Interviewing: Tips from the other side of the table
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Interviewing: Tips from the Other Side of the Table
Virginia Library AssociationThursday, October 27, 2011
1:15 – 2:00 pm
#interviewbetterVLA
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Megan Hodge, Chesterfield County Library
Nicole Spoor, Hampton University Library
Teresa Doherty, VCU Libraries
Deborah Lammers, Dumbarton Area Library
#interviewbetterVLA
Who We Are:
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Survey
• Disseminated through multiple listservs
• Qualifications to Participate
–Academic or Public Library Staff
–Participated on hiring committee for entry-level librarian since 2008
• 430 respondents–70% academic, 30% public
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Literature Review
• Applicants spend a lot of time creating resumes and cover letter, but little time preparing for an interview
• Practice, Practice, Practice
• Attitude and Personality are more important than skills, education or experiences
• Don’t forget to interview the library
#interviewbetterVLA
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What should you know before an interview?
• Be familiar with the library’s website and social media pages (143 respondents)
• Know about the institution and library (84 respondents)
• Learn library’s mission and strategic plan (65 respondents)
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What kind of experience is important?
• 89.3%-at least moderately important to have ANY type of library experience in ANY type of library
• 88.8%- at least moderately important to have experience in the same type of library as you are applying to
• 85.2%-at least moderately important to have experience specifically related to the position
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What are some of the things hiring committees look for in a candidate?
• Personality and attitude were important or very important to 98% of the respondents
• Institutional fit was important or very important to 95.3% of the respondents
• Education was important or very important to 89.5% of the respondents
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Has the economy affected hiring in libraries?
• Over 75% of respondents said that they had seen an increase in the number of applicants
• Most respondents (80.8%) did not change the number of applicants called in for interviews
• “We have a stronger base from which to choose, but only interview the best of the best.”
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How to be Impressive!
• Ask lots of relevant questions (19)
• Show passion and excitement for THIS job (14)
• Give a great presentation (11)
• Have a portfolio of great work (9)
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Advice for Newbie Librarians
• Be enthusiastic (75 respondents)
• Connect your experience/skills to the position (65 respondents)
• Gain experience through volunteering or internships (65 respondents)
• Showcase technology skills (45 respondents)
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Respondents Comments• “Put your best foot forward,” because “personality plays a
bigger role than most people think.”
• “We are trying to find somebody who is a good fit for our library.”
• “I think that brand new librarians can be the person to beat. They bring a fresh energy and viewpoint.”
• “Many of the hires I have been involved in during the past 12 years have been new grads, who brought energy and new ideas to the library. I cannot imagine not hiring new grads!”
• “I feel lucky to already have a job, because some of the candidates we get are so smart and creative I don’t think I would be able to compete against them!”
#interviewbetterVLA
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Additional Resources
• Ask a Manager blog: http://www.askamanager.org/
• Career Q&A with the Info Career People: http://www.lisjobs.com/careerqa_blog/
• Can I Wear My Nose Ring to the Interview? by Ellen Gordon Reeves
• The Librarian's Career Guidebook by Priscilla K. Shontz
• Resume Writing And Interviewing Techniques That Work!: A How-to-do-it Manual for Librarians by Robert R. Newlen
#interviewbetterVLA
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Hiring in Academic Libraries vs.
Hiring in Public Libraries
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Academic library interview process
• Timeline
• Screening and search committees
• Site visit
• Etiquette counts
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It’s a marathon, not a sprint
• September: position is advertised
• November: deadline for applications
• March: candidate visits
• April: offer made
• May: welcome aboard!
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What does the screening committee do?
• to identify candidates
• to perform background checks
• to summarize strengths and weaknesses of the candidates for interviewing and hiring decisions by the University Librarian and appropriate Associate University Librarian.
(VCU Libraries Faculty Recruitment manual)
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Screening vs. search committee
A screening committee’s job is to screen out the applicants to get a strong set of candidates to interview. It makes recommendations to those who can make decisions about hiring.
A search committee does all that, and can also make the hiring decision.
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Candidate visit to an academic library
“The purpose of the interview is to both solicit information from the candidate and to provide the candidate an opportunity to assess his or her interest in the VCU Libraries.”
(VCU Libraries Faculty Recruitment manual)
#interviewbetterVLA
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Sample Itinerary: the day before the full-day
interview
4:00: pick up at airport, drive to hotel
5:30: pick up at hotel
6:00: dinner with library representatives (may be division head, department heads or colleagues)
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Sample Itinerary: morning
8:30: pick up at hotel
9:00: meet with screening committee
9:30: meet with librarians and staff from your department
10:15: break
10:30: presentation to library staff
11:15: meet with faculty
#interviewbetterVLA
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Sample Itinerary: afternoon
12:00: lunch with department heads
1:30: tour of the library
2:15: meet with library administrators
3:00: meet with screening committee
3:30: meet with University Librarian
4:00: return to hotel or drive to airport
#interviewbetterVLA
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Public Library Interview Process
• Timeline
• The Interview
• Tips from Library Managers
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Timeline: More Like a Sprint• HR advertises position: 2-4 weeks• HR screens applications: 1-4 weeks• Library screens applications further &
schedules interviews: 1-2 weeks• Library interviews candidates: 1-2 weeks• HR offers employment: within 2 weeks
(approximate times, your mileage may vary)
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Public Library Interview(entry level)
• Lasts about 1-2 hours
• You provide your own transportation, or interview via phone or Skype
• Interview panel is small: 2-4 people
• May be asked in advance to give presentation, story time or book talk
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Public Library Interview(entry level)
• For YA & Children’s positions, expect questions that test your knowledge of literature for that age level
• Expect “current awareness” questions (trends & issues affecting public libraries)
• Tour of branch or work area
• May meet & chat with some current staff
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Public Library Interview(entry level)
Most likely, no free lunch.
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What hasn’t changed
• Dress up
• Be polite
• Defend every item on your resume
• Do your homework
• Send ‘thank you’ notes
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What also hasn’t changed
The importance of cover letters
•Make it specific to the job you are applying for
•Make sure names are spelled correctly
•Make sure everything is spelled correctly
#interviewbetterVLA
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Even more that hasn’t changed
Prepare those you ask for references
•Share your current resume, cover letter and position announcement
•Give them ammunition for the reference call
– projects you worked on for/with them– anecdotes about your interactions– positive comments by patrons, co-workers
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What has changed #1
Review your social media presence
•Change your Facebook privacy settings to limit access
•Create a professional email address ([email protected] NOT [email protected])
•Be aware of listserv etiquette
#interviewbetterVLA
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What has changed #2
Brush up on your presentation skills
•Don’t create victims of “death by PowerPoint”
•Speak to the audience, not to the projection screen
•Spell-check!
#interviewbetterVLA
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What has changed #3
When Skyping, keep the cat out of the room
•See what your camera sees
•Choose a professional background
•Dress for an emergency (head to toe)
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Wisdom from Public Library Managers
• Don’t discount a job in a smaller library system for your first position
• Look for jobs on city & county websites• Consider Children’s or YA Librarian positions• For public service positions, you MUST like to
work with people
#interviewbetterVLA
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Wisdom from Library Managers
• Nights & weekends required• In local government, the application gets you in
the door• Job searching etiquette is important• Applicant pools may be large. Don’t give up!
Good luck!
#interviewbetterVLA
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Suggestions from screening committee chairs
• Google yourself and be prepared to explain what you find
• Ask questions of each group you meet
• Act as though you are on stage at all times during the visit
#interviewbetterVLA
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Thanks for coming!
Slide deck is available on SlideShare (search for VLA interviewing)
Any questions?
#interviewbetterVLA