Justin Hoenke is a human being and a librarian. He’s worked in public libraries in the USA and New Zealand, and is currently the Library Director of the Gardiner Public Library in Gardiner, Maine.
His professional interests include creativity, public libraries as community centers, and music. He offers library consultancy services for public libraries and can be contacted at http://www.justinthelibrarian.com.
Briefly describe the hiring process at your organization and your role in it:
We put out a job ad, we accept resumes/cover letters, we review what we have, we set up interviews, we hire!
Titles hired include: Archivist, Library Assistant, Youth Services Librarian
Who makes hiring decisions at your organization:
√ Library Administration
Which of the following does your organization regularly require of candidates?
√ Cover letter
√ Resume
√ References
Does your organization use automated application screening?
√ No
Think about the last candidate who really wowed you, on paper, in an interview, or otherwise. Why were they so impressive?
Kindness. Honesty.
Do you have any instant dealbreakers?
It’s weird to say this as a librarian, but if all that you bring to an interview is “I love books” and “libraries are my home” that doesn’t bode well for you. I love books and libraries too, but it’s not the focus. I wanna know about you.
What do you wish you could know about candidates that isn’t generally revealed in the hiring process?
Not sure
How many pages should each of these documents be?
Cover Letter: √ Only One!
Resume: √ As many as it takes, I love reading
CV: √ As many as it takes, I love reading
What is the most common mistake that people make in an interview?
Not sure
Do you conduct virtual interviews? What do job hunters need to know about shining in this setting?
Yes
How can candidates looking to transition from paraprofessional work, from non-library work, or between library types convince you that their experience is relevant? Or do you have other advice for folks in this kind of situation?
Be honest and open. Tell me what you’ve learned and how you’ve grown
When does your organization *first* mention salary information?
√ It’s part of the job ad
What does your organization do to reduce bias in hiring? What are the contexts in which discrimination still exists in this process?
We treat everyone that we interview and hire equally. We are all in this together.
What questions should candidates ask you? What is important for them to know about your organization and the position you are hiring for?
What’s the workplace like
Additional Demographics
What part of the world are you in?
√ Northeastern US
What’s your region like?
√ Other: Rural/Suburban-ish
Is your workplace remote/virtual?
√ Never or not anymore
How many staff members are at your organization?
√ 0-10
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Hiring Librarians 