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 academic, public, and special libraries, at the following levels: entry level. Here is this person’s experience with internships/volunteering:
page one summer in public library and cataloging one summer for university.
This job hunter is in an urban area in the Northeastern US and originally was not willing to move but is now
reconsidering it.
What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?
a job. Interaction with both people and technology. Some work as part of a team and some alone.
Where do you look for open positions?
listserv, linkedin, lita
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?
It takes too long. Every place wants their own online application stating the same things I’ve typed in all the other applications. Plus a new cover letter.
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 tell me if I have or have not been selected to move on to the interview stage
How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?
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 do you think employers should do to get the best candidates to apply?
forget about the “best” candidate, someone who already knows all you hope for and has done it for ten years. Go with someone who knows most things and can learn.
What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?
If there were 200 applicants, please mention there were 200 applicants.
What do you think is the secret to getting hired?
no clue. Supposedly it is experience so that may well be it; my library experience is less than ideal since I was working during school.
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!
