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 six months to a year. This person is looking in academic, archives, and special libraries, at the following levels: entry level.
This job hunter is in an urban area in the Northeastern US and is willing to move anywhere
depending on life circumstances.
Where do you look for open positions?
INALJ, professional listservs and Association Listservs
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?
Resume, Cover Letter, then anything else required by potential employer. My resume has been tweaked as I do things in my current position (projects, new tasks etc,) but I can take things out if they really don’t apply. Cover letter is the most time consuming. Total – approximately an hour.
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 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?
√ Other: Phone job offer; email for everything else.
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
√ Other: Knowing the tasks, potential projects (if any)
What do you think employers should do to get the best candidates to apply?
Be specific about what they want. Sometimes employers are very vague in their criteria.
What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?
Let us know what’s going on! It might not be feasible, but if you communicate mainly by email – then please, at least add us all to group and reject us, don’t leave us hanging.
What do you think is the secret to getting hired?
Having your application materials line up with what the employer is looking for. Volunteer experience or experience in that field – somehow. Showing interest in staying in that type of library for a while.
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 