I Would Also Be Interested To See If More Information Will Come Out About Librarians Who Work for For Profit Colleges

This anonymous interview is with a job hunter who is currently employed (even if part-time or in an unrelated field), has not 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 Academic libraries, Public libraries, and School libraries, at the following levels: Requiring at least two years of experience, Supervisory. This job hunter is in a city/town in the Southern US and is not willing to move.

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

1. Location
2. Reference Librarian duties (not a children’s position)
3. Salary

Where do you look for open positions?

INALJ, state library list, Indeed, state job lists, school and local public library sites, grad school listserv. (SC)

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?

at least an hour. I send what is required plus letters of recommendations.

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?

√ To acknowledge my application
√ Once the position has been filled, even if it’s not me

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Phone for good news, email for bad news

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
√ Other:attitudes of interviewers

What do you think employers should do to get the best candidates to apply?

Higher salaries, list whether or not it is entry level. List duties that only people in the field may be aware of or have experience with.

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

List salaries, let candidates know when position is filled ESPECIALLY if they interviewed them.

What do you think is the secret to getting hired?

Knowing someone or it seems the new trend (unfortunately) is you take a lower position and hope something upper level opens up and hope the company has loyalty to current employees.

Do you have any comments, or are there any other questions you think we should add to this survey?

Thanks for doing this survey. I will be interested to hear more. I would also be interested to see if more information will come out about librarians who work for For Profit colleges. I was recently laid off from one and I wished I had known more about them before I took the position. They are not good places to work. I know 3-4 librarians at different for profits who are very unhappy.

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