a thriving place (both the company and the surrounding area) that is looking towards future growth and not reacting to past failures, not growing and/or not thriving.

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 less than six months. This person is looking in academic libraries, Library vendors/service providers, and public libraries. Here is this person’s experience with internships/volunteering:

Internship with the local, public library.

This job hunter is in an urban area in the Midwestern US and is willing to move anywhere.

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

1. Concrete evidence that it is a thriving place (both the company and the surrounding area) that is looking towards future growth and not reacting to past failures, not growing and/or not thriving.
2. Employee satisfaction.
3. Location

Where do you look for open positions?

ALA Joblist
I Need A Library Job
Career Development Office postings
USAJobs
listservs

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?

Depends on the job posting itself.

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
√ 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

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 should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?

Communicate with employees about where they are in the process as much as possible. Nothing is worse than getting nothing.

Also, give people a chance sometimes.

What do you think is the secret to getting hired?

Unfortunately it’s knowing somebody.

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!