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 More than 18 months. This person is looking in Public libraries, at the following levels: Director/Dean, and Other: Senior administration in a larger system. This job hunter is in a suburban area, in the Northeastern US, and is willing to move but
not just anywhere.
What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?
Opportunities to grow as a library administrator. Opportunities to open doors for staff. Geographic location.
Where do you look for open positions?
State & regional library associations in my target locales, primarily. Also, ALA & LJ websites, the odd listserv.
Do you expect to see salary range listed in a job ad?
√ Only for certain kinds of employers
What’s your routine for preparing an application packet? How much time do you spend on it?
I review the ad and and supplemental info the hiring library puts out, peruse their website & recent press clippings, & try to get a holistic picture in my head of what they’re looking for and how they want to be viewed. I tailor my resume & cover letter to that. Then I send it to a trusted friend for proofreading.
The process usually takes 4-5 hours over 3-5 days.
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
√ 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
√ Meeting with HR to talk about benefits/salary
√ Being able to present
What do you think employers should do to get the best candidates to apply?
Pay better, & highlight unique (or just particularly strong) benefits.
What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?
Communicate, make sure the people whose job it is to interface with candidates are professional.
What do you think is the secret to getting hired?
Understanding & sincerely caring about the library’s goals.
For some context, take a look at the most recently published summary of responses.
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 