Lmst

#libraryJobs

“In my division of 22 FT employees, we had to fill 9 positions (some internal promotions that created vacancies, etc.) – that level of turnover just isn’t sustainable”

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 hiring practices. I invite you to take what’s useful and leave the rest. If you are someone who hires Library, Archives or other LIS workers, please consider giving your own opinion by filling out the survey here.

Current Hiring Practices and Organizational Needs

These questions are about your current hiring practices in general – the way things have been run the last year or two (or three).

Where do you advertise your job listings?

Institutional job site, library website, ALA, Chronicle of Higher Education, Amigos

Do you notice a difference in application quality based on where the applicant saw the job ad?

No way to know

Do you include salary in the job ad?

√ Yes

Do you use keyword matching or any automation tools to reduce the number of applications a human reads while considering candidates?

√ No

Do you consider candidates who don’t meet all the requirements listed in the job ad?

√ No

Does your workplace require experience for entry-level librarian positions? (Officially or unofficially…)

√ Other: Experience yes, but not necessarily library or professional experience

What is the current most common reason for disqualifying an applicant without an interview?

Better applicants in the pool

Does your organization use one-way interviews? (Sometimes also called asynchronous or recorded interviews)

√ No

Do you provide interview questions before the interview?

√ No

Does your interview process include taking the candidate out for a meal?

√ Yes

How much of your interview process is virtual?

√ First round/Initial Screen

Do you (or does your organization) give candidates feedback about applications or interview performance?

√ No

What is the most important thing for a job hunter to do in order to improve their hirability?

Use the cover letter to address requirements that might not be obvious from the CV

I want to hire someone who is:

capable

Is there anything else you’d like to say about hiring practices at your organization or in current trends?

I wish we could attract better candidate pools for some of the positions but not sure what else to do.

Your Last Recruitment

These are questions about the last person you hired (or the last position you attempted to fill). This person may not have been a librarian, and that’s ok.

Think about the most recent time you participated in hiring someone (or an attempt to hire someone) at your organization. What was the title of the position you were trying to fill?

Social Sciences & Education Liaison Librarian

When was this position hired?

√ Within the last three months

Approximately how many people applied for this position?

√ 25 or fewer

Approximately what percentage of those would you say were hirable?

√ 26-50%

And how would you define “hirable”?

Met the required qualifications

How did the recruitment for this position compare with recruitments in previous years?

This was a stronger pool than for other positions earlier in the year

Your Workplace

This section asks for information about your workplace, including if you have lost positions in the last decade.

How many staff members are at your library/organization?

√ 100-200

Are you unionized?

√ No

How many permanent, full time job openings has your workplace posted in the last year?

√ 7 or more

How many permanent, full time librarian (or other “professional” level) jobs has your workplace posted in the last year?

√ 7 or more

Can you tell us how the number of permanent, full-time positions at your workplace has changed over the past decade?

√ Other: I don’t know

Have any full-time librarian positions been replaced with part-time or hourly workers over the past decade?

√ No

Have any full-time librarian positions been replaced with non-librarian, lower paid staff positions over the past decade?

√ Other: I don’t know

Is librarianship a dying profession?

√ No

Why or why not?

I believe the skills are needed to run a library well. The traditional MLIS may not be necessary, but there is still a skillset required to run a library.

Demographics

This section asks for information about you specifically.

What part of the world are you in?

√ Southeastern US

What’s your region like?

√ Suburban area

What type of institution do you hire for (check all that apply):

√ Academic Library

What type(s) of LIS professionals do you hire?

liaison librarians, instruction librarians, branch library managers, student success librarians, administrators

Are you a librarian?

√ Yes

Are you now or have you ever been:

√ A hiring manager (you are hiring people that you will directly or indirectly supervise),

√ A member of a hiring or search committee

Do you have any other comments, for job hunters, other people who hire, about the survey, or for Emily (the survey author)?

I’ve had to hire a stupid number of people the past 3 years and it is EXHAUSTING. It’s hard to maintain a positive attitude for recruiting while also trying to cover the responsibilities created by the vacancies. The survey has just reminded me of that. In my division of 22 FT employees, we had to fill 9 positions (some internal promotions that created vacancies, etc.) – that level of turnover just isn’t sustainable. I know it’s beyond the scope of your study, but it’s a real issue.

#1 #14 #25 #35 #books #GLAMJobs #Librarian #librarians #libraries #Library #libraryHiring #libraryInterview #libraryJobs #libraryWork #LISCareers #lisJobs

"'what was a time you hit a roadblock, and what did you do?' I always have to ask if they mean professional or in life, and then go from there." #LIS #GLAM #Libraries #LibraryJobs

http://hiringlibrarians.com/2025/06/18/i-try-to-limit-my-search-time-to-an-hour-per-day-unless-i-find-something-that-deserves-more-time/

“I try to limit my search time to an hour per day, unless i find something that deserves more time”

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,

√ Looking for remote/virtual work (or at least hybrid),

√ My current job provides insufficient or no benefits (Healthcare or beyond),

√ My current job is awful/toxic

Where do you look for open positions?

INALJ, USAJOBS.GOV, LinkedIn, Glassdoor,

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,

√ Archives,

√ Library vendor/service provider,

√ Special library,

√ Other: Various

What part of the world are you in?

√ Northeastern US

What’s your region like?

√ Suburban area

Are you willing/able to move for employment?

√ Yes, to a specific list of places

What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?

Good Salary, Healthcare, work-life balance

How many jobs have you applied to during your current search? (Please indicate if it’s an estimate or exact)

>40

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,

√ Having a good reputation,

√ Prioritizing work-life balance

Do you expect to see the salary range listed in a job ad?

√ Only for certain kinds of employers

Other than not listing a salary range, are there other “red flags” that would prevent you from applying to a job?

no benefits listed, vague job description

The Process

How much time do you spend preparing an application packet?

depends on the job being applied to

What are the steps you follow to prepare an application packet?

Align resume to job post, align cover letter to job post

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Email

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?

depends on the job and organization.

How do you prepare for interviews?

study resume, read over possible interview questions

What are your most hated interview questions, and why?

“what was a time you hit a roadblock, and what did you do?” I always have to ask if they mean professional or in life, and then go from there.

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 √ Not Applicable
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 √ Not Applicable
Turned down an offer √ Not Applicable

If you’ve asked for an accommodation, what happened?

At my former and current job, both have been moderately helpful

What should employers do to make the hiring process better for job hunters?

More communication during the hiring process. I know it is more work, but it would mean a lot to the person applying.

You and Your Well-Being

How are you doing, generally?

√ I’m somewhat depressed,

√ I’m frustrated,

√ I’m running out of money,

√ Other: It is very hard to job search with a disability. Not everyone is willing to accommodate.

What are your job search self-care strategies?

I try to limit my search time to an hour per day, unless i find something that deserves more time.

Do you have any advice or words of support you’d like to share with other job hunters, is there anything you’d like to say to employers, or is there anything else you’d like to say about job hunting?

It’s a struggle, but we are all worth it.

Do you have any comments for Emily (the survey author) or are there any other questions you think we should add to this survey?

This is a great survey, and I appreciate the time you’ve put into it!

#GLAMJobs #librarians #libraries #libraryHiring #libraryInterview #libraryJobs #libraryWork #LISCareers #lisJobs

Library Director Job Description -
"We are searching for the right individual whose effectiveness for the library will be matched by their satisfaction and enjoyment working here. If a part-time unbenefited position is appropriate to your circumstances, we feel you will find it a most rewarding place to work."

Part-time director who will be takes with 90 things to accomplish in the first two weeks.
#Libraryjobs #Libraries #Librarian #Librarylife

“I can count on two hands how many times this has happened at my university”

Current Hiring Practices and Organizational Needs

These questions are about your current hiring practices in general – the way things have been run the last year or two (or three).

Where do you advertise your job listings?

Higher Ed, Other Librarian-centric websites, Indeed, Other job search platforms among the university’s platform.

Do you notice a difference in application quality based on where the applicant saw the job ad?

Yes, on the university platform it seems regardless of whatever the credentials are listed for the position anyone who works at the university despite not meeting criteria applies for the position and while the system does weed out some of these – some still remain.

Do you include salary in the job ad?

√ Yes

Do you use keyword matching or any automation tools to reduce the number of applications a human reads while considering candidates?

√ Yes

Do you consider candidates who don’t meet all the requirements listed in the job ad?

√ Other: depends – if they have the experience and an impressive resume that meets the needs of the position yes.

Does your workplace require experience for entry-level librarian positions? (Officially or unofficially…)

√ Yes

What is the current most common reason for disqualifying an applicant without an interview?

Not following through after reaching out through multiple avenues to let the interviewee know they are being considered.

Does your organization use one-way interviews? (Sometimes also called asynchronous or recorded interviews)

√ No

Do you provide interview questions before the interview?

√ Yes

If you provide interview questions before the interview, how far in advance?

a week or so in advance depending on when we’ve scheduled the individual

Does your interview process include taking the candidate out for a meal?

√ Yes

How much of your interview process is virtual?

√ First round/Initial Screen

Do you (or does your organization) give candidates feedback about applications or interview performance?

√ No

What is the most important thing for a job hunter to do in order to improve their hirability?

Research the position you’re applying for; and the work that is currently being done especially if you need to do a presentation – attention to detail shows me that you not only want the job you’re eager and the job interests you.

I want to hire someone who is:

a self starter and intellectually curious

Is there anything else you’d like to say about hiring practices at your organization or in current trends?

Timeliness – Search groups get so bogged down with bureaucracy and getting back to the hire promptly – and often, that search fails because the person already has multiple opportunities they’ve applied for. I can count on two hands how many times this has happened at my university. We need to speed up the process or have the hire more involved in knowing that they are considered for the position and the timeline in which they may be brought in to help retain hiring excellent individuals instead of settling for mediocre because we took too long.

Your Last Recruitment

These are questions about the last person you hired (or the last position you attempted to fill). This person may not have been a librarian, and that’s ok.

Think about the most recent time you participated in hiring someone (or an attempt to hire someone) at your organization. What was the title of the position you were trying to fill?

Library Assistant

When was this position hired?

√ Between three to six months ago

Approximately how many people applied for this position?

√ 25 or fewer

Approximately what percentage of those would you say were hirable?

√ 25% or less

And how would you define “hirable”?

meeting the criteria that was placed in the ad based off resume and in person interview.

How did the recruitment for this position compare with recruitments in previous years?

less than average submission but also tons of individuals within the organization that had no skillset still within the grouping.

Your Workplace

This section asks for information about your workplace, including if you have lost positions in the last decade.

How many staff members are at your library/organization?

√ 200+

Are you unionized?

√ Yes, at least some workers are union members

How many permanent, full time job openings has your workplace posted in the last year?

√ 7 or more

How many permanent, full time librarian (or other “professional” level) jobs has your workplace posted in the last year?

√ 5-6

Can you tell us how the number of permanent, full-time positions at your workplace has changed over the past decade?

√ There are more positions

Have any full-time librarian positions been replaced with part-time or hourly workers over the past decade?

√ No

Have any full-time librarian positions been replaced with non-librarian, lower paid staff positions over the past decade?

√ Yes

Is librarianship a dying profession?

√ No

Why or why not?

There is still a huge demand whether in the local community or at a university level – I do however, think that there needs to be more awareness that librarians or libraries in general are more than just books, and some of those organizations offer more than the local community know about and we still operate under the motto if we build it they will come instead harnessing the power of social media, our website and other outlets to let others know what we have. We often operate from a place of one and done – or we wrote about it on our libguide instead of continuing to put those resources front and center and talking about them on different platforms as people may not be aware of all the things we offer. instead we assume that they should know because it’s on our website instead of using analytics to see if that content is actually being seen, writing a newsletter and highlighting those resources when appropriate.

Demographics

This section asks for information about you specifically.

What part of the world are you in?

√ Southeastern US

What’s your region like?

√ Urban area

What type of institution do you hire for (check all that apply):

√ Academic Library, Archives

What type(s) of LIS professionals do you hire?

subject liaisons, catalogers, college assigned librarian liaisons.

Are you a librarian?

√ It’s complicated

Are you now or have you ever been:

√ A hiring manager (you are hiring people that you will directly or indirectly supervise),

√ A member of a hiring or search committee

Do you have any other comments, for job hunters, other people who hire, about the survey, or for Emily (the survey author)?

We need to be proactive and take ownership instead of falling under the impression that librarianship is dying.

#1 #14 #25 #35 #books #GLAMJobs #Librarian #librarians #libraries #Library #libraryHiring #libraryInterview #libraryJobs #libraryWork #LISCareers #lisJobs

"Poor or unclear description of benefits. Multiple positions that have been have been posted for long periods of time. Too much "marketing" language. Positions labeled "diversity focus." Is this not exclusive?" #LIS #GLAM #Libraries #LibraryJobs

http://hiringlibrarians.com/2025/06/15/why-do-employers-not-require-a-masters-degree/

“Why do employers NOT require a Master’s degree?”

Your Demographics and Search Parameters

How long have you been job hunting?

√ Less than six months

Why are you job hunting?

√ Other: My position is being eliminated and the organization is absolutely toxic

Where do you look for open positions?

ALA, Regional library organizations (Ohio Library Council, Florida library jobs)

What position level are you looking for?

√ Requiring at least two years of experience,

√ Senior Librarian,

√ Branch Manager

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?

√ Other: Southeast and Midwest

What’s your region like?

√ Urban area,

√ Rural area

Are you willing/able to move for employment?

√ Yes, to a specific list of places,

√ Yes, as long as at least some of my moving costs are covered

What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?

Decent salary and benefits. Places where there is a true interest in libraries and librarians.

How many jobs have you applied to during your current search? (Please indicate if it’s an estimate or exact)

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,

√ Having a good reputation,

√ 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?

Poor or unclear description of benefits. Multiple positions that have been have been posted for long periods of time. Too much “marketing” language. Positions labeled “diversity focus.” Is this not exclusive?

The Process

How much time do you spend preparing an application packet?

Hours

What are the steps you follow to prepare an application packet?

Read the position description and research the library, institution and location. Look for reviews.

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Email

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?

30-60 days

How do you prepare for interviews?

Review submitted materials and position description. Answer standard questions asked during interviews. Try to think of ways my skills and experience would benefit the organization. Search their HR department portion of the website to see if they have candidate interview questions posted. Google the interview committee. Think of questions that would help me decide if I’m still interested.

What are your most hated interview questions, and why?

Tell us about yourself or why are you applying for this job. This should be clear from the application information.

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 once
Interviewed for a job where an internal candidate was eventually chosen √ I don’t know
Asked for an accommodation for a disability √ Not Applicable
Withdrawn an application before the offer stage √ Happened once
Turned down an offer √ Not Applicable

If you have ever withdrawn an application, why?

Couldn’t afford moving expenses.

If you’ve turned down an offer (or offers), why?

Pay was not enough to offset living in the location.

If you want to share a great, inspirational, funny, horrific or other story about an experience you have had at any stage in the hiring process, please do so here:

Recently I had a telephone interview and multiple people on Zoom kept yawning. I only spoke with them for 30 minutes. Clearly, they should not have invited me to interview.

What should employers do to make the hiring process better for job hunters?

Care. Seriously, I have interviewed with some folks who were very pleasant. There have been others who clearly have not been taught how to interview. Stop discriminating based on age and gender. Older women are good at technology too!

You and Your Well-Being

How are you doing, generally?

√ I’m maintaining,

√ I’m frustrated,

√ Not out of money yet, but worried

What are your job search self-care strategies?

Spend time with family. Exercise!

To employers: Be more open and innovative with your interview strategy. My biggest pet peeve is employers who plan to hire internally. Don’t waste my time! For job seekers: Don’t let rejection defeat you. You have valuable skills and talents.

Do you have any comments for Emily (the survey author) or are there any other questions you think we should add to this survey?

Why do employers NOT require a Master’s degree?

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?)

MLS – 1989, MIS – 2000

When did you start your first job search for a “professional” position (or other position that utilized your degree)?

√ Other: I was lucky. The library where I was employed paid for part of the Master’s program and gave us a professional job after we graduated. It was a great time for librarians!

In relation to your graduation, when did you find your first “professional” position?

√ I was actually hired before I graduated

What kind of work was your first post-graduation professional position?

√ Full Time

Did you get support from your library school for your first job hunt (and/or any subsequent ones)?

N/A

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about searching for or finding your first post-graduation position?

I was lucky to have started at the time I did.

#GLAMJobs #librarians #libraries #libraryHiring #libraryInterview #libraryJobs #libraryWork #LISCareers #lisJobs

“Expectations change after 2, 5, 10, 20 years in a position – tell us why we should hire you for the long term!”

Current Hiring Practices and Organizational Needs

These questions are about your current hiring practices in general – the way things have been run the last year or two (or three).

Where do you advertise your job listings?

Organization’s jobs page, LinkedIn, ALA/Black Caucus/APALA/Reforma/etc. for LIS opportunities

Do you notice a difference in application quality based on where the applicant saw the job ad?

Not that I’ve noticed

Do you include salary in the job ad?

√ Yes

Do you use keyword matching or any automation tools to reduce the number of applications a human reads while considering candidates?

√ No

Do you consider candidates who don’t meet all the requirements listed in the job ad?

√ No

Does your workplace require experience for entry-level librarian positions? (Officially or unofficially…)

√ No

What is the current most common reason for disqualifying an applicant without an interview?

For LIS positions, this is typically because they’ve completed their coursework but are unable to get transcripts or *anything* from their university showing they are graduating, which right now is a requirement for Librarian/LIS positions.

Does your organization use one-way interviews? (Sometimes also called asynchronous or recorded interviews)

√ No

Do you provide interview questions before the interview?

√ No

If you provide interview questions before the interview, how far in advance?

n/a

Does your interview process include taking the candidate out for a meal?

√ No, and I don’t think we ever have

How much of your interview process is virtual?

√ Other: For LIS positions, these are once again in person unless the person lives out of the area

Do you (or does your organization) give candidates feedback about applications or interview performance?

√ No

What is the most important thing for a job hunter to do in order to improve their hirability?

Find someone to practice common questions with, and make sure you have examples for related work. Most organizations ask the “tell us about background/skills/jobs” as an intro, along with a technology question, an EDI question, a customer service/outreach/events question, maybe something about research if it’s geared towards that. There’s nothing more frustrating than an “I don’t know” or “I’ve never done that” answer – if you don’t know, use a hypothetical example of what you would do if given the opportunity. Read the job description, if you can talk to someone that works in the organization, and come prepared to the interview.

I want to hire someone who is:

adaptable

Is there anything else you’d like to say about hiring practices at your organization or in current trends?

Covid taught us the importance of adaptability, teamwork, flexibility, etc. Expectations change after 2, 5, 10, 20 years in a position – tell us why we should hire you for the long term!

Your Last Recruitment

These are questions about the last person you hired (or the last position you attempted to fill). This person may not have been a librarian, and that’s ok.

Think about the most recent time you participated in hiring someone (or an attempt to hire someone) at your organization. What was the title of the position you were trying to fill?

Librarian (Entry)

When was this position hired?

√ Within the last three months

Approximately how many people applied for this position?

√ 25 or fewer

Approximately what percentage of those would you say were hirable?

√ 25% or less

And how would you define “hirable”?

Someone who gets it. Librarians are expected to help set the tone in our branches, to be a leader in the absence of a supervisor, and who is wiling/eager to tackle projects, outreaches, event planning, etc. You need to demonstrate through examples on how you will help achieve and balance all these components and demands on your time.

How did the recruitment for this position compare with recruitments in previous years?

We have a pretty famous librarian working for us right now, with a huge social media and web/media presence. I think we’re seeing more applicants than normal, or compared to when I was hired 2 years ago, and it’s likely due to their efforts.

Your Workplace

This section asks for information about your workplace, including if you have lost positions in the last decade.

How many staff members are at your library/organization?

√ 100-200

Are you unionized?

√ Yes, at least some workers are union members

How many permanent, full time job openings has your workplace posted in the last year?

√ 7 or more

How many permanent, full time librarian (or other “professional” level) jobs has your workplace posted in the last year?

√ 5-6

Can you tell us how the number of permanent, full-time positions at your workplace has changed over the past decade?

√ Other: I don’t know

Have any full-time librarian positions been replaced with part-time or hourly workers over the past decade?

√ No

Have any full-time librarian positions been replaced with non-librarian, lower paid staff positions over the past decade?

√ Other: I don’t know

Is librarianship a dying profession?

√ No

Why or why not?

Libraries are community centers, and like parks, are places that people drop in as it works for them. The roles of a librarian might be changing, where it’s more about relationship building and community support (esp. in public libraries) than research, cataloging, and information management – but library professionals are still needed to help with those things (maybe just less?) AND given the digital divide, socio-economic barriers, and general lack of equitable access are still needed to serve their communities beyond what a paraprofessional or zero staff would be able to achieve.

Demographics

This section asks for information about you specifically.

What part of the world are you in?

√ Western US (including Alaska, Hawaii and Pacific Northwest)

What’s your region like?

√ Urban area,

√ Suburban area,

√ Rural area

What type of institution do you hire for (check all that apply):

√ Public Library

What type(s) of LIS professionals do you hire?

Yes – I hire for all public librarian positions (technical services, children’s, teens, adults, generalists, etc.)

Are you a librarian?

√ Yes

Are you now or have you ever been:

√ A hiring manager (you are hiring people that you will directly or indirectly supervise),

√ A member of a hiring or search committee

#1 #14 #25 #35 #books #GLAMJobs #Librarian #librarians #libraries #Library #libraryHiring #libraryInterview #libraryJobs #libraryWork #LISCareers #lisJobs

“I guess I can’t say drinking and buying plants?”

Your Demographics and Search Parameters

How long have you been job hunting?

√ A year to 18 months

Why are you job hunting?

√ I want to work at a different type of library/institution,

√ I want to work with a different type of collection,

√ My current job is temporary,

√ My current job is boring,

√ My current job is awful/toxic

Where do you look for open positions?

Listserv, University websites, ischool job board (Canada)

What position level are you looking for?

√ Requiring at least two years of experience,

√ Supervisory

What type(s) of organization are you looking in?

√ Academic library,

√ Archives,

√ Special library

What part of the world are you in?

√ Canada

What’s your region like?

√ Urban area

Are you willing/able to move for employment?

√ Yes, to a specific list of places

What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?

Interesting work, supportive management, room for growth

How many jobs have you applied to during your current search? (Please indicate if it’s an estimate or exact)

8 (exact)

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,

√ 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?

short-term contracts, replacing permanent job with contract, having insane qualifications for what is essentially an entry-level job

The Process

How much time do you spend preparing an application packet?

2+ hours

What are the steps you follow to prepare an application packet?

Examine job posting, research institution, prepare a cover letter, tailor CV

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Email

When would you like potential employers to contact you?

√ 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?

I wish I could say 2-3 months, but realistically it’s more often 6-8 months

How do you prepare for interviews?

Research institution/collections, prepare questions, practice using sample questions

What are your most hated interview questions, and why?

Tell us about a time you dealt with a difficult situation or a difficult coworker. Questions like these don’t actually expect honesty or for you to be truthful, instead you have to craft a hard situation into something it likely wasn’t.

During your current search, have you had any of the following experiences:

Submitted an application and got no response √ Happened once
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 √ Happened once
Turned down an offer √ Not Applicable

If you want to share a great, inspirational, funny, horrific or other story about an experience you have had at any stage in the hiring process, please do so here:

Lead panelist had an entire speech about how “you’re going to hear from us either way,” “we don’t believe in leaving people in the dark,” etc. I never heard from them after the interview.

What should employers do to make the hiring process better for job hunters?

Do not post for a job that you aren’t actually ready to hire. A 3-4 month period between application closing and contacting applicants for an interview is insane.

You and Your Well-Being

How are you doing, generally?

√ I’m maintaining,

√ I’m somewhat depressed,

√ I’m frustrated,

√ I feel alone in my search

What are your job search self-care strategies?

I guess I can’t say drinking and buying plants? I try to accept that I have no control in the process until it gets to the interview stage, and even then, even if I have all the skills and have a great interview, there are reasons out of my control as to why I didn’t get hired. Believe that something is out there for me.

Do your best, keep building up your skills, don’t get discouraged (even though it is very easy to do so)

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?)

2017

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?

√ I was actually hired before I graduated

What kind of work was your first post-graduation professional position?

√ Temporary/Limited Term

Did you get support from your library school for your first job hunt (and/or any subsequent ones)?

#GLAMJobs #librarians #libraries #libraryHiring #libraryInterview #libraryJobs #libraryWork #LISCareers #lisJobs

“we utilize external panels in the first round and internal panels for the second level. Many candidates do not seem to realize this and get caught off guard”

Current Hiring Practices and Organizational Needs

These questions are about your current hiring practices in general – the way things have been run the last year or two (or three).

Where do you advertise your job listings?

City HR Website, Governmentjobs.com, Listservs, Sometimes CLA, Newspaper for difficult to fill positions.

Do you notice a difference in application quality based on where the applicant saw the job ad?

No.

Do you include salary in the job ad?

√ Yes

Do you use keyword matching or any automation tools to reduce the number of applications a human reads while considering candidates?

√ No

Do you consider candidates who don’t meet all the requirements listed in the job ad?

√ No

Does your workplace require experience for entry-level librarian positions? (Officially or unofficially…)

√ No

What is the current most common reason for disqualifying an applicant without an interview?

Incomplete applications, Candidate did not meet minimum qualifications, Application indicates they could not work certain days/hours

Does your organization use one-way interviews? (Sometimes also called asynchronous or recorded interviews)

√ No

Do you provide interview questions before the interview?

√ No

Does your interview process include taking the candidate out for a meal?

√ No, and I don’t think we ever have

How much of your interview process is virtual?

√ None

Do you (or does your organization) give candidates feedback about applications or interview performance?

√ Yes

What is the most important thing for a job hunter to do in order to improve their hirability?

Have question #1 well formed in a concise but engaging way. It catches the panel’s attention and entices them to hear more.

I want to hire someone who is:

adaptable and willing to learn from a variety of situations/people

Is there anything else you’d like to say about hiring practices at your organization or in current trends?

As a city department, we utilize external panels in the first round and internal panels for the second level. Many candidates do not seem to realize this and get caught off guard.

Your Last Recruitment

These are questions about the last person you hired (or the last position you attempted to fill). This person may not have been a librarian, and that’s ok.

Think about the most recent time you participated in hiring someone (or an attempt to hire someone) at your organization. What was the title of the position you were trying to fill?

Asian Services Librarian

When was this position hired?

√ Within the last three months

Approximately how many people applied for this position?

√ 25 or fewer

Approximately what percentage of those would you say were hirable?

√ 25% or less

And how would you define “hirable”?

Bilingual language ability, interest in developing programs in other languages, adept at community outreach, enthusiasm for working with diverse people groups.

How did the recruitment for this position compare with recruitments in previous years?

8 month to fill this recent vacancy. The last time we had to hire for this specific position, we were able to do so in about 2.5 months, with a large pool of qualified candidates.

Your Workplace

This section asks for information about your workplace, including if you have lost positions in the last decade.

How many staff members are at your library/organization?

√ 10-50

Are you unionized?

√ Yes, at least some workers are union members

How many permanent, full time job openings has your workplace posted in the last year?

√ 5-6

How many permanent, full time librarian (or other “professional” level) jobs has your workplace posted in the last year?

√ 3-4

Can you tell us how the number of permanent, full-time positions at your workplace has changed over the past decade?

√ There are fewer positions

Have any full-time librarian positions been replaced with part-time or hourly workers over the past decade?

√ No

Have any full-time librarian positions been replaced with non-librarian, lower paid staff positions over the past decade?

√ No

Is librarianship a dying profession?

√ Yes

Why or why not?

Newly graduated candidates are underprepared for the real public library landscape. Many have notions of special collections, technical services, deep reference or obscure non-public facing roles…when the majority of our positions today are very much front facing public services, programming, marketing and outreach.

Demographics

This section asks for information about you specifically.

What part of the world are you in?

√ Western US (including Alaska, Hawaii and Pacific Northwest)

What’s your region like?

√ Urban area,

√ Suburban area

What type of institution do you hire for (check all that apply):

√ Public Library

What type(s) of LIS professionals do you hire?

YS Librarians, Teen Librarians, Asian Services Librarians, Cataloging specialist, Adult and Reference Services Librarians, Senior Outreach Services Librarian, Librarian II, Collection Services Librarians, Digitization Services librarian, PT reference & public services librarians

Are you a librarian?

√ Yes

Are you now or have you ever been:

√ A hiring manager (you are hiring people that you will directly or indirectly supervise),

√ A member of a hiring or search committee

#1 #14 #25 #35 #books #GLAMJobs #Librarian #librarians #libraries #Library #libraryHiring #libraryInterview #libraryJobs #libraryWork #LISCareers #lisJobs

Another “wont you be my neighbor” #LibJobs : Head of Public Services at Smith College. MLS or similar, 3-5yrs experience, 1yr supervisory experience. Salary range $80k-$105k.

https://smithcollege.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/smithcollege/job/Smith-College/Head-of-Public-Services_R-202500294?source=HigherEdJobs

#LISJobs #LibraryJobs

“Help!!!”

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 underemployed (not enough hours or overqualified for current position)

Where do you look for open positions?

Inalj, Indeed, RAILS Job Board, government websites

What position level are you looking for?

√ Entry level,

√ Requiring at least two years of experience

What type(s) of organization are you looking in?

√ Public library

What part of the world are you in?

√ Midwestern US

What’s your region like?

√ Suburban area

Are you willing/able to move for employment?

√ Yes, to a specific list of places

What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?

Varied responsibilities, growth opportunity or mentorship, reasonable pay and benefits

How many jobs have you applied to during your current search? (Please indicate if it’s an estimate or exact)

About 30

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

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?

Vague descriptors “service at the level of WOW” is one I’ve seen, poor description of duties, minimum requirements that exceed what the job entails

The Process

How much time do you spend preparing an application packet?

I spent about 8 hours prepping editable cover letters, a resume, and responses to common questions. Now I can apply to a job in about 45 minutes or less

What are the steps you follow to prepare an application packet?

Edit and tailor cover letter to fit job, edit question answers to highlight specific skills, contact references

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Email

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?

roughly 10 weeks

How do you prepare for interviews?

Research the position and the library, review common questions, select things to highlight

What are your most hated interview questions, and why?

Describe dealing with an escalating or difficult situation- can be challenging to concisely describe a situation, your solution, and emphasize the postives

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 √ I don’t know
Asked for an accommodation for a disability √ Not Applicable
Withdrawn an application before the offer stage √ Not Applicable
Turned down an offer √ Happened more than once

If you’ve turned down an offer (or offers), why?

Pay and location did not meet my needs

What should employers do to make the hiring process better for job hunters?

More communication! Even automated emails, your app is recieved, is being reviewed, etc help me feel valued. It is so frustrating to continually send things into the void and hear nothing back.

You and Your Well-Being

How are you doing, generally?

√ I’m maintaining,

√ Not out of money yet, but worried

What are your job search self-care strategies?

Commiserating with other recent graduates, relying on my support system to hear me vent and make decisions

I wish I had more advice! Patience is paramount

Do you have any comments for Emily (the survey author) or are there any other questions you think we should add to this survey?

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?)

May 2023

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 lookingLess than six months before graduating with my MLIS/other LIS degree, but still before I graduated

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)?

Some support via job listings being sent, but I wish there was a more accessible networking tool for alum

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about searching for or finding your first post-graduation position?

Help!!!

#GLAMJobs #librarians #libraries #libraryHiring #libraryInterview #libraryJobs #libraryWork #LISCareers #lisJobs

"Vague descriptors “service at the level of WOW” is one I’ve seen, poor description of duties, minimum requirements that exceed what the job entails" #LIS #GLAM #Libraries #LibraryJobs

http://hiringlibrarians.com/2025/06/08/help/

“we thought we would have been very fortunate to have any of the final candidates, the chosen candidate is really thriving”

Current Hiring Practices and Organizational Needs

These questions are about your current hiring practices in general – the way things have been run the last year or two (or three).

Where do you advertise your job listings?

SAA & SAA list servs, Archives Gig, Indeed, State Library Job Board, INALJ, sometimes ALA, Chronicle of Higher Education

Do you notice a difference in application quality based on where the applicant saw the job ad?

Do you include salary in the job ad?

√ Other: My employer does not want it posted in the general posting (I don’t know why) but they won’t prevent me from listing it when I do the posting and know that it’s required by some sites

Do you use keyword matching or any automation tools to reduce the number of applications a human reads while considering candidates?

√ No

Do you consider candidates who don’t meet all the requirements listed in the job ad?

√ Yes

Does your workplace require experience for entry-level librarian positions? (Officially or unofficially…)

√ Other: It depends! We just had a archivist staff position that we wanted 2 years experience for (would include internships) but we just listed a faculty line digital initiatives librarian position that we had requirements for but did not specify a time requirement

What is the current most common reason for disqualifying an applicant without an interview?

Not providing the required application documents, not having demonstrated knowledge of job duties or making a case for transferable skills

Does your organization use one-way interviews? (Sometimes also called asynchronous or recorded interviews)

√ No

Do you provide interview questions before the interview?

√ Yes

If you provide interview questions before the interview, how far in advance?

24-48 hours

Does your interview process include taking the candidate out for a meal?

√ Yes

How much of your interview process is virtual?

√ First round/Initial Screen

Do you (or does your organization) give candidates feedback about applications or interview performance?

√ Other: If requested

What is the most important thing for a job hunter to do in order to improve their hirability?

Map your cover letter to the job duties/requirements; say why you want to work with us – show you’ve done research

I want to hire someone who is:

Enthusiastic

Is there anything else you’d like to say about hiring practices at your organization or in current trends?

We’re doing our best to be inclusive and equitable but know this is evolving and we need to pay attention to how we can do better

Your Last Recruitment

These are questions about the last person you hired (or the last position you attempted to fill). This person may not have been a librarian, and that’s ok.

Think about the most recent time you participated in hiring someone (or an attempt to hire someone) at your organization. What was the title of the position you were trying to fill?

Archivist

When was this position hired?

√ Between three to six months ago

Approximately how many people applied for this position?

√ 25-75

Approximately what percentage of those would you say were hirable?

√ 51-75%

And how would you define “hirable”?

Had the needed experience and/or coursework, seemed like they could bring some interesting perspectives to the position, excited about the work/opportunity

How did the recruitment for this position compare with recruitments in previous years?

We had many more applicants than usual and many were qualified, it was difficulty to whittle it down to 10 initial interviews, difficult to whittle down to 3 on campus interviews and difficult to make final selection; we thought we would have been very fortunate to have any of the final candidates, the chosen candidate is really thriving

Your Workplace

This section asks for information about your workplace, including if you have lost positions in the last decade.

How many staff members are at your library/organization?

√ 10-50

Are you unionized?

√ No

How many permanent, full time job openings has your workplace posted in the last year?

√ 3-4

How many permanent, full time librarian (or other “professional” level) jobs has your workplace posted in the last year?

√ 2

Can you tell us how the number of permanent, full-time positions at your workplace has changed over the past decade?

√ There are the same number of positions

Have any full-time librarian positions been replaced with part-time or hourly workers over the past decade?

√ No

Have any full-time librarian positions been replaced with non-librarian, lower paid staff positions over the past decade?

√ No

Is librarianship a dying profession?

√ No

Why or why not?

There’s so much exciting, challenging work going on and so many amazing people with different skills making it a very dynamic profession; I admit I have to educate people from outside the library world about that but then they get excited

Demographics

This section asks for information about you specifically.

What part of the world are you in?

√ Midwestern US

What’s your region like?

√ Urban area

What type of institution do you hire for (check all that apply):

√ Academic Library,

√ Archives

What type(s) of LIS professionals do you hire?

Archivist, digital librarian, subject liaisons

Are you a librarian?

√ Yes

Are you now or have you ever been:

√ A hiring manager (you are hiring people that you will directly or indirectly supervise),

√ A member of a hiring or search committee

Do you have any other comments, for job hunters, other people who hire, about the survey, or for Emily (the survey author)?

I really appreciate Hiring Librarians, you challenge me and help me try to be a better professional

#14 #25 #35 #books #GLAMJobs #Librarian #librarians #libraries #Library #libraryHiring #libraryInterview #libraryJobs #libraryWork #LISCareers #lisJobs

"I need some kind of cause to dedicate most of my time towards, but I'm also a human being who needs to pay bills, have time dedicated toward my loved ones, and find space and joy in places other than my job." #LIS #GLAM #Libraries #LibraryJobs

http://hiringlibrarians.com/2025/06/04/im-currently-hoping-to-work-two-part-time-jobs-again-this-time-in-reference-to-gain-experience-and-pay-bills-until-im-able-to-find-another-full-time-position/

“I’m currently hoping to work two part-time jobs again, this time in reference, to gain experience and pay bills until I’m able to find another full-time position”

Your Demographics and Search Parameters

How long have you been job hunting?

√ More than 18 months

Why are you job hunting?

√ This is the next step after finishing library/archives/other LIS graduate degree,

√ I’m unemployed,

√ Looking for more money,

√ Looking for a promotion/more responsibility,

√ I want to work at a different type of library/institution,

√ I want to work with a different type of collection,

√ My current job is boring,

√ My current job is awful/toxic

Where do you look for open positions?

RAILS Job Board, Higher Ed Jobs, job boards of universities and colleges in my area

What position level are you looking for?

√ Entry level,

√ Requiring at least two years of experience,

√ Clerk/Library Assistant,

√ Other: Entry-level / first-time Librarian position after MLIS graduation

What type(s) of organization are you looking in?

√ Academic 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?

√ No

What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?

Higher wage than what I’m currently earning, main responsibility is reference and instruction work, and within a 40min commute from my home

How many jobs have you applied to during your current search? (Please indicate if it’s an estimate or exact)

Nearly 100 (Estimate)

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,

√ Having a good reputation,

√ Prioritizing work-life balance

Do you expect to see the salary range listed in a job ad?

√ No (even if I might think it *should* be)

Other than not listing a salary range, are there other “red flags” that would prevent you from applying to a job?

Not specifying if the job is full or part time, requiring more education or degrees than what I currently have, using language to indicate the institution / position is part of a “family,” not specifying the exact location of the building or institution I’ll be working in

The Process

How much time do you spend preparing an application packet?

3 hours

What are the steps you follow to prepare an application packet?

Carefully read the job description, revise my resume if I feel certain experiences or skills of mine can be match the position better, customize a template cover letter to address the position specifically

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Email

When would you like potential employers to contact you?

√ Other: Only if I’m being asked to progress in the hiring stage. Otherwise I assume I’ve been rejected from the position immediately

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?

Longer than a month, on average three months

How do you prepare for interviews?

Read the job description very carefully,

What are your most hated interview questions, and why?

“Tell us about yourself / what your personality is like;” I submitted materials that should refer to this. Don’t ask me “fit”-related questions.

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 √ Not Applicable
Interviewed for a job where an internal candidate was eventually chosen √ I don’t know
Asked for an accommodation for a disability √ Happened the majority of the time or always
Withdrawn an application before the offer stage √ Not Applicable
Turned down an offer √ Not Applicable

If you want to share a great, inspirational, funny, horrific or other story about an experience you have had at any stage in the hiring process, please do so here:

I was specifically told by one of the hiring managers for a part-time library assistant position at a public library that the pay was not meant to “pay the bills.” I needed that job and an additional PT public library assistant position to pay for my bills because job hunting for full-time positions wasn’t working out.

What should employers do to make the hiring process better for job hunters?

ALWAYS, ALWAYS post the salary / pay information with the job ad, be realistic and very specific about what the requirements and preferred qualifications are for the job,

You and Your Well-Being

How are you doing, generally?

√ I’m maintaining,

√ I’m somewhat depressed,

√ I’m despondent,

√ I’m frustrated,

√ Not out of money yet, but worried,

√ I feel alone in my search

What are your job search self-care strategies?

I generally assume that I will be rejected from a position the moment I apply to it so I don’t become too attached to the idea I may progress in the hiring stage.

I’ve only ever worked in the library field, though I’ve continually felt I’m competing against TONS of others in similar or even worse positions than mine, all for the same low-paying full or part time positions because we feel attached to this field and don’t know what else to do in our careers. I need some kind of cause to dedicate most of my time towards, but I’m also a human being who needs to pay bills, have time dedicated toward my loved ones, and find space and joy in places other than my job. I wish job hunting and employers all could acknowledge our humanity and shared needs.

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?)

2022

When did you start your first job search for a “professional” position (or other position that utilized your degree)?

√ More than six months before graduating with my MLIS/other LIS degree

In relation to your graduation, when did you find your first “professional” position?

√ Hasn’t happened yet – I’m still lookingMore than six months before graduating with my MLIS/other LIS degree

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)?

I’ve had support with some of my application materials, but I feel like I’ve needed to pull teeth in order to get specific help more than the general “here’s how to make a good resume” advice from career center staff.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about searching for or finding your first post-graduation position?

I graduated with my MSLIS in December 2022, and up until this last April 2023 since October 2019, I was working a full-time library assistant position at a research library. I quit the position because I felt burnt-out, underpaid, and to search for positions specifically in an academic library. I unfortunately was rejected from a full-time academic job this month, so I’m currently hoping to work two part-time jobs again, this time in reference, to gain experience and pay bills until I’m able to find another full-time position.

#GLAMJobs #librarians #libraries #libraryHiring #libraryInterview #libraryJobs #libraryWork #LISCareers #lisJobs

"I will say also that it's hard to separate what's happening in librarianship from what's happening in the job market and economy more broadly; I think most of what is happening to us is happening in many industries." #LIS #GLAM #Libraries #LibraryJobs

http://hiringlibrarians.com/2025/06/02/i-do-feel-like-its-my-responsibility-as-a-hiring-manager-to-continue-to-make-the-process-better-for-candidates-and-really-the-biggest-challenge-with-that-is-the-time-it-require/

“I do feel like it’s my responsibility as a hiring manager to continue to make the process better for candidates and really the biggest challenge with that is the time it require”

Current Hiring Practices and Organizational Needs

These questions are about your current hiring practices in general – the way things have been run the last year or two (or three).

Where do you advertise your job listings?

HigherEd Jobs, ALA, Indeed, local library association job board

Do you notice a difference in application quality based on where the applicant saw the job ad?

The more general the website, the more unqualified applicants we see (we get the most unqualified from Indeed)

Do you include salary in the job ad?

√ Yes

Do you use keyword matching or any automation tools to reduce the number of applications a human reads while considering candidates?

√ No

Do you consider candidates who don’t meet all the requirements listed in the job ad?

√ Yes

What is the current most common reason for disqualifying an applicant without an interview?

Does not meet the minimum requirements when we have enough other applicants who do (we might bend on these if we didn’t have enough qualified applicants).

Does your organization use one-way interviews? (Sometimes also called asynchronous or recorded interviews)

√ No

Do you provide interview questions before the interview?

√ Other: Not consistent based on who’s hiring, but increasingly we do.

If you provide interview questions before the interview, how far in advance?

2-3 days

Does your interview process include taking the candidate out for a meal?

√ Other: Depends on the level of the position, but we do very often.

How much of your interview process is virtual?

√ First round/Initial Screen

Do you (or does your organization) give candidates feedback about applications or interview performance?

√ No

What is the most important thing for a job hunter to do in order to improve their hirability?

The biggest factor is usually their previous job experience, but some candidates disqualify themselves with poor soft skills during the interview or having a hard time answering questions thoughtfully/fully.

Is there anything else you’d like to say about hiring practices at your organization or in current trends?

Our hiring process really has not changed much since pre-Covid with the exception of it becoming more common to provide the questions in advance.

Your Last Recruitment

These are questions about the last person you hired (or the last position you attempted to fill). This person may not have been a librarian, and that’s ok.

Think about the most recent time you participated in hiring someone (or an attempt to hire someone) at your organization. What was the title of the position you were trying to fill?

When was this position hired?

√ Between three to six months ago

Approximately how many people applied for this position?

√ 25-75

Approximately what percentage of those would you say were hirable?

√ 25% or less

And how would you define “hirable”?

Had any relevant library experience (though we might have opened the door to transferable experience (non-library) if we didn’t have enough qualified candidates).

How did the recruitment for this position compare with recruitments in previous years?

It really has not changed that much for us, but at least anecdotally, people seem less interested in moving to our high cost of living area for a library salary.

Your Workplace

This section asks for information about your workplace, including if you have lost positions in the last decade.

How many staff members are at your library/organization?

√ 50-100

Are you unionized?

√ Yes, at least some workers are union members

Can you tell us how the number of permanent, full-time positions at your workplace has changed over the past decade?

√ Other: I don’t know

Have any full-time librarian positions been replaced with part-time or hourly workers over the past decade?

√ No

Have any full-time librarian positions been replaced with non-librarian, lower paid staff positions over the past decade?

√ No

Is librarianship a dying profession?

√ I don’t know

Why or why not?

It could be dying, but it’s definitely not dead. Kind of reminds me of the hype around how e-books were going to kill print books. It might be a long-term trend toward death or a transformation into something unrecognizable, but it’s not happening as quickly as people seem to fear. I will say also that it’s hard to separate what’s happening in librarianship from what’s happening in the job market and economy more broadly; I think most of what is happening to us is happening in many industries.

Demographics

This section asks for information about you specifically.

What part of the world are you in?

√ Western US (including Alaska, Hawaii and Pacific Northwest)

What’s your region like?

√ Suburban area

What type of institution do you hire for (check all that apply):

√ Academic Library

What type(s) of LIS professionals do you hire?

Are you a librarian?

√ Yes

Are you now or have you ever been:

√ A hiring manager (you are hiring people that you will directly or indirectly supervise),

√ A member of a hiring or search committee

Do you have any other comments, for job hunters, other people who hire, about the survey, or for Emily (the survey author)?

I think one of the most helpful things you can do as a candidate is get experience in hiring others or being on a search committee. It gives you so much insight into the hiring process. I’m currently on the job market as well and it really is hard to put in the work that all-day interviews require (why are we still doing them?) and then not get the job, but when you’re on the other side of the table you realize it’s almost never personal and the decision often does come down to 2 really qualified candidates, either of which could succeed.

I do feel like it’s my responsibility as a hiring manager to continue to make the process better for candidates and really the biggest challenge with that is the time it requires.

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Won’t you be my neighbor? Smith College is hiring a Discovery & Systems Librarian. MLS or similar & 1-3yrs experience required. Could be remote. Salary range $71k-$96k/yr. #LISjobs #LibJobs #LibraryJobs #SystemsLibrarian

https://smithcollege.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/smithcollege/job/Smith-College/Discovery-and-Systems-Librarian_R-202500272

“In much the same way that an interview goes both ways, so does an application.”

Your Demographics and Search Parameters

How long have you been job hunting?

√ A year to 18 months

Why are you job hunting?

√ I’m underemployed (not enough hours or overqualified for current position),

√ Looking for more money,

√ Looking for a promotion/more responsibility,

√ I want to work at a different type of library/institution,

√ I want to work with a different type of collection,

√ My current job is temporary,

√ My current job is boring,

√ I’m worried I will be laid off/let go/fired from my current position

Where do you look for open positions?

ALA Joblist, Ex-Libris, RBMS Twitter feed, USAJobs

What position level are you looking for?

√ Requiring at least two years of experience

What type(s) of organization are you looking in?

√ Academic library,

√ Special library

What part of the world are you in?

√ Mid-Atlantic US

What’s your region like?

√ Urban area

Are you willing/able to move for employment?

√ Yes, within my state,

√ Yes, to a specific list of places,

√ Yes, as long as at least some of my moving costs are covered

What are the top three things you’re looking for in a job?

Living wage with room for growth, hands-on work with collections materials, collaboration with other institutions

How many jobs have you applied to during your current search? (Please indicate if it’s an estimate or exact)

20 exactly

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,

√ Funding professional development

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?

Vague or excessively broad descriptions of duties; no indication of an expected timeline for hiring.

The Process

How much time do you spend preparing an application packet?

Between two and six hours

What are the steps you follow to prepare an application packet?

Double check transcripts, tweak cover letter and resume, research position and institution

How do you prefer to communicate with potential employers?

√ Email

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,

√ Other: To say when the application period has ended

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?

Two weeks to six months.

How do you prepare for interviews?

Research institution, position, and staff; choose clothes beforehand; eat a good breakfast.

What are your most hated interview questions, and why?

“Tell me about yourself.” What do you want to know? My undergrad? My focus in library school? My work experience? My favorite color?

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 once
Interviewed for a job where an internal candidate was eventually chosen √ I don’t know
Asked for an accommodation for a disability √ Not Applicable
Withdrawn an application before the offer stage √ Not Applicable
Turned down an offer √ Not Applicable

What should employers do to make the hiring process better for job hunters?

Please, please talk to us. Even a boilerplate rejection is better than silence. In my personal experience, applying for an exciting position and receiving nothing back, not even a form rejection, can sour me rather profoundly on an institution: if you can’t do me the dignity of saying you don’t want me, I am far less inclined to apply for other positions with such an institution in the future.

You and Your Well-Being

How are you doing, generally?

√ I’m despondent,

√ I’m frustrated,

√ I’m running out of money,

√ I feel alone in my search

What are your job search self-care strategies?

I’ve elected to treat job hunting as a game I play with myself. How fast can I apply for a position? How many can I send in a week? A day? It’s a hobby now, because if I worry too much about it I fear I will leave the field. If I turn applying to jobs into an idle part of my routine, like laundry, it’s less upsetting to have yet another application yield nothing.

Employers, I cannot emphasize how much communication matters. To me, it’s a question of courtesy and professionalism: you have solicited the applicant’s time, labor, and information, the applicant has provided it to the best of their ability. Acknowledgment of that effort is the least that can be offered. In much the same way that an interview goes both ways, so does an application.

Do you have any comments for Emily (the survey author) or are there any other questions you think we should add to this survey?

Thank you for your work on this survey and this blog in general, it’s a fascinating resource and it makes the job hunt more transparent and less dismal.

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?)

Graduated in January 2021

When did you start your first job search for a “professional” position (or other position that utilized your degree)?

√ After 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?

√ Full Time,

√ Contract

#GLAMJobs #librarians #libraries #libraryHiring #libraryInterview #libraryJobs #libraryWork #LISCareers #lisJobs

#libraryJobs

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