This anonymous interview is with a job hunter who is not 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 less than six months. This person is looking in Academic and Public libraries, at the entry level. This new grad/entry level applicant has the following internship/volunteering experience:
I worked for one full year as a graduate assistant, working with data and table construction for a professor in my program, I worked as an intern at a special collection for a semester, and completed a practicum at my local library during the summer. Prior to entering grad school, I worked as a page in two different libraries, one public and one academic, and in a book store and publishing house.
This job hunter is in a suburban area in the Southern US, and is willing to move
but only southeastern states of the US
What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?
stability, opportunity to be creative, opportunity to serve people
Where do you look for open positions?
ALA Joblist, LinkedIn, INALJ, individual county/library websites
Do you expect to see salary range listed in a job ad?
√ Yes, and it’s a red flag when it’s not
What’s your routine for preparing an application packet? How much time do you spend on it?
I read through the job description, fill out the application, proofread my resume/cover letter, and submit. Then I add that library and the position to my ever-growing list of applications I’ve sent out.
About an hour, depending on the job and the application materials requested.
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 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?
√ 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)?
√ 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?
Actually keep job postings up until the closing date, rather than taking them down early.
What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?
Open up the lines of communication more, be more prompt in getting back to applicants
What do you think is the secret to getting hired?
Knowing someone in the library or actually speaking to someone, as opposed to emailing or contacting HR. I’m always convinced that I’d actually be considered for a position if they would just call me, but they never do. I applied to a pt position just today, after contacting the library director over the phone twice, and within an hour of dropping off my application, I was called for an interview.
Do you have any comments, or are there any other questions you think we should add to this survey?
not really
Are you hunting for a new LIS job? Take the survey! http://tinyurl.com/hiringlibJOBHUNTERsurvey
This survey was co-authored by Naomi House from I Need A Library Job – Do you need one? Check it out!
