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 public libraries, at the following levels: entry level. Here is this person’s experience with internships/volunteering:
I worked in an academic library throughout grad school. I did field placements at both academic and public libraries.
This job hunter is in an urban area in the Midwestern US and is willing to move anywhere.
What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?
interesting and rewarding job description, decent salary, full time
Where do you look for open positions?
inalj.com, ala jobslist, individual libraries web pages and Facebook accounts, word of mouth.
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?
2 hours. But I spent a lot of time creating individual paragraphs highlighting common strengths for my cover letters. That way I can mix and match with only a few tweaks depending on the library and job description.
Have you ever stretched the truth, exaggerated, or lied on your resume, or at some other point during the hiring process?
√ Yes
√ No
√ Other:
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
√ 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
√ Meeting department members/potential co-workers
What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?
Please email me if I am not going to get an interview!! It is never fun to get the “unfortunately…” email, it is better than having no information at all.
What do you think is the secret to getting hired?
Not just applying to your dream job. I did not expect to get the perfect job right away. I applied to everything I qualified for, even if it was outside of my comfort zone, i.e. in Anchorage!
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 