This document summarizes the key findings of a survey of 430 librarians who have participated on hiring committees. It discusses what hiring committees look for in candidates, how to prepare for an interview, and how the interview process works. Some of the most important things committees look for are personality, enthusiasm, and institutional fit. It's important for candidates to research the library, know the mission, and have relevant experience. The document provides advice on giving presentations, asking questions, and etiquette during site visits.

1. Inside An Interview: Understanding What Hiring Committees Want ALA JobLIST Placement Center Sunday, June 26, 2011 12:00pm-1:30pm #interviewbetter

3. Poll Everywhere

4. Housekeeping Issues#interviewbetter

5. Who We Are Teresa Doherty, Virginia Commonwealth University Megan Hodge, Chesterfield County Public Library Nicole Spoor, Hampton University #interviewbetter

6. Now tell us a little about you! #interviewbetter

7. 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 #interviewbetter

8. 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 #interviewbetter

9. 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) #interviewbetter

10. 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 #interviewbetter

11. 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 #interviewbetter

12. 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%) #interviewbetter

13. What character traits are most important to hiring committees? Intelligence (176 respondents) Enthusiasm (170 respondents) Cooperativeness (140 respondents) #interviewbetter

14. Break! What is your “elevator speech”? #interviewbetter

15. 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.” #interviewbetter

16. Do hiring committees require presentations? 55.5% said yes 15.5 % said only for positions with instructional responsibilities How are presentations evaluated? Using rubrics and other survey instruments By hiring committee, but may include others Looking for communication skills and organization #interviewbetter

17. 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) #interviewbetter

18. 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) #interviewbetter

20. “We are trying to find somebody who is a good fit for our library.”

21. “I think that brand new librarians can be the person to beat. They bring a fresh energy and viewpoint.”

22. “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!”

23. “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!”#interviewbetter

24. Academic library interview process Timeline Screening and search committees Site visit Etiquette counts #interviewbetter

25. It’s a marathon, not a sprint September: position is advertised November: deadline for applications March: candidate visits April: offer made May: welcome aboard! #interviewbetter

26. 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) #interviewbetter

27. 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. #interviewbetter

28. 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) #interviewbetter

29. 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) #interviewbetter

30. 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 #interviewbetter

31. 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 #interviewbetter

32. What hasn’t changed Dress up Be polite Defend every item on your resume Do your homework Send ‘thank you’ notes #interviewbetter

33. 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 #interviewbetter

34. 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 #interviewbetter

35. What has changed #1 Review your social media presence Change your Facebook privacy settings to limit access Create a professional email address (stella.smith@gmail.com NOT sexy_librarian2be@gmail.com) Be aware of listserv etiquette #interviewbetter

36. 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! #interviewbetter

37. 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) #interviewbetter

38. 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 #interviewbetter

39. Tough Interview Questions 1. What is your greatest weakness? 2. Why do you want to work in THIS library? 3. How would you enforce a policy which you do not agree with? 4. Why did you leave your previous position? #interviewbetter

41. Career Q&A with the Info Career People: http://www.lisjobs.com/careerqa_blog/

42. Can I Wear My Nose Ring to the Interview? by Ellen Gordon Reeves

43. The Librarian's Career Guidebook by Priscilla K. Shontz

44. Resume Writing And Interviewing Techniques That Work!: A How-to-do-it Manual for Librarians by Robert R. Newlen#interviewbetter

45. Any questions? If you would like to view this slideshow, visit slideshare.com thanks, Megan, Nicole, and Teresa #interviewbetter