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 and special libraries, at the following levels: entry level, requiring at least two years of experience.
This job hunter is in a city/town in the Southern US and is willing to move based on position/location.
What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?
1) An interesting position that will allow me to use my current skill sets and gain new ones as well.
2) Salary. I know that the library field doesn’t pay much (for the most part), but I’d like to make a decent living.
3) Compatibility. I would like to be able to get along with my co-workers and know that we’re working towards a common goal.
Where do you look for open positions?
INALJ
Various listservs
Regional library association job boards
Indeed.com
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?
It can take me up to a week or more to prepare an application packet because I do my research about the institution and focus on writing the best cover letter and tailoring my resume to the position for which I’m applying.
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
√ 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?
√ 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
√ Being taken out to meal
√ Meeting department members/potential co-workers
√ Other: My interactions with everyone that I meet and overall impression of the position and institution.
What do you think employers should do to get the best candidates to apply?
Good question. For entry-level positions, don’t set the bar so high in terms of experience and qualifications or make the application process so difficult that very few people want to apply.
What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?
Contact applicants within a reasonable amount of time to let them know that they are or aren’t being considered for the position.
What do you think is the secret to getting hired?
I think it’s a combination of skills, experience, personality, and networking.
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 