This interview is with Kerri Allegretta, who is not only a Technical Services Librarian and the Advanced Learning Center Coordinator at Webb Institute, but also works part time at the Five Towns College Library. Mrs. Allegretta received her AA in Fine Arts from Suffolk Community College and went on to receive her BA in animation at the School of Visual Arts. She then went on to work at Plympton Studios doing editing, digital color, compositing, and supervision; projects included films screened at Sundance, Tribeca Film Festival, and the Annecy Animation Festival (France). Mrs. Allegretta earned her MLS from Queens College, along with a Certificate in Archives and Preservation. She describes her internships/volunteering experience as:
Two years volunteer at the Freeport Historical Society on Long Island, it was great to have that on my resume. I volunteered while I was a graduate student. I made great contacts- but they couldn’t help me with a job because they are in a different county from me and people in my county cannot apply to library jobs in theirs- which is insane.
She has been job hunting for a year to 18 months, at public and academic libraries, for entry level positions. She is in a suburban area of the Northeastern US and is willing to move anywhere.
What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?
A competitive salary
A job that allows creativity
Full time position
Where do you look for open positions?
College Listserves: Queens College GLISSAN and CW Post Kiosk
Do you expect to see salary range listed in a job ad?
√ No (even if I might think it *should* be)
What’s your routine for preparing an application packet? How much time do you spend on it?
I have a template and add or subtract information that better suits the posting. I revised my template many times and had it looked over by multiple people. I spend probably 20 minutes on each posting.
Have you ever stretched the truth, exaggerated, or lied on your resume, or at some other point during the hiring process?
√ No
When would you like employers to contact you?
√ To acknowledge my application
√ To tell me if I have or have not been selected to move on to the interview stage
√ To follow-up after an interview
√ Once the position has been filled, even if it’s not me
How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?
Which events during the interview/visit are most important to your assessment of the position (i.e. deciding if you want the job)?
√ Tour of facility
√ Meeting department members/potential co-workers
√ Meeting with HR to talk about benefits/salary
What do you think employers should do to get the best candidates to apply?
List the salary or approximate and actual location. (ex.) NY area can mean anywhere and can be pricey if you need to take a train or go over a bridge. I really do feel that the majority of people get hired from being an intern or nepotism – I’ve seen it in action many times. People get interviewed so the company looks like they have fair hiring practices even though they already have someone lined up.
What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?
I think it will be painful no matter what you do, unless you hire them on the spot- that happened to me twice and was amazing. Also give them a time frame when you should hear back from them – good or bad news.
What do you think is the secret to getting hired?
Dress to impress, ask questions, be alert, have a sense of humor. The best way to get a job is to intern. It will give you working experience, contacts and may lead into a job.
Do you have any comments, or are there any other questions you think we should add to this survey?
Nice place to vent!
This survey was co-authored by Naomi House from I Need A Library Job – Do you need one? Check it out!
Hiring Librarians 