Sylvia Bly took the original survey on January 4th, 2013. Her responses appeared as Security, Wage, Satisfaction.
Your Background
How long has it been since you got your library degree?
One year, seven months.
How many years of library work experience do you have?
About 10
How many years of work experience outside of libraries do you have?
Over 20
How old are you?
45
Your Job Hunt
How long did it take you before you found your job?
One year
How many positions did you apply to?
I really cannot recall. In excess of 20, at least.
How many interviews did you go on?
Maybe 5?
What was your work situation while you were job hunting?
Laid Off
Were you volunteering anywhere?
Yes, at the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan. Library work.
Did you travel for interviews? If so, who paid?
No
Did you decline any offers?
Yes
Your Job
What’s your new job?
Construction Records Specialist at Wayne State University
Is your job full or part time? Permanent or temporary?
Full time, Permanent
Did you relocate? If so, who paid?
No
How did you find the listing for your job?
Through Wayne State University Career Website
Did you meet all of the required qualifications? How many of the desired qualifications?
No, but more than half
What was the application process like? How many interviews did you do?
One interview. I was hired within a week
How did you prepare for the interview(s)?
No preparation, other than dressing appropriately and bringing a couple copies of my resume
Did you know anyone in the organization that hired you? If so, how?
Other than fellow students and professors, no.
Is your job commensurate with your skills, experience and expectations?
For the most part
Is the pay scale higher or lower than you were looking for?
Lower
What do you think was the biggest obstacle in your job hunt? How did you overcome it?
Lack of opportunities in the field
What set you apart from the other applicants? Why did they hire you?
Available immediately, and I had already done the clerical exam
State of the Job Market
What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve seen on a job announcement?
None comes to mind
What was your favorite interview question? What was the worst?
Tell me about yourself. Worst is what is your weakness?
Any good horror stories for us?
None
Has job hunting been a positive or negative experience, for the most part?
Positive, because I got a job, but also negative, because it was frustrating getting here.
Would you change your answer to “what’s the secret to getting hired”?
No
If you took the Job Hunter’s Survey some time in the last year and are interested in doing a follow-up, even anonymously, please contact me at hiringlibrarians AT gmail.
Hiring Librarians 