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,
√ I’m unemployed
Where do you look for open positions?
Regional library consortia job boards, state library association job boards, HigherEdJobs, INALJ, LinkedIn, Indeed
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,
√ Public 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,
√ Yes, to a specific list of places
What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?
Duties, benefits, pays enough to live in town
How many jobs have you applied to during your current search? (Please indicate if it’s an estimate or exact)
About 20
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,
√ Having a good reputation,
√ Funding professional development,
√ Prioritizing EDI work
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?
Duties reflect 3-4 different jobs so I’m unsure if the employer knows what they’re looking for
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?
Modify resume, write/adjust cover letter, fill out application (if there is one), apply
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?
Public library, less than a month. Academic, 2+ months.
How do you prepare for interviews?
Research the library, review likely questions vs. my experience, write down answers as a means of memorization/keeping them fresh in my mind
What are your most hated interview questions, and why?
How my former manager/coworkers would describe me. Sure, I can answer by talking up all my best qualities, but then why not just ask me for those? I’d rather talk about my experiences directly, not write fanfiction about what other people think of me.
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 √ Happened once
- Withdrawn an application before the offer stage √ Happened once
- Turned down an offer √ Not Applicable
If you have ever withdrawn an application, why?
Position description changed dramatically, removing a key part of why I had been interested
If you’ve asked for an accommodation, what happened?
I got it, no issues
What should employers do to make the hiring process better for job hunters?
Providing interview questions ahead of time goes a long way in helping interviewees give the best answers. I hope employers want this, rather than making hiring decisions based on who is the least nervous (or most neurotypical) in a stressful situation.
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 supported in my search,
√ I feel alone in my search
What are your job search self-care strategies?
I do most of my apps at a coffee shop so I get a little treat while working
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 [Survey completed 7/17/2024]
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?
√ 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)?
Yes, from individual instructors/former supervisors
Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about searching for or finding your first post-graduation position?
I’m not too picky about whether or not a job requires my MLIS, but it would be nice for the process of getting it to pay off