interviewing: tips from the other side of the table

Interviewing: Tips from theOther Side of the Table

VLA Paraprofessional Forum ConferenceMonday, May 21, 2012

3:15pm-4:30pm

#interviewbetterVLAPF


About This Presentation

• Topic and Scope• Housekeeping Issues


Who We Are

Teresa Doherty,Virginia Commonwealth University

Megan Hodge,Chesterfield County Public Library

Deborah Lammers,Henrico County Public Library

Nicole Spoor,Hampton University


Now tell us a little about you!



Show of hands!

When was your most recent job interview?


Show of hands!

What type of library are you ultimately interested in

working for?

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


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


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)


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


What competencies are most important to a hiring committee?

• Communication skills (73.7%) and customer service skills (76.7%) deemed very important.

• Familiarity with library technology was third most important competency (32.4%)


What character traits are most important?

• Intelligence (176 respondents)

• Enthusiasm (170 respondents)

• Cooperativeness (140 respondents)


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.”


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)


Advice for Job-Hunters

• 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)


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 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!”


Hiring in Libraries academic versus public libraries


• what’s the same?• what’s different?

Academic library interview process

• Timeline

• Screening committee

• Site visit

• Etiquette


It’s a marathon, not a sprint

• September: position is advertised

• November: deadline for applications

• March: candidate visits

• April: offer made

• May: welcome aboard!


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)


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)


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)


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


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


Public Library Interview Process

• Timeline

• The Interview

• Tips from Library Managers


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)


Public Library Interview

• 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


Public Library Interview

• 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


Public Library Interview(entry level)

Most likely, no free lunch.


What hasn’t changed

• Dress up

• Be polite

• Defend every item on your resume

• Do your homework

• Send ‘thank you’ notes


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


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


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


What has changed #2

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)


Wisdom from Public Library Managers

• Don’t discount a job in a smaller library system

• 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


More Wisdom

• 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!


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


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


http://www.askamanager.org/

http://www.lisjobs.com/careerqa_blog/

Any questions?

If you would like to view this slideshow, visit

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Thanks,

Teresa, Megan, Deborah, & Nicole


interviewing: tips from the other side of the table

Education

public library

sample itinerary

library

interview

candidate

amp

librarians

interviewing