Who You Are Shines Through

This anonymous interview is with a librarian who has been a hiring manager in a Special Library with 0-10 staff members.
What are the top three things you look for in a candidate?

Self-confident

Tech savvy

Authentic (who you are shines through)

Do you have any instant dealbreakers, either in the application packet or the interview process?

Not really.  We like to give everyone a chance.  HOWEVER, if there are lots of applicants, I do look at professional experience.  And I know that’s tough for beginning librarians.

What are you tired of seeing on resumes/in cover letters?

I’m tired of “officialese”, pretentious writing.  Just say it in plain language.  Give examples of how you meet qualifications, don’t just say you’re good at something.

Is there anything that people don’t put on their resumes that you wish they did?

Humor…anecdotes…real-life examples…stories.

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?

√ I don’t care

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?

Be real.  Be yourself.  Be human.  Let me know who you are.

What are some of the most common mistakes people make in an interview?

Being nervous doesn’t help.  But that’s not an easy one to remedy.

How has hiring changed at your organization since you’ve been in on the process?

I think there’s more emphasis on team building, whether or not the candidate will get along well with the other staff members.