At this point, I’m leaning towards blood sacrifice

Mark Hall is a former middle-and-high school teacher who entered librarianship about 7 years ago. He just finished his MLIS through University of North Texas, and works as a “Library Service Specialist” with a Houston-area public library system.He has been looking for a new position for more than 18 months, in academic and public libraries, at the following levels: Entry level, Requiring at least two years of experience, Supervisory, and Branch Manager. Mr. Hall is in an urban area, in the Southern US, and was willing to move anywhere

but then I got married to someone with a tie to the area

Mr. Hall reviews books as The Library Ogre .

What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?

Right now
1) Close by. Personal reasons but I can’t leave the city right now.
2) Work seems matched to my skills and experience.
3) A salary I can live on.

Where do you look for open positions?

TLA Joblist, websites of local employers

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?

Somewhat depends on my confidence of the job. I will tailor my resume and draft a cover letter (if required), plus work through their application, double-checking that I meet the requirements.

Have you ever stretched the truth, exaggerated, or lied on your resume, or at some other point during the hiring process?

√ Other: Only insofar as experience requirements go

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?

Be clear. If you’ve got standard salary ranges, make those easily accessible (a link in the post would be great). Be clear about your needs and requirements, and your preferences.

What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?

Communicate. Tell applicants what’s up so they can prepare or cross you off their list of people they’re waiting to hear from.

What do you think is the secret to getting hired?

At this point, I’m leaning towards blood sacrifice.

For some context, take a look at the most recently published summary of responses.

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!