Hey look, a new survey! (kind-of)
A few months ago there was a LinkedIn discussion about interview questions, and someone, possibly even me, suggested that it would be a good idea to put together a database where people could share questions they were asked at interviews.**
Well, here it is.
You’ll notice that 1) it’s not a database, it’s a spreadsheet and 2) no one has shared any questions yet. more than 60 people have shared questions! Hopefully you can work with the first and change the second. increase the second.
Top Tip: Switch the spreadsheet to list view, in order to be able to limit by answers – you can choose to only look at the phone interviews at public libraries, for example.
If you have recently been interviewed, or if in the future you go on and interview, or even answer some supplemental questions, please go to the
Library Interview Questions Form,
and let us know what you were asked. As it says on the form, please of course conform to any confidentiality agreements your potential employer put in place with you.
If you are going on an interview, eventually
the spreadsheet
will be a place to help you prepare.
**If I was not the person that had this idea, if you were the person who had this idea, thank you, and I hope this is ok.
***Text in green was added in on 3/13/2013 at 5:47 PM
Hiring Librarians 
I really appreciate your efforts in taking this on, Emily. Thank you! I hope to finish my MLIS at San Jose State this year, and expect to be on the job market in the not too distant future. I look forward to this being a valuable resource by the time I am ready to interview.
LikeLike
Thanks, I hope it will too! We’ve already got over 40 responses. I think the challenge will be getting folks to keep coming back, after future interviews.
LikeLike
Hello Emily! I think it would be helpful to put out a regular reminder about this spreadsheet on via your LinkedIn presence and possibly through other social media. I wasn’t aware of this resource, and have been advising and prepping many LIS grads who have been going on interviews. I’ve been collecting some of their questions on my own, but will encourage them in the future to add to the googledoc. Thanks for starting this resource!
LikeLike
I’ve been doing a reminder post once a month, and as all my posts do they were reposted to LinkedIn, Twitter, and FB. The last post was here: https://hiringlibrarians.com/2013/05/09/resource-round-up-prepping-for-interviews/ so it looks like it’s time for another one…
I really think that word of mouth is the best advertisement though, so I am so appreciative that you are spreading the word!
LikeLike
Thanks, Emily, and sorry that I had missed your prior posts on the subject!
LikeLike
Pingback: Library Interview Questions Repository | Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Medical Library Association
I have gone on tons of librarian interviews and yet to land a job. I finished my MLIS degree in May 2011. I have applied and academic and public libraries, because my experience is in both types. Recurring question/statements that I have been asked are:
1. Describe your experience with social networking, such as Facebook, Twitter, Flicker.
2. Describe a team project that you worked on and enjoyed.
3. Define ‘makerspaces” and tell what you would do with the space.
LikeLike
This is a great resource. Thank you. It would be nice to have the same spreadsheet for Library Assistants as well.
LikeLike
Library Assistant is a choice on the form. If you go to the spreadsheet and choose list view, you will be able to view only the responses from library assistant interviews. Please remember to report back after you go on yours!
LikeLike
Thank you I hadn’t noticed that.
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLike
Pingback: Conflict in the Job Interview: How to Approach the Tricky Questions | INALJ
I had filled out the form and my questions were posted on the spreadsheet and now they’re gone? Why?
LikeLike
They shouldn’t be. Two explanations I can think of: you’ve got it in list view and have sorted it in such a way that your answers aren’t showing up or Google hiccuped. I suppose you might also have edited your responses inadvertently?
If you want to give me more info about your answers, I can see if I see them. You can email me at hiringlibrarians AT gmail, if you’d rather not do this via comments.
LikeLike
Pingback: Advice and Tips for New Students, E-Portfolio Students and Job Hunters | iStudent Blog