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 more than 18 months. This person is looking in academic, public, and special libraries, at the following levels: entry level, requiring at least two years of experience. Here is this person’s experience with internships/volunteering:
Interned at a university as a reference librarian
This job hunter is in a city/town, in the Southern US and is willing to move anywhere.
What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?
Stability
Possibility of promotion
Good cultural fit
Where do you look for open positions?
ALA joblist
Inalj.com
North Carolina library association
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?
For each application i usually spend 7-8 hours for writing and rewriting the statement
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 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
What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?
Let candidates know where in the process they are, instead of the candidate wondering and waiting if the process is progressing
What do you think is the secret to getting hired?
Networking, knowing people and having connections
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 