Stats & Graphs: How are you doing, job hunters?

The 2023 Job Hunter’s Survey collects information from LIS workers who are currently looking for work, crossing multiple experience levels, specializations, and library types. There are 37 questions, including a special section that asks for information about the length of time taken to find the first post-grad school position (which for some respondents was quite a few years ago). The survey opened on February 2nd, 2023. It will remain open indefinitely, but as of April 11, 2023, there were 434 responses. Most chose to fill it out anonymously, but 30 people did leave contact information. I am posting both individual responses and statistics, as I can get them written up. Given the number of responses, it will most likely take more than a year for me to share them all. 

This is the fifth 2023 Job Hunter’s Survey statistics post! Please note I don’t use representative sampling, so it would be inappropriate to draw conclusions about the larger population of LIS Workers as a whole.

In this post, I’m looking at just one question that I asked job hunters.

How are you doing, generally? (Check all that apply)

I’m frustrated	233	53.69%
I’m Maintaining	196	45.16%
I’m somewhat depressed	189	43.55%
I feel alone in my search	167	38.48%
I’m optimistic	77	17.74%
I’m despondent	63	14.52%
Not out of money yet, but worried	62	14.29%
I feel supported in my search	47	10.83%
I’m running out of money	47	10.83%
Other	47	10.83%
I’m energized	16	3.69%
No reply	2	0.46%

A lot about this question feels pretty stark. The majority of folks, 53.69% were frustrated. 43.55% of respondents said they felt somewhat depressed, 38.48% felt alone in their search, and 14% were despondent. To be fair, I only included three “positive” answer choices: “I’m optimistic” (17.74%), “I feel supported in my search” (10.83%) and “I’m energized” (3.69%). These were clearly not widely experienced among respondents.

Some of the starkest replies were given under the “Other” option. One person says “I almost killed myself.” It is unclear to me whether this person is describing literal suicidal thoughts or using this phrase as a metaphor, however they also use the phrase “soul crushing defeat” and say they have been prescribed an SSRI so it seems clear that they are experiencing (and addressing) mental health issues. Another person says they have had points where they “couldn’t see the point in living” (this person is trying to leave their current position, which is “horrible, punishing”).

Others describe their experiences as damaging to their sense of self-worth, saying things like, “I feel like I’m doing this wrong and should be doing better” and “I feel completely unqualified for everything when I read the requirements,” and “Demoralized. I am qualified. I have 5 years of experience. I am kind and personable. Why can’t I get hired?”

Four people describe giving up, or being ready to give up, either “applying for jobs outside of LIS because this is ridiculous” or just “I’m not going to keep trying – it’s clear this field doesn’t want to support folks to live and it’s just way too much stress to even get a job.”

Some replies touch on worries about security. One person is “trying to maintain optimism because I’m not the only job seeker in my house. And at least I have our health insurance.” And another says they “Should have taken that $15 an hour job in LA since I’m going to be living in my van soon anyway. At least LA is a lot warmer than Wisconsin.”

While it’s clear that job searching is a tough process, four people did use the other option to reply that they had succeeded in getting a new job. And three other responses could be characterized as describing a positive feeling, ranging from “I’m pretty content, just always on the lookout for an opportunity.” to “Cautiously optimistic/hopeful” to “Good but the realization of job competitiveness has set in. People are fighting for entry librarian jobs with 10-15 years of full time experience in my area.”

These answers underscore the need for folks who are hiring to build compassion into their search process. It is clear that many folks are hurting and desperate.

I am also interested in what we can do to provide better support for folks who are searching. I’ve been kicking around the idea of putting together a community of practice for folks who are job hunting – something that’s kind of a cross between a class and a support group, maybe with a “come back later and donate some money if it works for you” option. If this is something you’d want to participate in, will you please get in touch?

Here are the full replies in the Other category:

Age and other biases are preventing me from getting interviews. Being pigeon holed makes it hard to get advancement

Demoralized. I am qualified. I have 5 years of experience. I am kind and personable. Why can’t I get hired?

discouraged by low salaries

feels impossible to find a job with everything I want

I almost killed myself over the absolute soul-crushing defeat of this job process. I got an MLIS in 2016 and have spent more time job hunting in the field than working in the field. My bartending license has gotten me more jobs. Fortunately I have been prescribed an SSRi

I am running out of energy

I am sarcastic as all hell as a coping mechanism, and trying to maintain optimism because I’m not the only job seeker in my house. And at least I have our health insurance.

I feel like I’m doing this wrong and should be doing better.

I feel somewhat supported, but support often takes the form of generalized borderline cliches vs. specific constructive action.

I find myself completely at odds with every job listing. I feel unqualified for everything when I read the requirements.

I have had points where I felt… pretty desperate and couldn’t see the point in living if I would have to spend the rest of my life working at my current horrible, punishing job.

I have some support in my search, but it’s still really hard to keep going while being un- or under-employed and having the search take up all of my mental energy

I haven’t informed my employer or colleagues that I am searching. I also work in a very tight-knit community where, while I am on positive terms with folks at other organizations, I’m not sure I can safely disclose that I am trying ot leave my current place of work.

I started my search in December– I graduate in May and will lose my graduate job position then. I’m already feeling worried that I won’t find anything by the time I graduate, and the worst part is that I know it’s early on in my search and I have no idea how long the search will last!

I tihnk I have serious depression. Everyone says to stick it out where I am, and I keep oscillating between staying and quitting. But I’m not happy. Finding another job seems impossible.

I’m always somewhat depressed; I’m frustrated that I find it hard to imagine where I’ll be in five years based on the wide variety of applications I’m submitting; I know I am supported in my search but it’s hard to feel it

I’m applying for jobs outside of LIS because this is ridiculous.

I’m balancing job applications with finishing graduate school, so it all feels a little overwhelming. I flip flop a lot in how I feel (optimistic or depressed)

I’m burnt out from job searching and I feel hopeless that I will be stuck in my current job forever making $14.98 an hour for the rest of my working life.

I’m not going to keep trying – it’s clear this field doesn’t want to support folks to live and it’s just way too much stress to even get a job

I’m worried that degrees have a social expiration date and that if I stay out of the field long enough I won’t be employable.

I’ve got one move left in me–DH and I are trying to position ourselves for where we want to grow old.

I’ve had a couple traumatic events in my career that have changed my outlook on my work, job prospects, and work culture forever. I feel less motivated in my current work and disconnected from my colleagues. I don’t feel comfortable sharing my experiences with them as you dont know who knows who and how sharing details might impact your career down the line.

I’m genuinely thinking about leaving the field and starting a podcast

It feels pointless, like the only thing I’m good for us free volunteer labor.

My mentor/best reference died last year and I still haven’t come to terms with it

Should have taken that $15 an hour job in LA since I’m going to be living in my van soon anyway. At least LA is a lot warmer than Wisconsin.

So tired from the process and competitive field that I am less picky about whatever offer comes my way

This is a horrible process because I have just borrowed 40k to pay for school in order to find a job, and I’ve had only one response, and my degree was not even needed.

Uncertain–I’m not sure the time is exactly right to make the move but I am concerned about letting opportunities pass by and then not being able to find a job that pays enough to live in the area I’m moving to when I am ready to make the move. I’ve adjusted my timeline which creates issues in my personal life.

Varies

Without a degree, job searching for anything within archives is pointless.

Worried about leaving my current job – not sure they can find someone to replace me, and they’ve invested a lot in my position.

about to start looking for work in a different field

Cautiously optimistic/hopeful

Concerned that things aren’t actually any better elsewhere.

i actually recently accepted a new position

I’m pretty content, just always on the lookout for an opportunity.

I’m resigned to having to stay in my current position

Maintaining. I’m saving up for a full-bore search, right now only applying to very attractive options I wouldn’t turn down based on job description and salary

Slightly frantic as the situation in my state worsens

tired

Good but the realization of job competitiveness has set in. People are fighting for entry librarian jobs with 10-15 years of full time experience in my area.

I did get an offer recently I accepted, but during the search I felt tired and sick of interviewing

I got the position!

I’m angry

I’ve succeeded. start new job next week.