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 10-50 staff members.
What are the top things you look for in a candidate?
Outgoing personality
Appropriate credentials
Do you have any instant dealbreakers, either in the application packet or the interview process?
Bad grammar
What are you tired of seeing on resumes/in cover letters?
Abbreviations with no clue about the meaning
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?
√ 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?
√ In the body of the email only
What’s the best way to win you over in an interview?
Willlingness to work nights and/or weekends if necessary
What are some of the most common mistakes people make in an interview?
Inability to carry on a conversation.
Yes or no answers with no elaboration.
How has hiring changed at your organization since you’ve been in on the process?
We get many more applicants.
Anything else you’d like to let job-seekers know?
Do not call repeatedly asking about an interview.
Hiring Librarians 