in a public library with 100-200 staff members.
What are the top three things you look for in a candidate?
Communication skills
Customer service ethic
Tech-savvy-ness
Do you have any instant dealbreakers, either in the application packet or the interview process?
Negativity
Ambiguous references
An obvious resistance to technological progress in libraries
Is there anything that people don’t put on their resumes that you wish they did?
Non-library experience that illustrates the skills mentioned in Q #1.
How many pages should a cover letter be?
√ Only one!
How many pages should a resume/CV be?
√ Two is ok, but no more
Do you have a preferred format for application documents?
√ No preference, as long as I can open it
Should a resume/CV have an Objective statement?
√ No
Should a resume/CV have an Objective statement?
√ I don’t care
What’s the best way to win you over in an interview?
Demonstrate emotional intelligence, ability to parry curve-ball questions well, detailed explanations of past accomplishments (be they library related or not).
What are some of the most common mistakes people make in an interview?
Dressing too flamboyantly, being too reticent or modest.
How has hiring changed at your organization since you’ve been in on the process?
Few opportunities, alas.
Hiring Librarians 