To Do Something That a Trained Monkey Couldn’t Accomplish Just as Easily

This anonymous interview is with a job hunter who is currently employed (even if part-time or in an unrelated field), has been hired within the last two months, and has been looking for a new position for Six months to a year. This person is looking in Archives and Special libraries, at the following levels: Entry level, Requiring at least two years of experience. Here is how this person describes his or her experience with internships/volunteering:

2 internships, one in a special library (during grad school) and one in audiovisual archives (after grad school for more experience); 2 years volunteering with a public library.

This job hunter is in an urban area in the Northeastern US and is not willing to move.

What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?

Experience, an interesting environment, to do something that a trained monkey couldn’t accomplish just as easily

Where do you look for open positions?

INALJ, SLA listserv

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?

Probably about 10 minutes, more if the requirements are more stringent or the application process is more complicated (looking at you, UNICEF)

Have you ever stretched the truth, exaggerated, or lied on your resume, or at some other point during the hiring process?

√ Yes

When would you like employers to contact you?

√ Once the position has been filled, even if it’s not me

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Email

Which events during the interview/visit are most important to your assessment of the position (i.e. deciding if you want the job)?

√ Meeting department members/potential co-workers

What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?

Be more forthcoming (with requirements, reservations about candidacy, reason for hiring/not hiring). And if they’re rejecting a candidate, especially after one or more in-person interviews, there is no excuse for failing to contact the candidate.

What do you think is the secret to getting hired?

Knowing someone in the organization or being able to namedrop; not being overqualified.

This survey was co-authored by Naomi House from I Need A Library Job – Do you need one? Check it out!