Doing the Research

George Bergstrom has been a librarian since 2003. He currently serves as a part time Instruction Librarian and Adjunct Instructor while continuing to pursue full time opportunities. Here is how he describes his focus:

While working in both public and academic libraries I have developed a strong commitment to user education and the importance of career preparedness.

Mr. Bergstrom has been job hunting for more than 18 months. He is looking in academic libraries and public libraries, for positions at the following levels: entry, requiring at least two years of experience, supervisory, senior librarian, and branch manager. He is in an urban area in the Midwestern US, and is not willing to move.  For more details, please refer to his blog, LinkedIn profile and/or portfolio site.  

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

1) I left my last full time position in September of 2010 and am looking to regain a full time position in a library.

2) See above.

3) See above.

Where do you look for open positions?

list servs, employer web sites, aggregation sites (like higheredjobs, etc.), some LinkedIn

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 spend a great deal of time researching the employer, job ad, and similar positions. I then adjust my CV as needed, and finally write a cover letter. Next I share the cover letter with a few select people to get feed back and revise as necessary.

All this can take 10+ hours, depending on when the material is due and how much I might already know about the institution, position, and location.

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
√ 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
√ Being able to present

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

Be as truthful as possible in the job ad.

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

Better communication (even though I understand the time constraints) would make a world of difference.

What do you think is the secret to getting hired?

Being prepared before any contact is made (resume/CV, cover letter, interview) about what the job entails (i.e. doing the research)

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