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, Handshake
What position level are you looking for?
√ Entry level
√ Clerk/Library Assistant
What type(s) of organization are you looking in?
√ Archives
√ Library vendor/service provider
√ Public library
√ Special library
√ Other: Tech
What part of the world are you in?
√ Western US (including Pacific Northwest)
What’s your region like?
√ Suburban area
Are you willing/able to move for employment?
√ No
What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?
Hybrid remote option, good pay, open communication
How many jobs have you applied to during your current search? (Please indicate if it’s an estimate or exact)
10 estimte
What steps, actions, or attributes are most important for employers to take to sell you on the job?
√ 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
Other than not listing a salary range, are there other “red flags” that would prevent you from applying to a job?
if they claim the work environment is like a family
The Process
How much time do you spend preparing an application packet?
30 minutes
What are the steps you follow to prepare an application packet?
Rewrite the cover letter, update references, review resume, fill out online application
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 a month
How do you prepare for interviews?
I look at online interview coach tips
What are your most hated interview questions, and why?
when do you seen yourself in 5 years
During your current search, have you had any of the following experiences:
- Submitted an application and got no response √ I don’t know
- Had an interview and never heard back √ Not Applicable
- Interviewed for a job where an internal candidate was eventually chosen √ Not Applicable
- Asked for an accommodation for a disability √ I don’t know
- Withdrawn an application before the offer stage √ Not Applicable
- Turned down an offer √ Not Applicable
If you’ve asked for an accommodation, what happened?
I have never asked but I do need it. Never asked because I know this would eliminate me.
What should employers do to make the hiring process better for job hunters?
Make it quick.
You and Your Well-Being
How are you doing, generally?
√ I’m maintaining
√ I’m frustrated
What are your job search self-care strategies?
Sleep, movies, play with dogs
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?
Where do all the entry-level people begin? It seems every entry LIS job requires 5 years of experience.
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?)
May 2023
When did you start your first job search for a “professional” position (or other position that utilized your degree)?
√ Six months before graduating with my MLIS/other LIS degree
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)?
Yes
Hiring Librarians 