“I had an interviewer ask me how clean my car and my room was on a scale of 1-10 with no explanation.”

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?  

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

√ I’m underemployed (not enough hours or overqualified for current position),

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

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

Where do you look for open positions? 

LinkedIn, specific career pages (60+ on my list), AMIA listserv, Archivesgig.com

What position level are you looking for?  

√ Entry level,

√ Clerk/Library Assistant

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

√ Academic library,

√ Archives,

√ Library vendor/service provider,

√ Public library,

√ Special library,

√ Media Archives

What part of the world are you in?

√ Southwestern 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?

relevance to my career goals as a film archivist, location, room for growth

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

80 (exact)

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

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

If it’s a part-time or short-term role with little pay outside of where I’m willing to relocate to, then I don’t apply.

The Process

How much time do you spend preparing an application packet?

1+ hours.

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

I take notes on the job description, write/rewrite a cover letter tailored to the description, tweak my resume if needed, go through any application questions.

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?

Depends on the type of institution, but anywhere from 3 weeks to 6 months (for an academic library).

How do you prepare for interviews?

I write out answers to potential interview questions and make sure I’ve researched their institution really well and have a good understanding of their collections and structure. I also try to write out as many questions as I can for them.

What are your most hated interview questions, and why?

I hate the vague, “tell me a time when…” questions because I feel like I don’t know what they want from my answer.

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 √ 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?

Yes. I turned down an offer for a position that I didn’t feel ready for or qualified for and would’ve had to move across the country for (though they would’ve provided relocation assistance). It didn’t feel like the right job to warrant the move, though I probably would’ve taken the job if it were closer or in a more ideal 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:

I had an interviewer ask me how clean my car and my room was on a scale of 1-10 with no explanation.

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

Be quicker and more informative in the hiring process. Keep the candidate updated if they haven’t been selected. If there are interview questions you can share ahead of time, please do that!

You and Your Well-Being

How are you doing, generally?

√ I’m maintaining,

√ I’m somewhat depressed,

√ I’m despondent,

√ I’m frustrated,

√ Not out of money yet, but worried,

√ I feel alone in my search

What are your job search self-care strategies?

Get lots of sleep. Don’t just stare at LinkedIn all day. Go for a walk.

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?

It feels like it’s an especially hard time right now to find jobs in the LIS field and being rejected from jobs doesn’t always mean you’re lacking as a person. Things will turn around and something good will happen soon.

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

It’s nice to know that there are resources for people looking for jobs in this field. 🙂

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?)

2024

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

#GLAMJobs #librarians #libraries #libraryHiring #libraryInterview #libraryJobs #libraryWork #LISCareers #lisJobs

“we have qualified candidates apply and some who are less qualified”

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. If you are someone who hires Library, Archives or other LIS workers, please consider giving your own opinion by filling out the survey here.

Current Hiring Practices and Organizational Needs

These questions are about your current hiring practices in general – the way things have been run the last year or two (or three).

Where do you advertise your job listings?

RAILS Library Job board, ILA job board, Indeed

Do you notice a difference in application quality based on where the applicant saw the job ad?

Yes

Do you include salary in the job ad?

√ Yes

Do you use keyword matching or any automation tools to reduce the number of applications a human reads while considering candidates? 

√ No

Do you consider candidates who don’t meet all the requirements listed in the job ad?

√ Yes

Does your workplace require experience for entry-level librarian positions? (Officially or unofficially…)

√ Other: We require experience working with the public, but not necessarily in public libraries.

What is the current most common reason for disqualifying an applicant without an interview?

Experience for the position

Does your organization use one-way interviews? (Sometimes also called asynchronous or recorded interviews)

√ No

Do you provide interview questions before the interview?

√ Yes

If you provide interview questions before the interview, how far in advance?

2-4 days

How much of your interview process is virtual?

√ Other: Depends on the situation. If we have out of state candidates, we offer virtual to all our candidates.

Do you (or does your organization) give candidates feedback about applications or interview performance?

√ No

What is the most important thing for a job hunter to do in order to improve their hirability?

A good cover letter.

I want to hire someone who is:

engaged.

Your Last Recruitment

These are questions about the last person you hired (or the last position you attempted to fill). This person may not have been a librarian, and that’s ok.

Think about the most recent time you participated in hiring someone (or an attempt to hire someone) at your organization. What was the title of the position you were trying to fill?

Public Services Assistant Manager

When was this position hired?

√ Within the last three months

Approximately how many people applied for this position?

√ 25 or fewer

Approximately what percentage of those would you say were hirable?

√ 25% or less

And how would you define “hirable”?

Qualified and interested in this position

How did the recruitment for this position compare with recruitments in previous years?

Same – we have qualified candidates apply and some who are less qualified.

Your Workplace

This section asks for information about your workplace, including if you have lost positions in the last decade.

How many staff members are at your library/organization?

√ 10-50

Are you unionized?

√ No

How many permanent, full time job openings has your workplace posted in the last year?

√ 2

How many permanent, full time librarian (or other “professional” level) jobs has your workplace posted in the last year?

√ 2

Can you tell us how the number of permanent, full-time positions at your workplace has changed over the past decade?

√ There are fewer positions

Have any full-time librarian positions been replaced with part-time or hourly workers over the past decade? 

√ Yes

Have any full-time librarian positions been replaced with non-librarian, lower paid staff positions over the past decade?  

√ I don’t know

Is librarianship a dying profession?

√ No

Demographics

This section asks for information about you specifically.

What part of the world are you in?

√ Midwestern US

What’s your region like?

√ Urban area

What type of institution do you hire for (check all that apply):

√ Public Library

What type(s) of LIS professionals do you hire?

Adult and children’s librarians.

Are you a librarian?

√ Yes

Are you now or have you ever been:

√ A hiring manager (you are hiring people that you will directly or indirectly supervise),

√ A member of a hiring or search committee

#1 #14 #25 #35 #books #GLAMJobs #Librarian #librarians #libraries #Library #libraryHiring #libraryInterview #libraryJobs #libraryWork #LISCareers #lisJobs

“Sharing interview questions ahead of time is extremely helpful for me.”

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,

√ My current job is temporary

Where do you look for open positions? 

HigherEdJobs, ArchivesGig, Code4Lib, ALA joblist, ATLA, LinkedIn

What position level are you looking for?  

√ Entry level

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

√ Academic library,

√ Archives,

√ Special library

What part of the world are you in?

√ Midwestern US

What’s your region like?

√ Urban 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?

Type of work (cataloging), institution (special collections), and an urban setting

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

6 exactly

What steps, actions, or attributes are most important for employers to take to sell you on the job? 

√ Pay well,

√ Funding professional development,

√ Other: Convey a workplace that is welcoming to continued learning and collaboration in professional interests

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?

I have an academic background in religious studies, and have looked at ATLA’s job postings, but many require a statement of faith as part of the application materials, or state that you will have to sign a document agreeing with their doctrines. Definitely a red flag.

The Process

How much time do you spend preparing an application packet?

Initially, after feeling too overwhelmed to start the process for weeks, I spent a few hours preparing a resume and cover letter for a specific cataloging job. Once that first application was out of the way, I took further time to revise and seek feedback

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

I asked two mentors for feedback on my materials, and adjusted accordingly. For each position, I write down key words and responsibilities from the posting and attempt to group them together in related categories, which I use to restructure my cover letter, and add sections if needed to my basic template for cataloging jobs. I also modify the language in my resume to match the wording in the posting, and remove any bullet points or positions not relevant so it is no longer than two pages.

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?

3-6 months

How do you prepare for interviews?

Preparing answers to common situational questions and examples for collaboration, technologies, and specific use of cataloging skills/standards/tools mentioned in the posting. Also a mock interview with a family member or friend.

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 √ Not Applicable
• 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?

I was offered another position with better pay, location, and a focus closer to my preferred area of librarianship.

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

Sharing interview questions ahead of time is extremely helpful for me. I have anxiety, and find the interview process overwhelming to the point of physical sickness. This response is not representative of my actual capabilities at work, but to the specific context of an interview where I have no clear expectations and no familiarity with anyone involved. There’s a difference in expectations in the interview vs the workplace, and it’s unhelpful to insist that someone who can’t answer eloquently off the top of their head is unqualified or unequipped. If I know the questions 24 hours before or even just the morning of, its possible to have relevant experiences and thoughts on my mind that make the entire process better for the interviewer and for me.

You and Your Well-Being

How are you doing, generally?

√ I’m optimistic,

√ I’m maintaining,

√ I’m somewhat depressed

What are your job search self-care strategies?

designating time for it and trying not to worry outside of that time

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?)

2025

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?

√ 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)?

No. It’s a high ranked school that frequently reminds us of the fact, but does not have specific career support for library students and gives no guidance.

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

The support I had in my job search came from librarians I worked with in my school’s academic library. What allowed me to gain the skills I needed to get a job was prioritizing practical experience over classes, and taking every opportunity to do more varied work with a wide range of people.

#GLAMJobs #librarians #libraries #libraryHiring #libraryInterview #libraryJobs #libraryWork #LISCareers #lisJobs

“When they’ve cut people from the pool.”

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?

√ Six months to a year

Why are you job hunting?  

√ Looking for more money,

√ My current job is awful/toxic,

√ Other: I’d like to live in a different place

Where do you look for open positions? 

ALA jobList, ARLIS JobList, HigherEd Jobs, AltAc Jobs, Idealist, grad school job email, Words of Mouth

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,

√ Library vendor/service provider,

√ Special library,

√ Museums

What part of the world are you in?

√ Southwestern US

What’s your region like?

√ Suburban 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?

Not a kitchen sink job (clearly two or three positions bolted together), focused on instruction/research, space to be a little creative

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

24 (exact)

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,

√ Funding professional development,

√ Prioritizing EDI work,

√ 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?

really tight turn around times for library/higher ed jobs (tells me there’s an internal candidate that they’re fast tracking).

The Process

How much time do you spend preparing an application packet?

1-3 hours

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

tailor CV/resume to job, write cover letter (I write new ones for every job; I don’t have a template), prepare any other statements (less common in this search than in my post-library school search), submit

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,

√ Other: when they’ve cut people from the pool. If I don’t make it past the phone interview stage, I want to get that automated email that says they’ve gone in a different direction

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?

3-5 months

How do you prepare for interviews?

If I have questions in advance, I write bullet point answers. If not, I review the materials I submitted and the job description and take a stab at what kinds of scenarios might be relevant to the interviewers and bullet point those. I also prepare a short list of questions, some that I always ask and some that are tailored to the job.

What are your most hated interview questions, and why?

I’ve never actually been asked any of the classic trash questions, but I never know how to answer “how do you like to be managed”

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 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 √ Not Applicable
• Turned down an offer √ Not Applicable

If you’ve asked for an accommodation, what happened?

The only accomodations I’ve ever asked for are dietary, and people are fine about allergies and the fact that I don’t eat meat.

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

Communicate, communicate, communicate. Also, and I feel a little strongly about this, don’t ask for references at the start. You’re not going to use those until the on-campus stage at the earliest.

You and Your Well-Being

How are you doing, generally?

√ I’m optimistic,

√ I’m maintaining,

√ I feel alone in my search

What are your job search self-care strategies?

My task manager is game-ified and that’s really helpful. I get a little reward when I submit something. I also try to keep it at a managable pace, so not pressuring myself to do too many. If I get more done in a day great, but I set a manageable goal.

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?)

2019

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?

√ Six months to a year 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)?

not really

#GLAMJobs #librarians #libraries #libraryHiring #libraryInterview #libraryJobs #libraryWork #LISCareers #lisJobs

“turnover is a lot higher in the past couple of years”

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. If you are someone who hires Library, Archives or other LIS workers, please consider giving your own opinion by filling out the survey here.

Current Hiring Practices and Organizational Needs

These questions are about your current hiring practices in general – the way things have been run the last year or two (or three).

Where do you advertise your job listings?

Partnership Job Board, municipal website

Do you notice a difference in application quality based on where the applicant saw the job ad?

yes

Do you include salary in the job ad?

√ Yes

Do you use keyword matching or any automation tools to reduce the number of applications a human reads while considering candidates? 

√ No

Do you consider candidates who don’t meet all the requirements listed in the job ad?

√ No

Does your workplace require experience for entry-level librarian positions? (Officially or unofficially…)

√ Yes

What is the current most common reason for disqualifying an applicant without an interview?

Application does not demonstrate how the candidate meets the requirements of the position

Does your organization use one-way interviews? (Sometimes also called asynchronous or recorded interviews)

√ No

Do you provide interview questions before the interview?

√ Other: Sometimes for the first interview or if there is a presentation or demonstration

If you provide interview questions before the interview, how far in advance?

1 week

Does your interview process include taking the candidate out for a meal?

√ No, and I don’t think we ever have

How much of your interview process is virtual?

√ None

Do you (or does your organization) give candidates feedback about applications or interview performance?

√ If requested

What is the most important thing for a job hunter to do in order to improve their hirability?

Read what is in the posting and show how you meet the requirements

I want to hire someone who is:

accountability

Your Last Recruitment

These are questions about the last person you hired (or the last position you attempted to fill). This person may not have been a librarian, and that’s ok.

Think about the most recent time you participated in hiring someone (or an attempt to hire someone) at your organization. What was the title of the position you were trying to fill?

Circulation assistant

When was this position hired?

√ Within the last three months

Approximately how many people applied for this position?

√ more than 200

Approximately what percentage of those would you say were hirable?

√ 26-50%

And how would you define “hirable”?

Application addresses skills and qualifications

Your Workplace

This section asks for information about your workplace, including if you have lost positions in the last decade.

How many staff members are at your library/organization?

√ 10 -50

Are you unionized?

√ Yes, at least some workers are union members

How many permanent, full time job openings has your workplace posted in the last year?

√ 3-4

How many permanent, full time librarian (or other “professional” level) jobs has your workplace posted in the last year?

√ 2

Can you tell us how the number of permanent, full-time positions at your workplace has changed over the past decade?

√ Other: Have not changed but turnover is a lot higher in the past couple of years

Have any full-time librarian positions been replaced with part-time or hourly workers over the past decade? 

√ No

Have any full-time librarian positions been replaced with non-librarian, lower paid staff positions over the past decade?  

√ No

Is librarianship a dying profession?

√ No

Why or why not?

It is an evolving field

Demographics

This section asks for information about you specifically.

What part of the world are you in?

√ Canada

What’s your region like?

√ Urban area

What type of institution do you hire for (check all that apply):

√ Public Library

What type(s) of LIS professionals do you hire?

All at the library

Are you a librarian?

√ Yes

Are you now or have you ever been:

√ A hiring manager (you are hiring people that you will directly or indirectly supervise)

#GLAMJobs #Librarian #librarians #libraries #Library #libraryHiring #libraryInterview #libraryJobs #libraryWork #LISCareers #lisJobs

“Rewarding myself with a little treat after each time I get an interview.”

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,

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

√ My current job is boring,

√ I’m worried I will be laid off/let go/fired from my current position

Where do you look for open positions? 

INALJ, Indeed, LinkedIn, ArchivesGig

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?

√ Midwestern US

What’s your region like?

√ Urban area

Are you willing/able to move for employment?

√ Other: Yes, to blue states

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

More interesting work, better pay, better commute

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

20

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,

√ Funding professional development,

√ Prioritizing EDI work,

√ 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?

Job descriptions that emphasize faith-based values

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 institution, write cover letter, tweak resume to suit position, proofread. If it’s a job I’m really interested in I’ll have a friend look at it too.

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Email

When would you like potential employers to contact you?

√ 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?

2-3 months

How do you prepare for interviews?

Reread job posting, reread my cover letter, familiarize myself with the institution’s website and dig more deeply into it.

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 √ Happened more than once
• Asked for an accommodation for a disability √ Not Applicable
• Withdrawn an application before the offer stage √ Happened once
• Turned down an offer √ Happened once

If you have ever withdrawn an application, why?

Found out at end of first interview that the pay was extremely low and decided it was not worth it

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

Was told when offered the position that actually, someone in XYZ position has just left so the position I interviewed and was offered was also going to take on THOSE job duties – without any increase in pay

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

– Make it easier for people to apply; you have to jump through several hopes sometimes.

– Be clear, particularly about salaries.

You and Your Well-Being

How are you doing, generally?

√ I’m maintaining,

√ I’m frustrated,

√ I feel supported in my search

What are your job search self-care strategies?

Ranting to friends who are in the same position, rewarding myself with a little treat after each time I get an interview.

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?)

2022

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?

√ 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)?

No.

#GLAMJobs #librarians #libraries #libraryHiring #libraryInterview #libraryJobs #libraryWork #LISCareers #lisJobs

“I spend my time pouring over their website or social media”

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?  

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

√ I’m unemployed

Where do you look for open positions? 

LinkedIn, Glassdoor, The Partnership, Indeed, local library job boards, local college job boards

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,

√ Public library,

√ School library,

√ Special library

What part of the world are you in?

√ Canada

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?

Livable salary, good benefits, strong & clear mission statments

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

estimated 50+

What steps, actions, or attributes are most important for employers to take to sell you on the job? 

√ Having (and describing) excellent benefits,

√ Introducing me to staff,

√ Prioritizing work-life balance

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?

Entry level work that requires five or more years of experience.

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?

Research institution, Check my resume and cover letter and try to tailor them to fit what the job requires.

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?

2-4 Months

How do you prepare for interviews?

I spend my time pouring over their website or social media, this helps give me an idea of what that organization strives to accomplish, as well as how I can best fit within said organization.

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 √ Not Applicable
• Turned down an offer √ Not Applicable

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

If the position has been filled, just send an email.

You and Your Well-Being

How are you doing, generally?

√ I’m frustrated,

√ Not out of money yet, but worried,

√ 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?)

2024

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?

√ Less than six months after graduating

What kind of work was your first post-graduation professional position?

√ Substitute/Pool position

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

Occasional emails about new positions from my professors

#GLAMJobs #librarians #libraries #libraryHiring #libraryInterview #libraryJobs #libraryWork #LISCareers #lisJobs

“When I started as a Librarian 26 years ago, all we heard about was how librarianship was a dying profession.”

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. If you are someone who hires Library, Archives or other LIS workers, please consider giving your own opinion by filling out the survey here.

Current Hiring Practices and Organizational Needs

These questions are about your current hiring practices in general – the way things have been run the last year or two (or three).

Where do you advertise your job listings?

Our county’s career site, state library website, our state’s library assoc. listserv, BCALA, 2-3 local library school job posting sites

Do you notice a difference in application quality based on where the applicant saw the job ad?

Unfortunately, the county job application does not track where an applicant saw the job ad.

Do you include salary in the job ad?

√ Yes

Do you use keyword matching or any automation tools to reduce the number of applications a human reads while considering candidates? 

√ Other: I’m not sure. Our county HR department does the initial screening.

Do you consider candidates who don’t meet all the requirements listed in the job ad?

√ Yes

Does your workplace require experience for entry-level librarian positions? (Officially or unofficially…)

√ No

What is the current most common reason for disqualifying an applicant without an interview?

We typically have a healthy pool of candidates in terms of numbers and to narrow it down, we have to use consistent criteria. It usually comes down to years of experience in public libraries. We look at both professional and paraprofessional experience.

Does your organization use one-way interviews? (Sometimes also called asynchronous or recorded interviews)

√ No

Do you provide interview questions before the interview?

√ We have done it sometimes, but are moving to consistently sharing before the interview.

If you provide interview questions before the interview, how far in advance?

About a week

Does your interview process include taking the candidate out for a meal?

√ No, and I don’t think we ever have

How much of your interview process is virtual?

√ Other: It depends. If the candidate is out of town and cannot travel, we will offer a virtual interview. For managers, the first round is virtual.:

Do you (or does your organization) give candidates feedback about applications or interview performance?

√ Other: We do if requested. Typically feedback is offered to internal candidates.

What is the most important thing for a job hunter to do in order to improve their hirability?

Do their research on the organization they are applying to. Visit it if possible!

I want to hire someone who is:

Adaptable

Is there anything else you’d like to say about hiring practices at your organization or in current trends?

We are working on more diversity in our hiring, and on being more inclusive in our interviewing practices.

Your Last Recruitment

These are questions about the last person you hired (or the last position you attempted to fill). This person may not have been a librarian, and that’s ok.

Think about the most recent time you participated in hiring someone (or an attempt to hire someone) at your organization. What was the title of the position you were trying to fill?

Library Assistant (2 positions)

When was this position hired?

√ Within the last three months

Approximately how many people applied for this position?

√ 75-100

Approximately what percentage of those would you say were hirable?

√ 26-50%

And how would you define “hirable”?

Have strong customer service experience, possibly library experience; took care with their cover letter, resume, and application; flexible availability/able to work the schedule posted; interested in library work

How did the recruitment for this position compare with recruitments in previous years?

We are getting many more applications than in years past, and the quality of candidates has definitely gotten stronger.

Your Workplace

This section asks for information about your workplace, including if you have lost positions in the last decade.

How many staff members are at your library/organization?

√ 200+

Are you unionized?

√ No

How many permanent, full time job openings has your workplace posted in the last year?

√ 7 or more

How many permanent, full time librarian (or other “professional” level) jobs has your workplace posted in the last year?

√ 7 or more

Can you tell us how the number of permanent, full-time positions at your workplace has changed over the past decade?

√ There are more positions

Have any full-time librarian positions been replaced with part-time or hourly workers over the past decade? 

√ No

Have any full-time librarian positions been replaced with non-librarian, lower paid staff positions over the past decade?  

√ No

Is librarianship a dying profession?

√ No

Why or why not?

When I started as a Librarian 26 years ago, all we heard about was how librarianship was a dying profession. The profession has changed tremendously and we have to adapt, but we are still relevant and are not going anywhere!

Demographics

This section asks for information about you specifically.

What part of the world are you in?

√ Southeastern US

What’s your region like?

√ Urban area,

√ Suburban area

What type of institution do you hire for (check all that apply):

√ Public Library

What type(s) of LIS professionals do you hire?

Managers (both location and Adult/Youth Managers), Adult Librarians, Youth Librarians, Selection Librarians, Technology/PR focused Librarians

Are you a librarian?

√ Yes

Are you now or have you ever been:

√ A hiring manager (you are hiring people that you will directly or indirectly supervise),

√ A member of a hiring or search committee,

√ Other: I am the Senior Library Manager for Recruitment and Onboarding for my system. I coordinate and manage all hiring of permanent staff.

Do you have any other comments, for job hunters, other people who hire, about the survey, or for Emily (the survey author)?

I love that you are providing resources and support for job hunters and those of us involved in hiring! It’s become a very competitive market and candidates need to do their research and be prepared for interviewing.

#GLAMJobs #Librarian #librarians #libraries #Library #libraryHiring #libraryInterview #libraryJobs #libraryWork #LISCareers #lisJobs

“It’s also okay if you decide to do something else for a while”

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?  

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

√ I’m underemployed (not enough hours or overqualified for current position),

√ Looking for a promotion/more responsibility,

√ I want to work with a different population,

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

Where do you look for open positions? 

LinkedIn, Simmons Jobline, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners jobs postings, specific local libraries’ employment sites, HigherEdJobs

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?

√ Public library

What part of the world are you in?

√ Northeastern US

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?

public-facing work, professional-level title and equivalent responsibilities, located in or near my community

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

48 (exact)

What steps, actions, or attributes are most important for employers to take to sell you on the job? 

√ Pay well,

√ Introducing me to staff,

√ Prioritizing EDI work,

√ 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?

Complete absence of EDI language in listing; listings that include mostly librarian-level work but are presented as para-professional roles

The Process

How much time do you spend preparing an application packet?

3-6 hours

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

research library, including department structure, major initiatives, and current staff; adjust resume language to create a version that mirrors job posting; adapt the most relevant previous cover letter to fit role; proofread

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?

The average over my search has been about 75 days, so I guess that’s what I expect at this point. That’s pretty terrible, though.

How do you prepare for interviews?

Researching committee members, department, larger library system, relevant topics, etc. and typing up copious notes. Writing out answers to common questions to find articulate ways to say things (obviously I don’t read the notes in the interview, but writing through things helps me). Making an extensive list of questions that I want to ask. Reading up on recent literature in the field for areas that I have less direct experience with.

What are your most hated interview questions, and why?

“What tools or tricks do you use to stay organized?” – I don’t have many, but I’m still a pretty organized person, so it either comes off like I’m bragging or I haven’t thought about how to organize my work.

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 √ Happened more than once
• Turned down an offer √ Happened once

If you have ever withdrawn an application, why?

The position wasn’t ideal in the first place, but I really wanted to move on to a new thing. Then during the interviewing process it became clear that it was a bad match.

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

It turned out that working with children and young adults was a much larger part of the role than I had anticipated, and while I wasn’t opposed to that, the pay was quite low so those two things combined made me think it wasn’t the right job for me. I kind of regret that now, though.

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:

I applied for a role that was fairly similar to the one I have now, but would have been a professional librarian position (my current role is classified as para-professional) and it was at a different type of library, about halfway between where I am now (academic special collections) and where I’d ideally like to be (public). During the interview, it became clear just how clearly matched my skills from my current role were to the role they were hiring for, and the hiring manager just said “I think you’d be bored in this job. Would you be bored?” I mean, he wasn’t wrong, but that was a weird thing to be asked/try to answer in an interview setting. Also I once went through four rounds of interviews for a job only to have one of the interviewers tell me (in a one-on-one zoom conversation) that I shouldn’t want the job because it would basically crush my spirit. Again, wasn’t wrong, but…how do you respond to that??

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

I know it’s never going to happen, but please, once you’re into final interviews, can you tell the rest of us that we’re out of the game?? Also, way more people should consider providing interview questions in advance, I don’t know why this isn’t normalized. Yes, many types of librarianship require being able to answer questions on the fly, but usually with resources at hand! And in a deeply interactive way! I’m also kind of sick of the idea of being “overqualified”–this is not my first career, I’m coming to it a little older than some others, and yes, I have the degree and some experience, but I can’t even get interviews for assistant/associate jobs, and I have to assume part of that is the assumption of being “overqualified” and/or that it would be a “stepping stone” but it’s really frustrating!

You and Your Well-Being

How are you doing, generally?

√ I’m somewhat depressed,

√ I’m frustrated,

√ I feel alone in my search

What are your job search self-care strategies?

keeping data on the search is helpful for me in terms of feeling informed and managing expectations; existentialism?? idk

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?

This is kind of the worst, and I know that’s not inspiring, but hey, solidarity. It’s also okay if you decide to do something else for a while–I’ve had like three and a half careers and have multiple advanced degrees and I’m still in my thirties, you can broaden your horizons and it’s not the end of the world.

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

I’ve been reading these for so long and the responses are always meaningful, even the ones that seem to have very little in common with my own experiences. I didn’t realize the survey was still open until today, but I’m thrilled to be able to participate! I really appreciate your work on the site (and the podcast!)–thank you for this!

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?)

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)?

Ha no. I tried working with career services for resume/cover letter review. They gave me one formatting suggestion (which I didn’t take) and told me that my cover letter was “one of the best” they’d seen–I mean, thanks? But it’s not working? So???

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

See comment about about the “overqualified” paradox. Also switching from one type of library to another is shockingly hard??

#GLAMJobs #librarians #libraries #libraryHiring #libraryInterview #libraryJobs #libraryWork #LISCareers #lisJobs

“Convenient location, interesting subject matter, good benefits.”

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 unemployed

Where do you look for open positions? 

SAA, INALJ

What position level are you looking for?  

√ Supervisory

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

√ Archives,

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?

Convenient location, interesting subject matter, good benefits.

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

6 (estimate)

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

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?

1-2 days

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

Update and revise resume as needed prior to careful proofreading of all documents. Draft a list of questions, and if it is unclear why the position is open and consider whether to ask how long the position has been unfilled.

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Email

When would you like potential employers to contact you?

√ 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 do you prepare for interviews?

Review position description, note items that are vague or unclear. Consider whether to ask why the position is open.

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 once
• Interviewed for a job where an internal candidate was eventually chosen √
• Asked for an accommodation for a disability √
• Withdrawn an application before the offer stage √
• Turned down an offer √ Happened once

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

Did not want to relocate after seeing the city

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

Explain their hiring procedure and indicate how long it may take before a final decision is made.

You and Your Well-Being

How are you doing, generally?

√ I feel alone in my search

What are your job search self-care strategies?

Cook extra good meals, take an afternoon walk around my neighborhood for at least 30 min. Once back home I lie down and read for at least 1 hr.

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?)

1973

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

√ 18 months to two years after graduating

What kind of work was your first post-graduation professional position?

√ Full Time

#GLAMJobs #librarians #libraries #libraryHiring #libraryInterview #libraryJobs #libraryWork #LISCareers #lisJobs