Lauren Read took the Job Hunter’s survey on December 29, 2012. Her responses appeared as Be Transparent as to Whether You Are Forward-Thinking & Innovative. We last followed up with her on January 29, 2014.
Your Job
What’s your current work situation?
I am a full-time reference librarian for Beaufort County (SC) Library System.
Did you relocate for your job? If so, who paid?
I did follow the job to my new island home (at my expense).
How did you find the listing for your job?
The county was in my long list of public libraries to check periodically for vacancies on their websites.
What was the application process like? How many interviews did you do?
I sent my application, cover letter, and resume to the county government. I was invited to interview (via phone) a few weeks later, received a friendly selection call about a week later, then sent to do a pre-employment screening some time after that.
Did you know anyone in the organization that hired you? If so, how?
Not a soul in the organization — or even the state!
Is the pay scale higher or lower than you were looking for?
It is lower than the starting salary advocated by the American Library Association, but I am satisfied with that for now.
Your Job Hunt
How long did it take to find your job?
5 years
How many positions did you apply to?
about 100 annually
How many interviews did you go on?
I think the fact that I got 4 per year at first but 12 the final year speaks to the economy more than my aptitude.
What was your work situation while you were job hunting?
Over those years, I held mostly individual part-time jobs, working for a coffee shop, a temp agency, a digital marketing firm, a start-up entrepreneur/journalist/activist, and an acupuncture college.
State of the Job Market
What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve seen on a job announcement?
I [grumble grumble] those announcements for which the decision-makers apparently do not realize the professional standards of the title “librarian” being reserved for ML(I)S holders.
Has job hunting been a positive or negative experience, for the most part?
A long road though it may have been — I believe due to circumstances not of my own fault — it was a great exercise in steadfastness.
What’s your ideal work situation?
Well, I now have a full-time, professional position in a public library in which I serve adults through reference services, programming, and collection development, so I have achieved the ideal for me! In several years’ time, I will seek opportunities to advance my career.
Anything else you want to tell us?
Now that I am settled with gainful employment, my husband and I have welcomed a pair of library lions — I mean, cats — into our home: Patience and Fortitude.
Hiring Librarians 