If you've ever thought it'd be fun to work with me...now might be your opportunity!
I'm hiring a research data management colleague to join me in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research. There's so much that we'd love to do here at UIC. Join me and the Data Squids!
This is a hybrid position but you will need to be in Chicago-land.
Salary Band: 65-85kJob Closes: Friday, June 26
https://uic.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/20043?c=uic&sq=institutional
Come work with me! Happy to answer questions.
Sessional Learning and Engagement Librarian - Health Sciences, Libraries and Cultural Resources in Calgary, AB, Canada
We're looking for an Assistant Dean/Director of our health sciences library! #MedLibs #LISJobs #libraries #librarians
If you're considering taking this step in your career, please check it out:
Salary/Position Classification $112,900 - $117,200+ Annual, Dependent on Experience, Exempt 40 hours per week 100% Remote Work Availability: No Hybrid Work Availability (requires some time on campus): Yes The Assistant Dean for Library Resources & Information Services serves as the chief administrator of the SMHS Library Resources department, providing strategic leadership and operational oversight across all regional campus locations. This role advances the school’s mission by strengthening research, supporting learner success, and delivering innovative, high-impact information services to students, faculty, clinicians, and health professionals statewide. Key Responsibilities Leadership & Administration Lead and manage library operations, staff, and services across multiple...
Hiring Librarians Hiatus
Well Hi There!
I’ve decided to take a couple months off from Hiring Librarians. My plan is to neither create content nor check email nor look at the socials through late January. Then I’ll start recording new podcast episodes and put together a new survey to release in February.
To help me out, please share ideas for new content, feedback on what I should focus on next year, or general opinions, on this survey. Feel free to skip any questions that don’t apply or interest you.
I do have a few posts scheduled to run while I’m on break. I’ve pulled some of the greatest hits and most reviled posts, and will be doing about one Winter Rerun a week.
If you really need me, you can find non-Hiring Librarians contact info over at my personal website. Otherwise, see you next year!
Your Pal,
Emily
#GLAM #librarians #libraries #libraryCareers #libraryHiring #libraryJobs #LISCareers #lisJobs
“I have never been offered a ‘permanent’ position.”
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,
√ I’ve been threatened at my job or had to deal with hostility/danger/scary behavior from the public or coworkers
Where do you look for open positions?
Institutional websites, ALA and similar sites
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,
√ Special library
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?
1) Good pay & benefits 2) Professional work environment 3) Qualified & dedicated co-workers
How many jobs have you applied to during your current search? (Please indicate if it’s an estimate or exact)
several 100s
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: Staff who are competent & qualified for their jobs
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 hours
What are the steps you follow to prepare an application packet?
ensure my cover letter and resume correlate to the job listing and institution
How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?
√ Email and mail
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?
1-2 months
How do you prepare for interviews?
I used to, but I don’t bother to anymore
During your current search, have you had any of the following experiences:
If you have ever withdrawn an application, why?
Because something the hiring committee said & did after my first interview made it clear to me that they already had someone local whom they were going to hire & who wasn’t the least bit qualified for the job. (And, when the hiring announcement was made, it turned out I was completely right.)
If you’ve turned down an offer (or offers), why?
I turned down one job early in my job hunt for many reasons, the top reasons included: they had a wide array of projects they wanted done but with no money budgeted for them; the library director made it clear she was only there for a couple of years passing her time on the way to something better; after visiting for the interview, I didn’t like the city or the library/college where the job was located; I didn’t like the one employee I would have to work with the most (& it was clear no one else already working there could stand her either); I resented the fact that they persistently lied about the other (non-existent) candidates for the job; it was clearly the workplace from hell
What should employers do to make the hiring process better for job hunters?
1) Quit asking for my SSN before you’ve hired me.
2) Get rid of online application services that require ‘creating accounts’ (especially ones that can not be deleted) and that require typing in hours worth of information into ‘fields’ on the computer in addition to uploading a resume when all the relevant information you need is already contained in the resume. I’ve gotten to the point where I prioritize applying for jobs where I can just upload or email or mail my cover letter and resume.
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
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?
A word for employers: if you already know you are going to hire the department head’s ne’er-do-well nephew, or the library director’s alcoholic mistress, or the long time volunteer who isn’t remotely qualified for the job but deserves to be rewarded for all the years of serving up cake and punch during children’s programming, don’t post the job and waste applicants’ time. The 2 most frustrating things about my never-ending job search are: 1) Realizing that most jobs are already filled before they are posted. 2) Realizing that highly qualified candidates are frequently passed over for individuals with little to no qualifications whatsoever.
Job Hunting Post Graduate School
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?
√ Other: I obtained my first full-time professional position before I graduated, but it was only temporary, grant-funded. And all my jobs have been temporary, grant-funded. I have never been offered a ‘permanent’ position.
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, my Library School was & is less than useless.
#glamJobs #librarians #libraries #libraryHiring #libraryInterview #libraryJobs #libraryWork #lisCareers #lisJobs
“Sometimes who you know hurts the job process.”
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,
√ I’m underemployed (not enough hours or overqualified for current position),
√ I’ve been threatened at my job or had to deal with hostility/danger/scary behavior from the public or coworkers,
√ Because I’m worried about a possible recession
Where do you look for open positions?
Archives Gig, LinkedIn, Library Job line, USA jobs, Indeed
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?
√ Western US (including Pacific Northwest)
What’s your region like?
√ Urban area,
√ Suburban area,
√ Rural area
Are you willing/able to move for employment?
√ No,
√ Yes, to a specific list of places
What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?
Flexible, Opportunity to grow, non toxic workplace
How many jobs have you applied to during your current search? (Please indicate if it’s an estimate or exact)
15 estimate
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?
Not enough information. Seeing the job ad posted regularly indicating frequent turnover.
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?
Curate resume/cv to job ad. Write cover letter covering key experiences that fit with resume.
How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?
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 weeks
How do you prepare for interviews?
Reading the job ad, researching the company, reviewing my resume and cover letter. Rehearsing potential examples of experiences.
What are your most hated interview questions, and why?
Tell me about a time… questions. This is popular right now but it creates a scenario where good story telling is required.
During your current search, have you had any of the following experiences:
If you’ve asked for an accommodation, what happened?
Too scared to ask.
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:
Sometimes who you know hurts the job process. The library/archive world is small. A few times my supervisor suddenly becomes unpopular within this world and because I worked under them I am not considered.
What should employers do to make the hiring process better for job hunters?
Be honest. If you are probably going to hire an in internal candidate it should be clear. Having positions that don’t require so much experience up front. A masters is expensive and volunteering to get experience required takes a long time (archives and history related jobs specifically).
You and Your Well-Being
How are you doing, generally?
√ I’m somewhat depressed,
√ I’m frustrated,
√ I’m running out of money,
√ I feel alone in my search
What are your job search self-care strategies?
Trying not to panic. Not obsessing about the process constantly.
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’s hard. I’m struggling. I wish I had better advice.
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)?
√ 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?
√ Volunteer
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?
No
#glamJobs #librarians #libraries #libraryHiring #libraryInterview #libraryJobs #libraryWork #lisCareers #lisJobs
Further Questions: Best Advice for Getting Hired and for People Who Hire
Let’s do a deeper dive into specific hiring questions! About once a month, I get answers from a group of people who hire library and LIS workers. I’d love to hear from you: what should I ask next time? Or, let me know if you’d like to join the pool of people who might answer.
I’m gearing up to take a couple months off, so to tide us over while I’m gone I have a very broad two-part question:
1. What is your most important piece of advice for people looking for LIS work?
2. What is your most important piece of advice for people who hire LIS workers?
Donna Pierce, Library Director, Krum Public Library:
For the person looking for work – Experience – volunteer for a small library so you have an idea of what really happens! Work on customer service skills unless you know that whatever you do you won’t be dealing with the public. (You would be surprised at how few areas don’t require some type of customer service!) Also, at least in public libraries, look at how your hobbies and interests can translate into programs or services.
For those hiring – customer service skills, ability to recognize patterns and ask questions (do all the books with a green sticker go in the same area? Why is this book different? Is this really where this book belongs?); plus attention to detail. If their application has misspellings (my favorite was the person who had an education degree and misspelled “education”!) that is a huge red flag.
Dr. Erica England, First-Year Experience Librarian, Washington State University:
1. Most important for people looking for LIS work: Sell yourself! Even if you don’t think that you have the necessary skills, I guarantee you have done something that can be translated into value. Whether it’s solving problems, learning quickly, or staying calm under pressure — those are all skills that employers are looking for. Don’t downplay your experience just because it doesn’t have a fancy label.
2. Most important for people hiring: The LIS degree matters and is invaluable. Don’t assume that holding a PhD means someone knows how to research effectively. LIS professionals are trained in information literacy, search strategy, and source evaluation — skills that many others lack. Our expertise fills critical gaps in how people find, assess, and use information. That should never be discounted.
Gretchen Corsillo, Director, Rutherford Public Library:
1. My most important piece of advice for people looking for LIS work is to show off why you want the job you’re applying for. I see too many applications come across my desk that are not at all tailored to the role in question, and that is usually an automatic no for me. If you’re invited for an interview, bring specific examples to show what appeals to you and highlight that you’ve done your research about the library. This sends the message that you’re invested in the organization and understand why you’d be a good fit.
2. My most important piece of advice for people who hire LIS workers is to look at non-library job experience as an asset. I’ve seen a lot of hiring professionals write great candidates off because they’ve transitioned from another field or otherwise had a lot of experience doing something different. Many skills are transferable to library work. Some of my best hires over the years have come from backgrounds in retail, education, etc. While there are many roles that do require specific library experience, it’s important not to discount outside-the-box skills as well. Try to look at the candidate’s background as a whole, rather than just how long they’ve been in the library world.
Dr. Colleen S. Harris, Dean, Killam Library, Texas A&M International University:
1. What is your most important piece of advice for people looking for LIS work?
Most importantly, where you can do so authentically, connect your interview question answers to your professional experience, lived experience, or what you know from your research about the institution. It grounds your answer in context which is helpful to the committee members who are likely using a set question list and rubric to ensure fairness across candidates. Even if your experience is outside libraries, customer service is customer service, and helping people solve problems is universal. Also, if you have questions, ask (and ALWAYS have questions).
A secondary piece of information, not really advice, is that at least in academic libraries we have very little control over the HR portion of the hiring process which includes important communication. We can set up the interview, but any communication after the in-person interview is not allowed to come from the search chair or even the dean, everything must come from HR. This means that as much as we would like to keep in communication to keep you updated, we are usually (in the various state systems I have worked in over my career) not allowed. Please know if you are not notified about a position closing or not being chosen until wildly late, we would very much prefer to be able to give you such information sooner but are restricted by our institutional processes and policies. I promise, we think it’s as shitty a system as you do–we genuinely value your time and effort.
2. What is your most important piece of advice for people who hire LIS workers?
I have three:
(1) Create spaces for kindness where you can. Interviewing is grueling, and the academic all-day interview is a gauntlet of being “on”. Build in time for bathroom/breathing breaks between interview sessions.
(2) Share the interview questions in advance via email with Zoom candidates, and in writing with in-person candidates so they have something to refer to or scribble on during the committee interview session. Especially in the Zoom scenario, receiving those 30-60 minutes prior can allow the committee to see the candidate performance without unnecessary stress shading things. It’s not enough time to heavily prep a question for a candidate to present themselves unrealistically, but it is enough time for the candidate to not feel blindsided and to shake off their nerves. Which leads me to:
(3) Remember that we want candidates to feel as comfortable as possible so they perform to the best of their ability. Whatever we can do to put them at ease gives us a more realistic baseline from which to judge their performance. We should do this as decent humans, but if you need a formal motivator to be kind, there you go!
Jess Herzog, Director of Adult Services, Spartanburg County Public Libraries:
1. What is your most important piece of advice for people looking for LIS work?
Be yourself. I know this can feel very hard in the moment, when you’re about to walk into an interview and you’ve been trying so hard to get a job for months/years on end. But if you embrace yourself and who you are, show your personality and your passions, you won’t go wrong. To me, every hire is a “personality hire”; I can teach you how to use an ILS or set up AV equipment, but I can’t teach you to be skilled at customer service, patient with new tech users, or lighthearted with kids. Those indications come through what I see of your personality, so don’t hide it.
2. What is your most important piece of advice for people who hire LIS workers?
Remember that you are being interviewed too. It is absolutely wild to me how many of us–both people I’ve been on interview panels with and panels I’ve interviewed for–completely ignore this part of the interview process. Sure, it’s hard to get a job right now, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be putting our best feet forward as a collective. We’re representing our libraries, our departments, and our staff to an interviewee, and the way we come across sends a message about the workplace culture. So dress nicely, answer questions honestly and openly, and sell yourself and the library a little bit. It can go a long way.
Celia Rabinowitz ,Assistant Vice-President for Academic Engagement and Director of Mason Library, Keene State College:
What is your most important piece of advice for people looking for LIS work?
I wonder about what seems to be a disconnect between the accounts of job-seeking library degree holders about how many jobs they apply for without success and what hiring managers (at least in academic libraries which is what I pay attention to) report as very thin candidate pools for jobs. It seems increasingly challenging but I encourage job seekers to be as geographically flexible as possible. There are lots of reasons for not being willing or able to move. But if you find positions in places that seem to match you professional and personal needs, it’s worth considering a move. No job has to last forever. Even if you see it as the job that gets you to the next one in the place you’d rather be. I think that is my most important piece of advice these days. But please don’t forget to keep at it, to ask people to read your stuff before you submit it (open invitation for you to send that CV or cover letter to me), and don’t underestimate the value of all your experience.
What is your most important piece of advice for people who hire LIS workers?
Based on what I read from job-seekers I have two pieces of advice. The first is to offer entry-level positions that are truly that. Give newly degreed professionals who may have limited job experience in library or information environments the opportunity to get that first job. If these positions do not require previous experience then offer them that way. If previous experience is preferred, in many hiring situations a committee will be obligated to prioritize those candidates. The second piece of advice is to be sure you understand the notification process that your institution or organization uses to let individuals know who do not progress in the search, or who are not selected in a finalist round. The stories of job-seekers who never receive any communication, even after an in-person interview is troubling. Someone should be responsible for this and I encourage hiring managers or search committee chairs to be sure you know who that is.
Laura Daniels (she/they), Assistant Director, Metadata Production and Acting Director, Cataloging and Metadata Services, Cornell University Library:
What is your most important piece of advice for people looking for LIS work?
Be a little (but not too) picky. Think about where you want to be (the institution itself, and the location) as well as what you want to be doing. Don’t waste time applying for positions you don’t want or for which you are not qualified.
What is your most important piece of advice for people who hire LIS workers?
Hire for capability and potential, not charisma. It’s easy to get distracted by someone who interviews well. Don’t let that get in the way of considering what qualities and qualifications actually matter for the role.
#glamJobs #librarian #librarians #libraries #library #libraryHiring #libraryJobs #libraryWork #lisCareers #lisJobs
“It’s hard lol. There are so many jobs, I don’t know what to focus my time on.”
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,
√ Looking for more money,
√ I want to work at a different type of library/institution,
√ Looking for remote/virtual work (or at least hybrid),
√ I’m worried I will be laid off/let go/fired from my current position,
√ I need more flexibility in my schedule (to care for dependents or otherwise)
Where do you look for open positions?
INALJ, ALA JobLIST, LinkedIn, HigherEd Jobs, college/university career pages.
What position level are you looking for?
√ Entry level,
√ Requiring at least two years of experience,
√ Supervisory
What type(s) of organization are you looking in?
√ Academic library,
√ Library vendor/service provider,
√ Public library,
√ 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, anywhere
What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?
Pay, reasonable schedule, hybrid or remote work
How many jobs have you applied to during your current search? (Please indicate if it’s an estimate or exact)
exactly 12 so far
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?
Requiring large amounts of experience while offering low pay.
The Process
How much time do you spend preparing an application packet?
I spent a lot of time preparing my resume, CV, and cover letter templates. After that, I just make slight changes based on job listing.
What are the steps you follow to prepare an application packet?
Creating and/or updating resume and CV. Also, creating cover letter templates based on the kind of jobs I want to apply for.
How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?
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?
A couple weeks max.
How do you prepare for interviews?
I look at the job listing and prepare answers for how I can carry out the job duties.
What are your most hated interview questions, and why?
“Describe a time a patron was mad at you? What did you do?” I hate this question because I’ve answered a variation of this question too many times for many different jobs and it’s just annoying.
During your current search, have you had any of the following experiences:
If you have ever withdrawn an application, why?
I turned down an interview a year ago because I was still in grad school and wasn’t prepared to work full time yet.
What should employers do to make the hiring process better for job hunters?
Review applications and start interviewing faster. Many of us fill out dozens, if not hundreds of applications, we need to know asap if we are rejected or getting an interview. Also, list the pay. You can help yourself as an employer by listing the pay because some people won’t apply and you won’t have to read as many applications.
You and Your Well-Being
How are you doing, generally?
√ I’m despondent,
√ I’m frustrated,
√ I’m running out of money,
√ I feel alone in my search
What are your job search self-care strategies?
Taking breaks. Talking to my wife.
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?
For job hunters, please take a break and enjoy yourself. Also, you may need to take a low paying retail job while you search if you are having money problems. Employers, stop low balling qualified candidates, or anyone. Pay a living wage and people will stay.
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)?
University of Alabama sends out job posts the entire time we are enrolled and I still get the emails after graduation.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about searching for or finding your first post-graduation position?
It’s hard lol. There are so many jobs, I don’t know what to focus my time on. Even jobs that I am overqualified for, I worry that I won’t get a call back.
#glamJobs #librarians #libraries #libraryHiring #libraryInterview #libraryJobs #libraryWork #lisCareers #lisJobs
“While my school has resources for job hunting because I’m an online student who lives in another state it is often not applicable to 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,
√ Looking for more money,
√ I want to work with a different population
Where do you look for open positions?
LinkedIn, Indeed, Handshake
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,
√ School library
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, anywhere
What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?
Collection development, chance for growth, and collaborative environment
How many jobs have you applied to during your current search? (Please indicate if it’s an estimate or exact)
4~
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,
√ 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
The Process
How much time do you spend preparing an application packet?
a few hours
What are the steps you follow to prepare an application packet?
making sure that know and have access to all vital information
How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?
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?
a few weeks to a month
How do you prepare for interviews?
run through common and/or relevant interview questions and prepare answers
What are your most hated interview questions, and why?
Do you work well under pressure? Why should we hire you?
During your current search, have you had any of the following experiences:
You and Your Well-Being
How are you doing, generally?
√ I’m optimistic,
√ I’m maintaining
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)?
√ 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?
√ N/A – hasn’t happened yet
Did you get support from your library school for your first job hunt (and/or any subsequent ones)?
While my school has resources for job hunting because I’m an online student who lives in another state it is often not applicable to me.
#GLAMJobs #librarians #libraries #libraryHiring #libraryInterview #libraryJobs #libraryWork #LISCareers #lisJobs
“My campus is being closed.”
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 remote/virtual work (or at least hybrid),
√ Other: My campus is being closed. My position has been extended several times over the last year, but will end around May 2026.
Where do you look for open positions?
LinkedIn, ALA JobList, USAJobs, professional organization websites, corporate websites
What position level are you looking for?
√ Requiring at least two years of experience,
√ Supervisory,
√ Department Head,
√ Clerk/Library Assistant
What type(s) of organization are you looking in?
√ Academic library,
√ Archives,
√ Library vendor/service provider,
√ Special library,
√ Other: non-library companies and organizations
What part of the world are you in?
√ Southeastern US
What’s your region like?
√ Suburban area
Are you willing/able to move for employment?
√ Other: I’d prefer a remote position
What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?
A good fit to my abilities and skills; a livable wage; congenial co-workers/administration
How many jobs have you applied to during your current search? (Please indicate if it’s an estimate or exact)
126 (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,
√ Introducing me to staff,
√ 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?
Poorly written job description; skewed wages/experience ratio
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 hiring institution; talk to anyone I know there or adjacent; edit resume to fit job description; fill out application; write cover letter; submit.
How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?
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?
1-6 months
How do you prepare for interviews?
More research of the institution; look for anyone I know who has any insight to this particular institution; talk to colleagues in similar positions.
What are your most hated interview questions, and why?
“Tell us about a time you faced a problem, and how you dealt with it.”
During your current search, have you had any of the following experiences:
If you’ve turned down an offer (or offers), why?
Years ago I turned down a couple of offers when I realized they were not where I wanted to be, geographically.
What should employers do to make the hiring process better for job hunters?
Communicate, communicate, communicate!
You and Your Well-Being
How are you doing, generally?
√ I’m maintaining,
√ I’m somewhat depressed,
√ I feel alone in my search,
√ Other: I’m procrastinating, knowing that I have my current job for a few more months.
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?)
1994
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?
√ 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
Abigail Goben
Paul R. Pival (he/him)
Jessica 🦕
Hiring Librarians