This anonymous interview is with an Academic Librarian who has been a hiring manager at a library with 10-50 staff members.
What are the top three things you look for in a candidate?
Emotional intelligence
Adaptability
Technical skills
Do you have any instant dealbreakers, either in the application packet or the interview process?
No part time or full time work experiences (in any field)
What are you tired of seeing on resumes/in cover letters?
Not customizing resume and cover letter for the particular job.
Is there anything that people don’t put on their resumes that you wish they did?
Sometimes applicants don’t provide enough detail about positions they have held.
How many pages should a cover letter be?
√ Only one!
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?
√ No preference, as long as I can open it
Should a resume/CV have an Objective statement?
√ No
If applications are emailed, how should the cover letter be submitted?
√ I don’t care
What’s the best way to win you over in an interview?
Fully engage on a professional level. The candidate should demonstrate an interest in the issues of the profession and show evidence of having reflected on them
What are some of the most common mistakes people make in an interview?
Not being prepared to describe specific experiences that qualify them for the job
How has hiring changed at your organization since you’ve been in on the process?
it has become a behavior, competency-based interview
Hiring Librarians 