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 less than six months. This person is looking in academic, archives, library vendors/service providers, public, school, and special libraries, at the following levels: entry level, requiring at least two years of experience, supervisory,branch manager. Here is this person’s experience with internships/volunteering:
Teacher Certificate, English Lit.
Peace Corps
Two year internship at Public Library, preparation for all librarian duties.
This job hunter is in a city/town in the Midwestern US and is willing to move two hours in any direction.
What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?
Location. Job fit-experiences and interests.
Where do you look for open positions?
INALJ, specific library sites, LibJobs, idealist, Library Joblist, Indeed.
Do you expect to see salary range listed in a job ad?
√ Other:Yes, but that’s not a primary indicator of fitness.
What’s your routine for preparing an application packet? How much time do you spend on it?
Not quite sure yet. Ten hours?
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
How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?
√ Phone
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 should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?
Michigan Library Association should stop charging posters. They have an awful list, and I assume this is a reason why.
What do you think is the secret to getting hired?
Being more awesome. And diligent and prepared.
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!
