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?
√ More than 18 months
Why are you job hunting?
√ I’m employed outside of the field and I’d like to be in it
√ Looking for more money
√ My current job provides insufficient or no benefits (Healthcare or beyond)
Where do you look for open positions?
GovernmentJobs.com, LinkedIn, HireNetHawaii, professional listservs
What position level are you looking for?
√ Entry level
√ Clerk/Library Assistant
What type(s) of organization are you looking in?
√ Academic library
√ Archives
√ School library
√ Special library
What part of the world are you in?
√ Other: Hawaii
What’s your region like?
√ Urban area
Are you willing/able to move for employment?
√ No
What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?
tasks I like to do, respectful colleagues, good work environment
How many jobs have you applied to during your current search? (Please indicate if it’s an estimate or exact)
estimate 10
What steps, actions, or attributes are most important for employers to take to sell you on the job?
√ Pay well
√ Having (and describing) excellent benefits
√ Introducing me to staff
√ Having a good reputation
√ Prioritizing work-life balance
√ Other:
Do you expect to see the salary range listed in a job ad?
√ Yes, and it’s a red flag when it’s not
Other than not listing a salary range, are there other “red flags” that would prevent you from applying to a job?
location, past history,
The Process
How much time do you spend preparing an application packet?
circa 3 hours
What are the steps you follow to prepare an application packet?
review job description, edit resume, write a cover letter, fill out application
How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?
When would you like potential employers to contact you?
√ To acknowledge my application
√ To tell me if the search is at the interview stage, even if I have not been selected
√ 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?
2 months or less
How do you prepare for interviews?
review job description, review my resume and cover letter, think of possible questions and answers
What are your most hated interview questions, and why?
malicious questions meant to scare me away from the job
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 √ I don’t know
- Asked for an accommodation for a disability √ Not Applicable
- Withdrawn an application before the offer stage √ Happened more than once
- Turned down an offer √ Happened once
If you have ever withdrawn an application, why?
I found a more suitable job, or decided the opportunity wasn’t for me
If you’ve turned down an offer (or offers), why?
basically timing
What should employers do to make the hiring process better for job hunters?
list salary, treat applicants respectfully, and notify us ASAP about any hiring decisions (even if we’re not hired)
You and Your Well-Being
How are you doing, generally?
√ I’m somewhat depressed
√ I’m frustrated
√ Not out of money yet, but worried
What are your job search self-care strategies?
take breaks after doing application preparation, arrive early for interview to relax before the interview
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?
List salary range, respect applicants, and don’t be afraid to hire those who don’t have all the ideal experiences, give entry levelers a chance to shine
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?)
2015
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?
√ Two to three years after graduating
What kind of work was your first post-graduation professional position?
√ Full Time
Did you get support from your library school for your first job hunt (and/or any subsequent ones)?
no
Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about searching for or finding your first post-graduation position?
tell LIS students that the job application process is slow,
Hiring Librarians 