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 more than 18 months.
This person is looking in academic, archives, public, and special libraries, at the following levels: entry level, requiring at least two years of experience.
This job hunter is in a suburban area in the Northeastern US and is willing to move regionally.
What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?
Forward thinking co-workers/institutions
Options for continuing education
Full time hours with benefits
Where do you look for open positions?
Listservs including INALJ
Consortium Websites
Higheredjobs.com
Do you expect to see salary range listed in a job ad?
√ Only for certain kinds of employers
What’s your routine for preparing an application packet? How much time do you spend on it?
First I read through the entire job description.
Next I draft a cover letter based on a template which I alter to fit the specifics of the job description.
Next I review my resume and alter it according to the specific job.
Next I review my list of professional references and select those appropriate to reflect the type of position I am applying for.
Lastly, I review my cover letter to make sure that it is accurate and free from errors.
This process usually takes between 30-90 minutes.
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
√ 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)?
√ 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?
Provide (at least a link) to a full/detailed job description. Many of the job postings I see are very brief and generic in nature. They give no real sense of what the expectations for the position are. Often times, I don’t hear about specific projects until the interview stage. Why not include that kind of information in a job description? This way candidates that are most interested would be informed from the onset.
What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?
Communication. Nothing builds up anxiety quite like long stretches without any contact from a prospective employer.
What do you think is the secret to getting hired?
The ability to provide convincing evidence, either through anecdotes or samples, of past success in the types of tasks that are required for the position.
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 