word of mouth

Rabbit hunting on the Otago Central Railway, ca 1900This anonymous interview is with a job hunter who is currently employed (even if part-time or in an unrelated field), has not been hired within the last two months, and has been looking for a new position for a year to 18 months. This person is looking in academic libraries, vendors/service providers, public and special libraries, at the entry level.

This job hunter is in an urban area in the Midwestern US and is willing to move

selectively (no small in the middle of nowhere towns)

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

-good location
-good salary
-positive work environment

Where do you look for open positions?

several national and state job boards, LinkedIn, word of mouth

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

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

What’s your routine for preparing an application packet? How much time do you spend on it?

30 minutes if it’s a job similar to one I have previous applied for, 1 hour or more if I have to rewrite my cover letter or shorten my CV

Have you ever stretched the truth, exaggerated, or lied on your resume, or at some other point during the hiring process?

√ No

When would you like employers to contact you?

√ To acknowledge my application
√ To tell me if I have or have not been selected to move on to the interview stage
√ To follow-up after an interview
√ Once the position has been filled, even if it’s not me

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Email

Which events during the interview/visit are most important to your assessment of the position (i.e. deciding if you want the job)?

√ Tour of facility
√ Meeting department members/potential co-workers
√ Meeting with HR to talk about benefits/salary

What do you think employers should do to get the best candidates to apply?

Advertise widely, have a good reputation, offer competitive salaries

What should employers do to make the hiring process less painful?

Two day interviews aren’t necessary; half day is sufficient

What do you think is the secret to getting hired?

luck, timing, impeccable application materials, good interviewing skills, being ready with answers to common questions

Are you hunting for a new LIS job? Take the survey! http://tinyurl.com/hiringlibJOBHUNTERsurvey

This survey was co-authored by Naomi House from I Need A Library Job – Do you need one? Check it out!

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1 Comment

Filed under Job hunter's survey, Midwestern US, Urban area

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