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 less than six months. This person is looking in archives at the following levels: requiring at least two years of experience, supervisory.
This job hunter is in an urban area in the Northeastern US and is not willing to move.
What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?
Good use of the skills I already have
Opportunity to learn/advance/expand on those
Institution whose mission I support
Where do you look for open positions?
Archivists Listserv
ArchivesGig
Libjobs
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?
-Read the job description really carefully
-make sure that my resume is up to date, and edit it to highlight what’s being sought in the job description
-Write draft cover letter that covers each of the requirements in the description, and highlights anything especially appropriate that isn’t obvious from the resume
-Set the cover letter aside for 24 hours or so, then revisit it to tweak and edit
-check with my recommenders that I can use their contact info if required in job description
-Reread cover letter and resume a couple more times
-Send letter, resume, and any other supporting docs required
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
√ 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?
Describe the position as specifically as possible: duties, skills needed, expectations, staffing (other team members, levels of supervisors involved), location of work, salary.
What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?
Acknowledge that an application has been received.
What do you think is the secret to getting hired?
Being the no-brainer match for the position; doing your homework about the organization, its mission, staff, history, etc.; behaving professionally at all levels of the process: responding to notices, interviews, follow up.
Do you have any comments, or are there any other questions you think we should add to this survey?
My job hunt hasn’t been painful, so I found that question loaded.
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!
Hiring Librarians 