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, library vendors/service providers, public, special libraries and technical services, at the following levels: entry level, requiring at least two years of experience.
This job hunter is in an urban area in the Midwestern US, and when asked if willing to move for employment, responded:
depends on situation
What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?
1. salary & benefits
2. location to residence
3. career development
Where do you look for open positions?
job posting sites such as Monster, Careerbuilder, Lisjobs, Linkedin, local government, corporate.
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 complexity, but usually at least an hour.
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?
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
√ Being able to present
What do you think employers should do to get the best candidates to apply?
Communicate the nature and duties of the job, the expectations for skill development, growth potential, job flexibility, workplace culture, and workplace diversity.
What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?
Clear communications. Realistic description of the job and duties, etc. Make on-line applications and resume downloading easier to navigate. Define the stages of the application process and when, or if a candidate can expect a response within a certain time period.
What do you think is the secret to getting hired?
Adaptable skills, personality, value to employer, and knowledge of the employer’s needs.
Do you have any comments, or are there any other questions you think we should add to this survey?
Some questions on entry level, non-degree positions and job search.
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 