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 libraries, Library vendors/service providers, Public libraries, and Special libraries, at the following levels: Requiring at least two years of experience, and Other: Anything I’m qualified for. 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 challenging work
To know my contributions are valued
Good pay
Where do you look for open positions?
ALA Joblist
Higher Ed joblist
Library websites
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 depends. Sometimes hours are spent rewriting my resume and cover letter.
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
√ 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)?
√ Other: I wouldn’t know. I have applied for many jobs and never even gotten a phone interview
What do you think employers should do to get the best candidates to apply?
I really don’t know anymore.
What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?
Contact everyone who applies with something other than a robo-email to acknowledge their application.
What do you think is the secret to getting hired?
You have to know someone who works there for them to pull your application out of the pile and be your advocate
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 