Winter Reruns: “Do not ask questions. My pet peeve. This is useless and a waste of our time.”
I’m taking time off! I’ll be back with new content in late February. Take this survey to share your opinions about what would be most helpful/interesting. While I’m out, I’m running a selection of Hiring Librarians’ greatest hits and most reviled posts.
This survey was filled out on March 26, 2022 and the original post ran on February 16, 2023. In my notes about this one I have written, “is this even real?” I see a lot of strange takes but this one feels pretty screwy indeed. Candidates make a choice, just like people who hire do, and asking questions about the work and the workplace is a pretty key activity in information gathering for that choice. I don’t have any way of verifying answers, so maybe it’s not real? Or maybe it is and it’s just very uncool.
Karl Geiger (1855-1924), Dt. Bibliothekar, Direktor der Universitätsbibliothek Tübingen 1895-1920. Julius Wilhelm Hornung, CC0, via
Wikimedia CommonsThis anonymous interview is with someone who hires for a:
√ Public Library
Title: Administrative Manager/Regional Manager
Titles hired include: Administrative Manager, Librarians I-IV, Sr. Library Assistant, Library Assistant I-II, Clerk, Page
Who makes hiring decisions at your organization:
√ HR
√ Library Administration
Which of the following does your organization regularly require of candidates?
√ Online application
√ References
√ Proof of degree
√ Written Exam
√ Oral Exam/Structured interview
√ More than one round of interviews
Does your organization use automated application screening?
√ Yes
Think about the last candidate who really wowed you, on paper, in an interview, or otherwise. Why were they so impressive?
Energy, enthusiasm
Do you have any instant dealbreakers?
Stating misinformation about organization, bad grammar, lingo and cliches
What do you wish you could know about candidates that isn’t generally revealed in the hiring process?
Mental health issues
How many pages should each of these documents be?
Cover Letter: √ We don’t ask for this
Resume: √ Only One!
CV: √ We don’t ask for this
What is the most common mistake that people make in an interview?
Not researching organization;, rambling, unfocused answers that are too long
Do you conduct virtual interviews? What do job hunters need to know about shining in this setting?
People tend to sound more monotone and show less enthusiasm in this setting. Smile sometimes and look at the camera. Be aware of your background and keep it simple. It can be needlessly distracting.
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?
Emphasize customer service, work with people
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?
Too expensive to live in our area now. Makes it hard for lots of people.
What questions should candidates ask you? What is important for them to know about your organization and the position you are hiring for?
None! Do not ask questions. My pet peeve. This is useless and a waste of our time.
Additional Demographics
What part of the world are you in?
√ Western US
What’s your region like?
√ Urban
Is your workplace remote/virtual?
√ Some of the time and/or in some positions
How many staff members are at your organization?
√ 201+
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