Tag Archives: Librarian

“Having someone like a mentor to debrief with or talk about the interview process is crucial because they can answer any questions, even ones you may think are dumb.”

Crissandra George graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2019 where she received a Bachelor’s in Linguistics, Spanish, and a minor in Swahili. After graduating from the University of Mississippi, she decided to attain her Master’s in Linguistic Theory and Typology from the University of Kentucky in 2022 and will have completed an additional Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Kentucky in Spring 2023. After graduating this Spring, she will begin working as the Digital Collections Manager Librarian at Case Western Reserve University.

Your Demographics and Search Parameters

How long have you been job hunting?

√ Other: Just finished job hunting- total time was around 6 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?  

ALA Job List, LinkedIn, HigherEd Jobs, Chronicle of Higher Education Jobs, ARL jobs, Indeed

What position level are you looking for?  

√ Entry level

√ Requiring at least two years of experience 

What type(s) of organization are you looking in? 

√ Academic library

√ Archives 

What part of the world are you in?

√ Southeastern US 

What’s your region like? 

√ Urban area 

Are you willing/able to move for employment? 

√ Yes, to a specific list of places 

What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?

Salary that fits experience, tenure/promotion-track, mid-large academic library

How many jobs have you applied to during your current search? (Please indicate if it’s an estimate or exact)

10-12 approximately

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 

Do you expect to see the salary range listed in a job ad?

√ No (even if I might think it *should* be) 

Other than not listing a salary range, are there other “red flags” that would prevent you from applying to a job?

too vague of a job descriptions, indicators of a toxic environment (wording and interactions within virtual in-person interviews)

The Process

How much time do you spend preparing an application packet?

2-3 hours

What are the steps you follow to prepare an application packet?

Adjustment of Cover Letter and CV  tailored to job description, research of the library’s mission/vision/values/etc, proofreading, ensuring all documents are completed including additional documents that may be asked

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Email 

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?

2-6 months

How do you prepare for interviews?

research the institution, research the library, research all involved in the interview, take notes, prepare questions, review prepared questions, look into any background information that may be helpful and continue preparing for a few days if possible. 

What are your most hated interview questions, and why?

“What would be a reason that people may not like you or work well with 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 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 once  
  • Turned down an offer √ Happened more than once  

If you have ever withdrawn an application, why?

I had two final in-person job interviews very close together, which made their time frames in the interview process very similar. One institution contacted me first with an offer and after some further discussion and negotiation, I had not heard yet from the other institution, so I gladly accepted the offer. Due to this, I had to withdraw my application at the other library that I had not heard back from. 

If you’ve turned down an offer (or offers), why?

It was not financially viable at the time and little flexibility was given in the relocation time.

If you want to share a great, inspirational, funny,  horrific or other story about an experience you have had at any stage in the hiring process, please do so here:

For one of my job interviews, the library sent a driver to pick me up from the airport. As I was talking to the driver, he asked me about the job, location, and other information. During the drive to the hotel, he said “You want this job right?” I enthusiastically said “Yes!” and he said “Well you go in there and show them how much you want this job, but also show them why they want you too.” It really affirmed the idea that interviews go both ways, which before I always thought was a myth made up by employers haha! It was a very memorable moment that inspired me and gave me a lot of confidence. 

What should employers do to make the hiring process better for job hunters?

Transparency in the job description as much as possible. Additionally, communicate as much as possible throughout the process. Make sure the candidates know what to expect throughout all steps of the process. 

You and Your Well-Being

How are you doing, generally?

√ I’m optimistic 

What are your job search self-care strategies?

treat myself after interviews or applications

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?

Set yourself up as best you can with research and preparation. The rest is just being you. People hire people, so after you ensure that you have the qualifications, employers are only looking to see if they can work with you and can picture you as their colleague.  

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 

In relation to your graduation, when did you find your first “professional” position?

√ I was actually hired before I graduated

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)?

I definitely got support, guidance, help, and advice from my library school and the librarians in the library that I have an assistantship with. 

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about searching for or finding your first post-graduation position?

It is stressful and difficult applying for jobs within this field. The process is long, grueling, and ultimately feels like another job within itself. Also, there is such a wide range of expectations that vary even between libraries, so being prepared is key in my opinion. Additionally, having someone like a mentor to debrief with or talk about the interview process is crucial because they can answer any questions, even ones you may think are dumb. As graduates, we don’t know what we don’t know, so reach out and ask as many questions as you can. I remember asking a librarian before my in-person interviews “Am I allowed to bring a water bottle to these interviews?” (While also being in shock that the interviews are all-day).” I felt like this was such a dumb question along with other small things I asked, but she assured me they are not dumb because this employment process is not talked about in classes and there is no way we would know these things as students without asking. Finding someone to ask these questions can better ensure you are prepared and less anxious throughout this already stressful process. 

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“I’m currently working as an independent archivist with my own freelance business.”

Headshot of Alexandra Cook, who has curly red hair and a big smile

Alexandra Cook has a bachelor’s from Hood College, and an MLIS from the University of Maryland. Her past experiences include working in local historical societies and state archives, as well as performing freelance archival work. Some of her areas of interest include: digital curation, community archives, human rights archives, and archival consulting. 

Your Demographics and Search Parameters

How long have you been job hunting?

√ A year to 18 months 

Why are you job hunting?  

√ This is the next step after finishing library/archives/other LIS graduate degree

√ I’m unemployed 

√ Looking for remote/virtual work (or at least hybrid)

√ My current job is temporary

√ My current job provides insufficient or no benefits (Healthcare or beyond) 

√ I need more flexibility in my schedule (to care for dependents or otherwise)

√ Because I reassessed my priorities after COVID 

Where do you look for open positions?  

SAA, ArchivesGig, ALA JobLIST, Google

What position level are you looking for?  

√ Entry level

√ Requiring at least two years of experience 

√ Clerk/Library Assistant 

What type(s) of organization are you looking in? 

√ Academic library

√ Archives

√ Library vendor/service provider

√ Public library

√ Special library 

What part of the world are you in?

√ Mid-Atlantic US 

What’s your region like? 

√ Urban area

√ Suburban area

√ Rural area 

Are you willing/able to move for employment? 

√ No 

What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?

Remote/hybrid, located close by, good benefits and salary 

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 

√ Having a good reputation 

√ 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 it doesn’t say that remote/hybrid options are available 

The Process

How much time do you spend preparing an application packet?

It depends, but it can take me at least a day, or a week at most

What are the steps you follow to prepare an application packet?

I usually work on my resume and cover letter simultaneously

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Email 

When would you like potential employers to contact you? 

√ To acknowledge my application

√ 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?

It might be unrealistic on my end, but I like to have an idea of where I stand after about 5 to 6 weeks after sending my application in. 

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  √ Not Applicable
  • Interviewed for a job where an internal candidate was eventually chosen   √ Happened the majority of the time or always 
  • Asked for an accommodation for a disability √ Not Applicable
  • Withdrawn an application before the offer stage √ Not Applicable
  • Turned down an offer  √ Not Applicable 

You and Your Well-Being

How are you doing, generally?

√ I’m somewhat depressed 

√ I’m frustrated 

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?)

2020

When did you start your first job search for a “professional” position (or other position that utilized your degree)?

√ Less than six months before graduating with my MLIS/other LIS degree, but still before I graduated 

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? 

√ Contract 

√ Other: I’m currently working as an independent archivist with my own freelance business. This current project started as my field study requirement before graduating, and I’ve continued on since.

Did you get support from your library school for your first job hunt (and/or any subsequent ones)?

I found my current project through my program’s email list. I haven’t really reached out to my university since then, but I have been receiving job notices through the listserv. 

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“You have to take breaks, especially if you are employed and looking.”

Hunting Giraffe, Kalahari.' Author of work: Lulu Farini. via National Archives
Hunting Giraffe, Kalahari.’ Author of work: Lulu Farini. via National Archives

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?

√ A year to 18 months 

Why are you job hunting?  

√ Looking for more money 

√ I want to work at a different type of library/institution 

√ My current job is awful/toxic 

Where do you look for open positions?  

ALA Joblist CA/OR listservs

What position level are you looking for?  

√ Entry level

√ Requiring at least two years of experience 

What type(s) of organization are you looking in? 

√ Academic library 

√ Public library 

√ Special library 

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? 

√ Yes, within my country

What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?

Salary, benefits, flexibility (hours/responsibilities)

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 

√ Prioritizing work-life balance

√ Other: Training / onboarding plan for first 90 days

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?

Too many responsibilities listed, weird statements about humor, smiling, or atmosphere. 

The Process

How much time do you spend preparing an application packet?

24-48 hours

What are the steps you follow to prepare an application packet?

Research institution & library. Check the coworkers publications/presentations. Think about what they need & what I can offer them. Update resume, write cover letter, begin filling out application, notify my references that I’m applying for the position 

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Phone 

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?

Anywhere from 1 month to 6 months

How do you prepare for interviews?

Do a mock interview with a friend. Select good stories to tell. Make sure to end on a strength.

What are your most hated interview questions, and why?

Tell us a joke – weird question to ask.

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  √ I don’t know  
  • 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  √ Not Applicable
  • Turned down an offer √ Happened once 

If you’ve turned down an offer (or offers), why?

Received a better salary from another job I’d applied for. 

What should employers do to make the hiring process better for job hunters?

Post salaries, provide interview questions ahead of time. Require teaching assessment of the hired librarian, but don’t have top 5 applicants teach.

You and Your Well-Being

How are you doing, generally?

√ I’m somewhat depressed

√ I’m despondent

√ I’m frustrated 

What are your job search self-care strategies?

Stop applying after a while. You have to take breaks, especially if you are employed and looking. Counting my blessings.

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Author’s Corner: Professional Development for Librarians

Welcome back to Author’s Corner! This series features excerpts or guest posts from authors of books about LIS careers. 

In this installment, we hear from Mary H. Moen and Sarah A. Buchanan, the editors of a book about keeping our skills sharp and our knowledge up to date. In addition to the stated benefit of a continuing education course, Moen and Buchanan point out some of the additional benefits for our career development. 

If you’re interested in reading beyond this post, the citation for the book is:

Moen, M. H. & Buchanan, S. A. (Eds.). (2020). Leading Professional Development: Growing Librarians for the Digital Age. Libraries Unlimited. 


Continuing education for library professionals is a shared endeavor of professional organizations, graduate schools, and employer libraries. Continuing education programs today have diverse characteristics and are ever-evolving as online learning networks, in-person workshops, study abroad immersions, service-learning coursework, digital badges, and combinations thereof. 

Skills Development: Where to Turn

Library professionals seeking to enhance their skills can choose from many source providers who specialize in teaching information literacy and/or serving one’s community through public programming. A set of papers engaging with recent initiatives was grouped for presentation in Denver, Colorado at the February 2018 ALISE Annual Conference – a key national venue for library education research (that was till then co-located with the ALA Midwinter Meeting). There, one of our audience members was Dr. Blanche Woolls who expressed her appreciation for the “necessary” research having been done about the initiatives’ educational contributions, and also her interest in seeing a “good, practical book on providing professional development.” Dr. Woolls provided steadfast guidance – and expert indexing – to our resulting editorial collaboration on Leading Professional Development (2020). Together we recruited authors and reviewers, ensured reviewer comments were addressed by authors, witnessed the emergence of new ideas, and contributed a preface reflecting thematically on the chapters in the current learning environment. When we returned page proofs on Wednesday, March 11, 2020 to our Editorial Project Manager, the global pandemic was just encroaching and soon it would redefine libraries the world over. Yet rereading the book in 2022-23 at the gracious invitation of Emily Weak now offers us many useful reminders of what specific learning activities might best serve one’s changing needs in our changing times – e.g., we have each recently graduated students whose entire MLIS education was completed online, and have taught others in both in-person and hybrid modalities. Each program or course offers everyone – student and teacher alike – a chance to incorporate the new “tips, ideas, and proven solutions” (Catherine Hakala-Ausperk in Public Libraries magazine 60.5, 2021) that are generously presented by the chapter authors.

Lifelong Learning Resources

In addition to choices in modality, new professionals can choose from providers for their learning experiences that may be based in universities like ours, in state and municipal workforce departments, and/or in professional societies. The introductory chapter establishes how the library profession sustains itself through the twin avenues of career development and outward-facing engagement. Its overview of the book demonstrates how each program, detailed further in an individual chapter, successfully engages the learner by “networking” them into community resources – including fellow professionals at all career levels – and encouraging learners’ continued engagement with pressing social and cultural issues. Four trends – digital technologies, practical tips, building community, and experiential learning – that are examined across the subsequent chapters facilitate productive transformations between the theory and practices of lifelong learning that we see as so central to modern librarianship. Today we appreciate the insights still to be gained from wider participation in such programs: both as presented and in the evolutions that have occurred since their writing and which are sure to continue. Given the ALA’s cumulative estimate that over 350,000 people work in paid library positions (per 2018 statistics), there is sufficient demand along each of the dimensions of modality, provider, and topic preference for many programs, including those discussed in the book, to be sustained and continue meeting future needs. We see a role for every kind of learner and provider in bettering both the world of libraries and the worlds they serve.


Dr. Moen is faculty in the Graduate School of Library and Information Studies, University of Rhode Island. She has been a school librarian and program director of the Media Smart Libraries program at URI: https://mediasmartlibraries.uri.edu/home.html

Dr. Buchanan is faculty in the iSchool, University of Missouri. She has been a librarian and archivist and advises the Public Broadcasting Preservation Fellowship at MU: https://education.missouri.edu/information-science-learning-technologies/2020/09/18/digitization-station/ .

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“If you show up in jeans looking like you just walked through a tornado, you’re crossed off the list immediately.”

The president of the Russian state library Victor Vasilevich Fyodorov. Just, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

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 hiring practices. I invite you to take what’s useful and leave the rest.  

This person hires for a:

√ Public Library

Title: Assistant Director

Titles hired: Adult/YS Reference Librarian, Teen Services Coordinator, Library Aide, Library Page

Who makes hiring decisions at your organization:

√ Library Administration

√ The position’s supervisor

Which of the following does your organization regularly require of candidates?

√ Online application

√ Cover letter

√ Resume

√ References

√ More than one round of interviews

Does your organization use automated application screening? 

√ No

Briefly describe the hiring process at your organization and your role in it:

When a position opens up a job description is prepared and approved, then advertised by the state library online. The admin team collects applicants and reviews them to see who we want to interview, then convenes a hiring panel of relevant individuals (usually the supervisor of the position and the director/assistant director) with a third for Librarian and higher level positions. Candidates we select to continue do a background check and a city mandated occupational fitness exam, references, and then receive an offer letter. Librarian and higher level positions generally require a second interview.

Think about the last candidate who really wowed you, on paper, in an interview, or otherwise. Why were they so impressive?

The last candidate for one of our librarian positions had many fantastic ideas for the youth space that they spoke fluently about in the interview. It was clear that they had put a lot of thought into the position and wanted it for what it entailed rather than just because it was a job.

Do you have any instant dealbreakers?

Unpreparedness or untidiness at the interview. If you show up in jeans looking like you just walked through a tornado, you’re crossed off the list immediately. If you’re doing a remote interview, clean your room before turning the camera on! I also very much am not inclined to hire anyone who doesn’t have anything to ask the interviewers at the end of or during the interview. Asking questions shows you’re engaged and interested in what the position entails.

What do you wish you could know about candidates that isn’t generally revealed in the hiring process?

How many pages should each of these documents be?

The true reason for why you applied with us. It’s 100% okay to say it’s just because you saw the listing online and you feel like a good fit, we don’t need a made up story about how our library has always been a dream for you! (Unless of course it actually has, in which case, go right ahead!)

Cover Letter: √ Only One!

Resume: √ Two is ok, but no more

CV: √ We don’t ask for this

What is the most common mistake that people make in an interview?

Not practicing responses. There’s a wealth of sample questions at various places online, you should at least have a fluent response prepared for “Why do you want to work for us?” or “Tell us about yourself.” and similar basic questions. Should also run through some scenarios and questions specific to the position. I think a lot of people try to wing their interviews without really preparing beforehand, and it shows.

Do you conduct virtual interviews? What do job hunters need to know about shining in this setting?

Tidy room (or blurred/green screened BG). Tidy appearance. Treat it exactly like you would an in person interview. But most of all make sure you have a decent quality microphone!

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?

Research what goes on in a library and relate the work through equivalencies. Stocking shelves at a grocery store can have many parallels to keeping shelves in order in a library. Caring for children at a daycare can be very relevant to working in Youth Services. There’s parallels just about everywhere, use your skills to both show you can do the work well but ALSO that you understand what work in a library asks of you.

When does your organization *first* mention salary information?

√ It’s part of the job ad

What does your organization do to reduce bias in hiring? What are the contexts in which discrimination still exists in this process?

Trainings and conscious effort. Our region of the country is not terribly diverse, but we absolutely hear and hire diverse candidates, and I’m not aware of any context in which discrimination exists in our hiring process.

What questions should candidates ask you? What is important for them to know about your organization and the position you are hiring for?

I always like to hear a candidate ask about the interviewers. “What brought YOU to this library?” “What do YOU like about working here?” as it will give the candidate a great picture of what it’s like working there and also is a great way to start a candid conversation in an interview. Never be afraid to make the interview a two way street, it doesn’t have to be just rigidly structured single direction questions. I also like for them to ask about what sort of projects/tasks the candidate would be expected to take on immediately, as it shows initiative and interest in the role.

Additional Demographics

What part of the world are you in?

√ Northeastern US

What’s your region like?

√ Rural

Is your workplace remote/virtual?

√ Never or not anymore

How many staff members are at your organization?

√ 11-50

Is there anything else you’d like to say, either to job hunters or to me, the survey author?

The job market for librarians can be rough if you only look locally. I always advise aspiring librarians to look nationally (or even internationally, as an ALA approved MLIS isn’t just good for the US but Canada too!) for good opportunities. If you widen your search, and are open to a faraway move, it can actually be relatively easy to find a job! I’ve worked in all four corners of North America and two countries while climbing up through libraries, and compared to trying to search for a job just where I was, it’s a relative breeze.

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Communicate frequently and personably

Goose hunting in Klamath County, Oregon, OSU Special Collections via Flickr Commons
Goose hunting in Klamath County, Oregon, OSU Special Collections via Flickr Commons

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?  

√ Looking for more money

√ Looking for a promotion/more responsibility 

√ I want to work at a different type of library/institution

√ I want to work with a different type of collection 

Where do you look for open positions?  

USAjobs, Twitter, professional listservs

What position level are you looking for?  

√ Supervisory

√ Department Head

√ Senior Librarian 

What type(s) of organization are you looking in? 

√ Academic library 

√ Special library 

What part of the world are you in?

√ Mid-Atlantic US 

What’s your region like? 

√ Urban area 

Are you willing/able to move for employment? 

√ Yes, to a specific list of places 

What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?

Good pay, pleasant working environment, interesting work.

How many jobs have you applied to during your current search? (Please indicate if it’s an estimate or exact)

exactly 2

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 

√ 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?

4-6 hours 

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Email 

When would you like potential employers to contact you? 

√ Once the position has been filled, even if it’s not me

√ Other: Prior to checking references

During your current search, have you had any of the following experiences:

  • Submitted an application and got no response  √ Not Applicable
  • Had an interview and never heard back  √ Not Applicable
  • 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  √ Not Applicable
  • Turned down an offer √ Not Applicable

If you’ve turned down an offer (or offers), why?

A combination of pay rate offered and holding out for a better position applied to (but not yet selected to interview for)

What should employers do to make the hiring process better for job hunters?

Communicate frequently and personably.

You and Your Well-Being

How are you doing, generally?

√ I’m optimistic 

√ I’m frustrated 

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Applied to a job that required 5 references!!! They sent me 3 rejection letters. Yeesh I get it!

Hunting Party in the Pinelands by the Florida State Archives

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?

√ A year to 18 months 

Why are you job hunting?  

√ Looking for more money

√ I want to work at a different type of library/institution

√ Looking for remote/virtual work (or at least hybrid)

√ My current job provides insufficient or no benefits (Healthcare or beyond)

√ My current job is boring 

Where do you look for open positions?  

Metro ala Joblist linkedin association of pnw libraries

What position level are you looking for?  

√ Requiring at least two years of experience 

√ Supervisory

√ Department Head

What type(s) of organization are you looking in? 

√ Academic library 

√ Special library 

What part of the world are you in?

√ Mid-Atlantic US

What’s your region like? 

√ Urban area 

Are you willing/able to move for employment? 

√ Yes, to a specific list of places 

What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?

Money and hybrid work 

How many jobs have you applied to during your current search? (Please indicate if it’s an estimate or exact)

Lolol I think 64ish 

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  

√ 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?

Too many duties the 5 jobs in one

The Process

How much time do you spend preparing an application packet?

Depends on how interested I am but maybe 3 hours 

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Email 

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?

3 months 

How do you prepare for interviews?

Googling 

During your current search, have you had any of the following experiences:

  • Submitted an application and got no response  √ Happened the majority of the time or always 
  • Had an interview and never heard back  √ Happened the majority of the time or always 
  • Interviewed for a job where an internal candidate was eventually chosen  √ Happened more than once  
  • Asked for an accommodation for a disability  √ Happened once  
  • Withdrawn an application before the offer stage  √ Happened once  
  • Turned down an offer √ Happened more than once 

If you have ever withdrawn an application, why?

Found out weird stuff about employer

If you’ve turned down an offer (or offers), why?

Money location  

If you want to share a great, inspirational, funny,  horrific or other story about an experience you have had at any stage in the hiring process, please do so here:

Applied to a job that required 5 references!!! They sent me 3 rejection letters. Yeesh I get it!

What should employers do to make the hiring process better for job hunters?

Pay more

You and Your Well-Being

How are you doing, generally?

√ I’m somewhat depressed 

√ I feel alone in my search  

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?)

2018

When did you start your first job search for a “professional” position (or other position that utilized your degree)?

√ More than six months before graduating with my MLIS/other LIS degree 

In relation to your graduation, when did you find your first “professional” position?

√ Less than six months 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

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Stats and Graphs: Why are you job searching?

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 February 23rd, there are 412 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 second 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.

Question two asks, “Why are you job hunting? (check all that apply)”

I provided 19 possible options, plus the choice of “Other.” All options were chosen more than once, with the most popular being “Looking for more money” (chosen by 181 out of 412 respondents) and the least popular being “Because I’m worried about a possible recession” (only 17 out of 412 respondents).

37% of respondents (the second largest group) chose “This is the next step after finishing library/archives/other LIS graduate degree,” indicating that while a significant portion of respondents were new LIS grads, the majority were not. This is supported by the answers to a question we’ll look deeper at in the next Stats and Graphs post: “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?)” Only about 30% of respondents (126 out of 412) had a graduation date of 2022 or later.

I was surprised that only 96 respondents (about 23%) were looking for remote/virtual work. It has felt like this is something everyone is seeking right now! I do not have a sense of the percent of open jobs that offer remote/virtual work. I imagine it is less than 23% of the total, but I am not at all certain.

I was also interested to note that only 56 respondents (about 13.6%) were unemployed. I have a picture in my head of the LIS job seeker filling her days with applications, but in reality many people are searching for work while trying to fulfill the duties of an existing job – which may be boring, toxic, or otherwise additionally stressful.

Bar Chart illustrating responses to "Why are you looking for work?"  Text of chart follows image
ReasonNumber who chosePercent who chose
Looking for more money18143.93%
This is the next step after finishing library/archives/other LIS graduate degree15437.38%
Looking for a promotion/more responsibility12029.13%
I want to work at a different type of library/institution10625.73%
I’m underemployed (not enough hours or overqualified for current position)10625.73%
My current job is awful/toxic10024.27%
Looking for remote/virtual work (or at least hybrid)9623.30%
My current job provides insufficient or no benefits (Healthcare or beyond)6816.50%
Because I reassessed my priorities after COVID6716.26%
My current job is temporary6616.02%
My current job is boring6515.78%
I’m employed outside of the field and I’d like to be in it6415.53%
I’m unemployed5613.59%
I want to work with a different type of collection5413.11%
Other4911.89%
I want to work with a different population4711.41%
I need more flexibility in my schedule (to care for dependents or otherwise)338.01%
I’ve been threatened at my job or had to deal with hostility/danger/scary behavior from the public or coworkers297.04%
I’m worried I will be laid off/let go/fired from my current position245.83%
Because I’m worried about a possible recession174.13%

“Other” Reasons

49 people provided their own reasoning under “other” (always in addition to choosing at least one of my options).

While many of these write-in responses were unique, 16 people (3.8%) said they were job searching because they wanted to relocate. Some of those mentioned specific reasons, such as to be near family, climate change, and the political environment. For example, “I’m looking to live in a different area of the country, because politics in my current state make me feel unsafe.”

I see the following additional possibilities for grouping responses: 3 people mentioned their organization’s budget, 3 people were searching because of their current organization’s leadership, 2 people wanted to leave the profession, and 2 wanted to return after being full time caregivers (so, no net change between those last two reasons…).

The full list of “Other” responses is:

Because the administration at my current job is awful/toxic (rather than the job itself)
I want to work somewhere that administration actually cares about serving students and the wellbeing of employees instead of feathering their caps on our backbreaking labor so they can get promoted.
I would like to change job responsibilities (not monitor social media platforms). Do not trust leadership. Am unsure my values align with the values of the organization.
Budget issues in my place of employment
current job NEVER gives raises even COLA is rare and we’re facing big budget cuts which will significantly change the nature of my work in ways I do not want
My entire library team is being laid off
I live in Florida.
I’m looking to live in a different area of the country because politics in my current state make me feel unsafe.
My current location is increasingly environmentally uninhabitable
My job is currently under attack by state government with a particular vendetta against my demographic
I relocated to a new state due to my husband’s job
I want to relocate to be closer to my family
My family is relocating to a different region
Need to be closer to family
Planning to relocate to a different part of the country for family/personal reasons
Looking to move closer to family; looking to get out of Florida because politically it is a hellscape
I want to leave libraries
Looking to possibly get out of librarianship
I’d like to relocate but it’s not urgent and I’m content in my current work so I’m in a position to be selective.
I’m actually near the end of my career (within 5 years I hope). I’m just tired of my long commute. Remote or hybrid work is fine but really I just want to be closer to home. My workplace is about 60 miles from home one way. I’ve been commuting back and forth for 17 years! Should have moved long ago!
I’m looking to relocate
Looking to work internationally; few visa-sponsoring opportunities exist
wanting to relocate
Would like to move.
Returning to work after raising my family
trying to re-enter the workforce after being a SAHM/caregiver for for 15 years
4 years ( had temp post for 3 years but looked for permanent)
Because I reassessed my priorities after a health and age landmark.
Because I want to work in this field
i have had my whole career in one library system and want to explore more
I have many interests (e.g. archives, special collections, special libraries, etc.)
I just like to see what’s out there but I’m not really looking-looking
I like change and like to see what all is out there. Maybe I’ll find something I love
I want to gain library experience
I’m unemployed and about to begin yet another temp/pt job. so thats why above answers chosen
I’ve never been employed full-time
looking for new challenges
Looking for solely remote work
Lost my permanent position due to pandemic
Next step after finishing a LIT diploma
Poor mental and physical health as a direct result of my work
Retired and looking for PT work
taking care of my own mental health
The current work I do is unfulfilling. I want to make a difference. I don’t want to manage people or projects.
want to leave technical services
while the cause of the toxicity has left my institution; the harm they cause in the 3 years they were in charge will take at least 5 years to correct; and that’s truly a very long time to wait for things to be better…

What are your thoughts on these results? Do you have a reason to look for work that is not mentioned above?

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Don’t get lost in searching, make sure you take care of your family’s financial needs, the job satisfaction will eventually come.

Bill Chase is an experienced professional and 2020 MLIS graduate of Kent State University, concentrating in archival practices.  He is a passionate historian who seeks to enable others to pursue their own dreams and passions through the power of information.  Having graduated during the pandemic, he continues to seek out his first paid LIS related position while working in an unrelated but non-profit organization.

Your Demographics and Search Parameters

How long have you been job hunting?

√ More than 18 months 

Why are you job hunting?  

√ This is the next step after finishing library/archives/other LIS graduate degree 

√ I’m employed outside of the field and I’d like to be in it 

√ My current job is boring

Where do you look for open positions?  

Indeed, Archivesgig, SAA job board, ALA job board, normally have to search each organization individually

What position level are you looking for?  

√ Entry level

√ Requiring at least two years of experience 

What type(s) of organization are you looking in? 

√ Archives 

√ Other: Museum

What part of the world are you in?

√ Southeastern US 

What’s your region like? 

√ Urban area

√ Suburban area 

Are you willing/able to move for employment? 

√ No 

What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?

Pay range, location near me, room for advancement

How many jobs have you applied to during your current search? (Please indicate if it’s an estimate or exact)

40+

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

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?

Temporary or term position without long-term security

The Process

How much time do you spend preparing an application packet?

2-3 hours

What are the steps you follow to prepare an application packet?

Research the organization and staff 

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Email 

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?

1 month

How do you prepare for interviews?

Deep dive research on the organization and collections

What are your most hated interview questions, and why?

Anything that starts with “Tell me a time when…”

During your current search, have you had any of the following experiences:

  • Submitted an application and got no response  √ Happened the majority of the time or always
  • Had an interview and never heard back  √ Happened the majority of the time or always 
  • 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 once  
  • Turned down an offer √ Not Applicable

If you have ever withdrawn an application, why?

Once, I discovered an error to correct, resubmitted but never called back. 

What should employers do to make the hiring process better for job hunters?

Consider people with similar but non-LIS specific experience. 

You and Your Well-Being

How are you doing, generally?

√ I’m maintaining

√ I’m frustrated 

√ I feel alone in my search 

What are your job search self-care strategies?

Don’t get lost in searching, make sure you take care of your family’s financial needs, the job satisfaction will eventually come. 

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?

To employers, include salary please.  Recognize that most positions are underpaid considering the education required.  Don’t be surprised when people jump ship (or industry) to make more money. 

Do you have any comments for Emily (the survey author) or are there any other questions you think we should add to this survey?

Thank you for putting this together!

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?)

2020

When did you start your first job search for a “professional” position (or other position that utilized your degree)?

√ More than six months before 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? 

√ Other: Volunteer / Unpaid

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?

Start volunteering ASAP in library school to get networking and experience or wait to go to library school until after you’re in the field and have LIS experience. 

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I place a lot of weight on retail experience that teaches you how to think on your feet and manage difficult situations.

Amy is the Head of Adult Services for a public library serving diverse suburban and rural communities. Ordering books and managing the reference staff are probably the most visible parts of her job, but she especially enjoys mentoring future librarians and helping her library’s users navigate the complicated world of technology. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, and finds that training transfers well to her work in public libraries. She lives in the Metro Detroit area with her husband, toddler son, tween stepchildren, and two very hungry cats. (Seriously. They’re starving.) 

Briefly describe the hiring process at your organization and your role in it:

We create a job posting, and distribute it through various channels: our consortium’s website, job seeking sites, Facebook, etc. If I’m the hiring manager, job applicants direct their application materials to me via email: application, resume, and cover letter. Sometimes I’m the only eyes on their materials before the interview, but if other senior staff members have time, or it’s an especially important position, I’ll ask for other opinions. I invite the candidates I feel are qualified to an interview with myself and another senior member of staff: typically a director or department head, but occasionally a senior librarian. 

Titles hired include: Librarian, Reference Assistant, Circulation Assistant

Who makes hiring decisions at your organization:

√ Library Administration

√ The position’s supervisor 

Which of the following does your organization regularly require of candidates?

√ Online application

√ Cover letter

√ Resume 

√ References

√ Proof of degree 

Does your organization use automated application screening? 

√ No 

Think about the last candidate who really wowed you, on paper, in an interview, or otherwise. Why were they so impressive?

The last candidate to really wow me had just an incredible job history – she’d switched from archaeology to library science. She had incredible stories that highlighted relevant skills she would bring to the position. In general, that’s what I appreciate most in a good candidate: not necessarily that their stories are interesting or exciting, but that they show the candidate’s best abilities and demonstrate their mastery of the exact skills I’m asking about.

Do you have any instant dealbreakers?

I can’t say there’s any one thing that will always be a dealbreaker, but what comes the closest is zero work history. It’s difficult to evaluate candidates whose entire experience is either academic (as a student) or volunteer.

What do you wish you could know about candidates that isn’t generally revealed in the hiring process?

For my part-time candidates, how their availability will change after they’re hired! (Because it will! It always does!)

How many pages should each of these documents be?

Cover Letter: √ Two is ok, but no more 

Resume: √ As many as it takes, but keep it reasonable and relevant  

CV: √ We don’t ask for this 

What is the most common mistake that people make in an interview?

Not giving themselves the time and space to think and answer a question fully. If I ask for an example and something doesn’t immediately spring to mind, tell me that, and ask for a minute to think. If you can come up with the example I’m looking for, I’d rather hear that after a moment’s awkward silence than have a quick, general answer that dances around the question!

Do you conduct virtual interviews? What do job hunters need to know about shining in this setting?

Not typically, no.

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?

When we’re hiring assistants for the public service desks – reference and circulation – it’s all about customer service! There are a wide variety of experiences that fit into that category, and I place a lot of weight on retail experience that teaches you how to think on your feet and manage difficult situations. 

When does your organization *first* mention salary information?

√ It’s part of the job ad 

What does your organization do to reduce bias in hiring? What are the contexts in which discrimination still exists in this process?

Unfortunately, we don’t do anything formal to reduce bias. 

What questions should candidates ask you? What is important for them to know about your organization and the position you are hiring for?

Everyone should ask what a typical day on the job looks like. If you’re considering a position to “get your foot in the door” or gain experience for another position, you should ask 1. what the potential for promotion is and then 2. what opportunities the job provides for you to practice new skills and gain the experience you’re looking for.

Additional Demographics

What part of the world are you in?

√ Midwestern US 

What’s your region like?

√ Suburban

√ Rural 

Is your workplace remote/virtual?

√ Never or not anymore 

How many staff members are at your organization?

√ Other: 40+ 

Author’s note: Hey, thanks for reading! If you like reading, why not try commenting or sharing? Or are you somebody who hires Library, Archives or other LIS workers? Please consider giving your own opinion by filling out the survey here.

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Filed under 1 A Return to Hiring Librarians Survey, Midwestern US, Public, Rural area, Suburban area