This anonymous interview is with a job hunter who is not 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, Library vendors/service providers, Public libraries, at the following levels: Department Head, Senior Librarian, Branch Manager, Director/Dean. This job hunter is in an urban area in the Northeastern US and is willing to move anywhere.
What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?
Adequate Salary & Benefits
interesting work
mutual respect
Where do you look for open positions?
ALA Joblist
Higher Ed Jobs
Chronicle of Higher Ed
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?
15-30 minutes – choosing which of 3 CVs, an tailoring cover letter.
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
√ 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?
openness and communication – also, it would be nice to know what happened to the last person (retired? promoted? moved on? won lottery?), but that is something you usually find out during your on-campus visit.
What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?
simple communication and acknowledgment. I hate when I find out that some place I’ve interviewed has hired someone by seeing the new name on their library staff web page, rather than being contacted or e-mailed to inform the unsuccessful finalists.
What do you think is the secret to getting hired?
I wish I knew
Do you have any comments, or are there any other questions you think we should add to this survey?
I appreciate this site and INALJ. thank you.
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!
Hiring Librarians 