Please note: this is an anonymous response to an online survey; I do not have any way of contacting the respondent or verifying responses. Their answers may reflect good, bad, or middling job searching practices. I invite you to take what’s useful and leave the rest.
Your Demographics and Search Parameters
How long have you been job hunting?
√ Less than six months
Why are you job hunting?
√ This is the next step after finishing library/archives/other LIS graduate degree
Where do you look for open positions?
LinkedIn, Indeed, Jobsuk
What position level are you looking for?
√ Entry level
√ Clerk/Library Assistant
What type(s) of organization are you looking in?
√ Academic library
√ Public library
What part of the world are you in?
√ Other: France
What’s your region like?
√ Urban area
Are you willing/able to move for employment?
√ Yes, anywhere
What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?
location, missions and salary
How many jobs have you applied to during your current search? (Please indicate if it’s an estimate or exact)
50
What steps, actions, or attributes are most important for employers to take to sell you on the job?
√ Pay well
√ Having a good reputation
√ Funding professional development
√ Prioritizing work-life balance
Do you expect to see the salary range listed in a job ad?
√ Yes, and it’s a red flag when it’s not
The Process
How much time do you spend preparing an application packet?
2 hours
What are the steps you follow to prepare an application packet?
I read the job description and work on a cover letter
How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?
When would you like potential employers to contact you?
√ Once the position has been filled, even if it’s not me
How long do you expect an organization’s application process to take, from the point you submit your documents to the point of either an offer or rejection?
no more than 3 weeks
How do you prepare for interviews?
I practice interview questions and prepare questions for employers
What are your most hated interview questions, and why?
“why should we hire you?”
During your current search, have you had any of the following experiences:
- Submitted an application and got no response √ Happened more than once
- Had an interview and never heard back √ Happened more than once
- Interviewed for a job where an internal candidate was eventually chosen √ Happened more than once
- Asked for an accommodation for a disability √ Not Applicable
- Withdrawn an application before the offer stage √ Not Applicable
- Turned down an offer √ Not Applicable
If you’ve asked for an accommodation, what happened?
they usually tell me to look myself
What should employers do to make the hiring process better for job hunters?
tell us as soon as possible that we’re rejected especially after interviews, there is nothing worse than waiting or even having to call them because they “forgot” to tell you.
You and Your Well-Being
How are you doing, generally?
√ I’m optimistic
√ I’m frustrated
√ Not out of money yet, but worried
What are your job search self-care strategies?
maintain a schedule like job search between 10 to 4 and rest during the weekend.
Do you have any advice or words of support you’d like to share with other job hunters, is there anything you’d like to say to employers, or is there anything else you’d like to say about job hunting?
getting rejected does not mean you’re unqualified or unworthy
Job Hunting Post Graduate School
If you have an MLIS or other graduate level degree in a LIS field, what year did you graduate? (Or what year do you anticipate graduating?)
I graduated in 2022
When did you start your first job search for a “professional” position (or other position that utilized your degree)?
√ After graduating with my MLIS/other LIS degree
In relation to your graduation, when did you find your first “professional” position?
√ Hasn’t happened yet – I’m still looking
What kind of work was your first post-graduation professional position?
√ N/A – hasn’t happened yet
Did you get support from your library school for your first job hunt (and/or any subsequent ones)?
if I have a question about applications or job interviews my lecturers/tutors are happy to help but I feel that they should share opportunities with us more often.
Hiring Librarians 
