THE INTERVIEW
ALA Annual Conference - Placement Center | June 26, 2016
Preparing for Today’s Job Market (Part 2)
Susanne Markgren | Starr Hoffman
Who are We?Susanne MarkgrenAssistant Director for Technical ServicesManhattan CollegeBronx, NY
Starr HoffmanHead, Planning and AssessmentUniversity LibrariesUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas
Hi, my name is…
Your 30-second commercial
• Things you LOVE about work• Things you do best• The type of environment you work best in• What you find most important about work
Questions to think about:• What is your career goal? • What skill, strength, or experience do you have
that would help you realize that goal? • What accomplishment proves you have that
skill, strength, or experience? • What are you searching for in a job?
Make a brief list for each of the following:
Types of Interviews
Remote Interviews• By phone:
• Usually all candidates are asked the same questions
• Study your resume: be able to respond confidently about how your skills and background apply to the vacancy
• Find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed for 20-60 minutes
• Make sure you have good service (if using a cell phone)• Dress professionally even though they can’t see you• Breathe and smile and enjoy yourself - it will come
through in your voice
Remote Interviews• By Videoconference (Skype or similar)
• Dress as though you are going to an interview• Have a back-up plan • Sit at a desk or table with your materials within reach• Practice: ask a friend to do a dry run with you • Have a neutral background and decent lighting • Check the direction your web camera is facing (i.e., not up your
nose), and remember to look into the camera (and smile!)• Have your materials - resume, job
listing, etc. - out of sight in front of you, avoid shuffling papers - keep your attention on your audience
• Relax, keep your answers brief, and use normal body language
In-Person Interviews• Can last a few hours, or all day
• Know what is expected• Ask for an agenda, find out who you will meet• Will you be asked to do a presentation?
• Expect to meet with different people• Decision-maker (director) • Supervisors (upper/mid management)• Potential future colleagues and collaborators
• Could involve • Serial one-on-one meetings• Group meetings• Tours• Social gatherings• Or a combination
In-Person Interviews• Group Interviews
• Meet with 2-8 people (or more) all at once
• Usually lasts at least an hour
• Field several questions from each person in the room
• An opportunity to get a sense of the institutional culture
Behavioral Questions: The STAR ModelSituation Task Action ResultExperience 1
Experience 2
Situation Task Action ResultNeeded to create a communications plan
Write a newsletter, start a blog and Twitter feed
Tapped colleagues for web design help and content
50% increase in visits to our library’s main website, via all outlets
Redesigned a study space
Select furniture, etc. to encourage study
Surveyed current library users for ideas
Profiled in local newspaper
Know Before You GoTry to gain an understanding of the institution and people you will meet with before the interview.• Check their website. Is there a:
• Mission statement• Org chart: tells you who reports to whom, indicates
major departments• History of the organization• Bios of leaders• Statistics - number of students, size of the city/service
area, circulation statistics, market share, etc.
Your Social Media PresenceWhile you are job-seeking, and interviewing, you need to be extra conscious of your online presence and your social media activity:• Make sure your online information is up-to-date and
professional• If you have a public Twitter account, stick to professional
and/or harmless tweets• Google yourself often to see what comes up• Clean up, or “unfriend” any unprofessional or questionable
content or “friends”• Use social media to promote yourself, and your
professional content
Game Day
Game Day • Essentials to have close to you for remote interview• Copy of the job announcement• Your resume and cover letter • Organizational chart of the library / mission statement /
names and titles of interviewers, information about the library/institution/etc.
• Pen and notebook• Your questions for them• Tissues, water
Game Day • Essentials to bring with you for in-person interview
• Copy of the job announcement• Your resume and cover letter• Directions, map, itinerary, tickets, contact information for
your arrival, receipts (if you are getting reimbursed)• Portfolio of any extra materials (i.e., publications, samples
of web designs, etc.)• Pen and notebook• Emergency kit (brush/comb, breath mints, safety pin,
etc.)• Professional-looking bag or briefcase• USB drive for presentation backup and other files
What to wear
What NOT to wear
Traveling Tips• Pack light. If flying, use a carry-on suitcase.• Think about buying/bringing wrinkle-free business attire. • Know where you’re going, and how you will get from Point
A to Point B.• Have contact information, and a backup plan.• Give yourself a time cushion.• If you have time, get to know the area.• Be economical. Keep your receipts. Know what you will
be reimbursed for.• Get plenty of rest.• Stay relaxed with small comforts.
Questions you may be asked• What makes you the right candidate for this position?• Why do you want this position?• How do you keep up with the changing technologies in the
library field?• When a patron makes a truly unreasonable demand, how do
you approach saying no? • Describe an important goal that you achieved in the past. What
strategies did you use to achieve it? • Describe a project you worked on that failed. What would you
do differently, or what did you learn?• Talk about your project management skills.• Describe your supervisory style and experience• How does this position fit into your career plans?
Sample Questions to Ask Your Interviewers
• What is a typical day like for a librarian in this role?• How do the librarians work together/collaborate?• How (by whom and how often) are the librarians
evaluated on their performance?• Is professional development supported and/or
encouraged?• What are some new initiatives you are working on?• What is the library’s reference/instruction/collection
development philosophy? (tailor to fit the position)• What do you (the interviewers) like about your job?• What would a successful year in this position look like?
Preparing a “Job Talk” or Presentation
• Know what is expected (what type of presentation you are doing, who is your audience, what is the time frame, how many people will attend, etc.).
• Have something visual to show – a slideshow, a graphic, data sets, handouts, etc.
• Don’t go over the time limit, or way under. (Don’t forget Q&A time!)
• Practice ahead of time and get feedback. • Have backup for technical difficulties.• Stick with software you are very comfortable using.• Attempt to tailor to their environment.• Have fun.
After the Interview / Following Up• Email to say thank you (within a day after)• Follow up with written/typed thank you letters• Wait at least 2 weeks before following up on the status of the search; some will take months
• Keep applying to other jobs - even if your interview went well, don’t assume you will receive an offer
• Accept LinkedIn (or other social media) invites if they are offered; do not send them yourself
• If you accept another position, contact them right away
Questions? …. And, Thank you!Susanne MarkgrenAssistant Director for Technical Services (starting August 1)
Manhattan [email protected]: @smarkgrenPortfolio: https://smarkgren.wordpress.com/Library Career People: https://librarycareerpeople.com/
Starr HoffmanHead, Planning & Assessment
UNLV Libraries [email protected]
Twitter: @artgeeklibrarianPortfolio: https://geekyartistlibrarian.wordpress.com/
Top Related