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 libraries, archives and public libraries, at the following levels: supervisory, department head, senior librarian, branch manager, director/dean. Here is this person’s experience with internships/volunteering:
I graduated in 2011. I’ve worked part-time in a law school library for a year and a half, held a summer practicum, and a reading room/archives assistant for about a year and a half.
This job hunter is in an urban area, in the Northeastern US and is willing to move to
most places but not all
What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?
1) decent pay
2) great team environment
3) love of the profession
Where do you look for open positions?
ALA Joblist, INALJ, LisList, NJLA.org
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?
Once I’m invited for an interview, I research the organization, the population it serves and specific things directly related to the job itself. For instance, when I was interviewed for a children’s librarian position, I researched all the current top children’s books and all the children’s literature award winners.
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)?
√ Tour of facility
√ Meeting department members/potential co-workers
What do you think employers should do to get the best candidates to apply?
Look at diverse sources – think outside of the box and look for candidates who have real world experience in addition to the MOST degree.
What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?
Follow up as soon as you know the outcome even if negative so the candidate can move on mentally.
What do you think is the secret to getting hired?
It all just has to come together – a mixture of knowledge (degree), experience, and presentation.
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!
