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 underemployed (not enough hours or overqualified for current position),
√ I’m employed outside of the field and I’d like to be in it,
√ Looking for more money,
√ My current job is awful/toxic,
√ 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?
ALA JOBLIST, CLIR+DLF, Indeed, Linkedin, HigherEd Jobs, Libgig
What position level are you looking for?
√ Entry level,
√ Requiring at least two years of experience,
√ Supervisory,
√ Senior Librarian
What type(s) of organization are you looking in?
√ Academic library,
√ Library vendor/service provider,
√ Public library
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?
√ No
What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?
Pay that is commensurate with the cost of living, specifically rent, gas/commute, and food.
How many jobs have you applied to during your current search? (Please indicate if it’s an estimate or exact)
15
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,
√ 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?
Unexplained high turnover/seeing the same position reposted year after year.
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?
I tailor my resume and cover letter to the job description, highlighting my experience and how it relates to the position. I fill out every part of the application and include attachments of my transcripts and any applicable work samples.
How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?
√ Phone for good news, email for bad news
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?
3-4 months.
How do you prepare for interviews?
I research the department/institution and prepare questions to ask as well as prepare myself to explain how my experience would fit with the role and institution.
What are your most hated interview questions, and why?
“Tell me about a time you had a disagreement or conflict with somebody and what did you do to resolve it”. This question always feels like a trick question that is impossible to answer “correctly”.
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 √ Happened more than once
- 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 have ever withdrawn an application, why?
I have withdrawn an application before out of fear of having my time wasted by being called in to interview and present, just so they can pick their internal hire.
If you’ve turned down an offer (or offers), why?
I have never turned down an offer because I have never received enough to do so.
What should employers do to make the hiring process better for job hunters?
Be respectful of candidates time and labor.
You and Your Well-Being
How are you doing, generally?
√ I’m frustrated,
√ I feel alone in my search
What are your job search self-care strategies?
Making myself stop/give up.
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?)
2021
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?
√ Six months to a year after graduating
What kind of work was your first post-graduation professional position?
√ Contract,
√ Temporary/Limited Term
Did you get support from your library school for your first job hunt (and/or any subsequent ones)?
No..unless you count mass emailing job postings.