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, public, and school, libraries, at the following levels: senior librarian.
This job hunter is in an urban area in the Western US and is willing to move anywhere.
What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?
Decent rate of pay
Affordable benefits
Companionable colleagues
Where do you look for open positions?
tons of library-related jobsites
Do you expect to see salary range listed in a job ad?
√ Other: Yes, you can waste a lot of time pursing a specific position only to find out the salary sucks. This is costly for employers and a waste of time for both applicant and employer
What’s your routine for preparing an application packet? How much time do you spend on it?
Carefully read the job ad, adjust resume and cover letter to fit the position, fill out HR’s online application, present application materials. Takes anywhere from 1 – 2 hours.
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?
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?
Write job ads that are easy to follow and read, that highlight the priorities, that list salaries and minimum qualifications, and give a “fill by” date.
What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?
Stop requiring us to fill out lengthy online applications that take forever to complete, inform us when they receive our applications materials and let us know where we are in the application process. If we’re out, let us know we’re out!
What do you think is the secret to getting hired?
A lotta luck and who you know.
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 