This anonymous interview is with someone who hires for a:
√ Academic Library
Title: Department head (any more specificity there will be self dox!)
Titles hired include: Business librarian, science librarian, public health librarian, social sciences librarian, business manager, director of communications, HR officer, Research & Instruction Librarian, Department Head (for other departments)
Who makes hiring decisions at your organization:
√ Library Administration
√ The position’s supervisor
√ A Committee or panel
√ Other: A search committee recommends to the dean, who makes the final decision in consultation with the supervisor where needed
Which of the following does your organization regularly require of candidates?
√ Cover letter
√ Resume
√ CV
√ References
√ Proof of degree
√ Demonstration (teaching, storytime, etc)
√ More than one round of interviews
√ A whole day of interviews
√ Other: Skills test where appropriate for the position.(and not all these things are required for every position)
Does your organization use automated application screening?
√ Other: Yes for staff positions, no for faculty positions
Briefly describe the hiring process at your organization and your role in it:
For faculty positions, a committee is formed and I both chaired those committees and been a member of them. Positions posted, applications reviewed against a rubric, screening interviews done, finalist candidates brought in, offer made. For staff, the position is posted on the university site. For some positions (higher level staff positions) there’s a committee, but for most it’s the direct supervisor doing the interviewing/hiring with feedback from potential coworkers as available/appropriate
Think about the last candidate who really wowed you, on paper, in an interview, or otherwise. Why were they so impressive?
They looked into us, especially for the interview stage, and let us know they were interested in this position. The cover letter was about the position/university and what they could bring/why they were interested in it. Especially at the campus interview point, it was clear that they had looked into the library and the university.
Do you have any instant dealbreakers?
Application meant for another institution. A cover letter that is simply “I am applying for X position” that doesn’t address anything about the position. Not submitting what we need at the point of application (which for us is literally the cover letter, resume/CV, and list of references
What do you wish you could know about candidates that isn’t generally revealed in the hiring process?
What they’re like as a colleague. We’re not a huge library and we work together. They don’t need to be just like us – it’s great if they’re not! – but I need them to not bring toxicity in. We’ve worked hard to improve the culture of the department and I don’t want it to slide back to where it was before I joined it.
How many pages should each of these documents be?
Cover Letter: √ As many as it takes, but keep it reasonable and relevant
Resume: √ As many as it takes, but keep it reasonable and relevant
CV: √ As many as it takes, but keep it reasonable and relevant
What is the most common mistake that people make in an interview?
Not researching the library/university. We put all our strategic plans, mission, values, online. Read them!
Also, if you have a presentation, pay attention to the topic. If we ask you to address, say 2 of 4 items, that’s to help you focus your presentation. We know you can’t address all of them well, so please, really do pick 2 of them!
Do you conduct virtual interviews? What do job hunters need to know about shining in this setting?
Yes for screening interviews, not currently for final interviews since we’ve returned to campus. Honestly, I don’t know other than to test your connections, microphones, everything. If they’re using a system you’re not familiar with, ask if there’s someone who can do a pre-interview test with you.
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?
Tell me how it’s relevant. Really! Put it in your cover letter, clearly. Say “your posting asks for teaching experience. While I don’t have classroom instruction experience, I was the designated trainer for my shift when I worked at In-n-Out, where I trained groups of up to 10 employees at one time. I had to adjust training style to different employees, I had to check in with them for understanding a key points, and I had to follow up with them”
When does your organization *first* mention salary information?
√ Other: For most jobs it’s part of the ad, at least for the department I manage. There are some in the library who don’t want to include it, but I think it is an absolutely essential piece and I won’t post an ad for this department without one.
What does your organization do to reduce bias in hiring? What are the contexts in which discrimination still exists in this process?
1) HR removes identifying information from application materials for the initial review
2) For the screening interview, we ask candidates to keep their cameras off
3) Provide the screening interview questions ahead of time, and at the campus interviews, a print of the questions that day
4) give clear explanations of each group/person they’ll be meeting with and why that’s relevant
What questions should candidates ask you? What is important for them to know about your organization and the position you are hiring for?
This depends so much on what’s important to the candidate. Personally, I always ask about process – how things get done if someone has a new idea, because that’s important to me. I also ask questions to dig into the culture of the department, library, and institution.
As important, ask the same questions of different groups/people that you meet with. Not everyone will have the same answer, but they shouldn’t be at odds with each other.
Additional Demographics
What part of the world are you in?
√ Southeastern US
What’s your region like?
√ Urban
Is your workplace remote/virtual?
√ Some of the time and/or in some positions
How many staff members are at your organization?
√ 101-200
Is there anything else you’d like to say, either to job hunters or to me, the survey author?
Please have someone (or more than one someone) review your resume and cover letter – ESPECIALLY the cover letter. Resumes can be somewhat generic IMO, but the cover letter needs to be specific. Having people look at it in relation to a job ad and tell you why they’re making the suggestions they are will help you as you apply for jobs.
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