A workshop for ALA Midwinter 2014, from the authors of Career Q&A: A Librarian's Real Life, Practical Guide to Managing a Successful Career.

1. The Interview:
Getting Ready for the Show
SUSANNE MARKGREN AND TIFFANY ALLEN
ALA MIDWINTER - PLACEMENT CENTER
JANUARY 25, 2014

2. Library Career People and Career Q&A

3. Today’s Agenda
 Your 30-second commercial (elevator pitch)
 Interviewing
Remote interviews (telephone, Skype, etc)
 In person interviews
What to expect and how to prepare
Interview prep
 The STAR model
What to wear (and what NOT to wear)
What to bring
Wrapping up the interview and next steps
Conclusion and questions
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4. Your 30-second commercial
Make a brief list for each of the following:
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Things you LOVE about work
Things you do best
The type of environment you work best in
What you find most important about
work
Questions to think about:
 What is your career goal?
 What skill, strength, or experience do you
have that would help you realize that
goal?
 What accomplishment proves you have
that skill, strength, or experience?
 What are you searching for in a job?

5. Remote Interviews
 By phone:
 Usually all candidates are asked the same questions
 Study your resume: be able to respond confidently
about how your skills and background apply to the
vacancy
 Find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed for 2060 minutes
 Dress professionally even though they can’t see you
 Breathe and smile and enjoy yourself - it will come
through in your voice

6. Remote Interviews
 By Videoconference (Skype or similar)
 Dress as though you are going to an interview
 Sit at a desk or table with your materials within reach
 Practice: ask a friend to do a dry run with you
 Have a neutral background and decent lighting
 Check the direction your web camera is facing (i.e., not up your
nose), and remember to look into the camera (and smile!)
 Have your materials - resume, job listing, etc. - out of sight in
front of you, avoid shuffling papers - keep your attention on
your audience
 Relax, keep your answers brief, and use normal body language

7. In-Person Interviews
 Can last a few hours, or all day
 Know what is expected
 Ask for an agenda, find out who you will meet
 Will you be asked to do a presentation
 Expect to meet with different people
 Decision-maker (director)
 Supervisors (upper/mid management)
 Potential future colleagues and collaborators
 Could involve
 Serial one-on-one meetings
 Group meetings
 Tours
 Social gatherings
 Or a combination

8. In-Person Interviews
 Group Interviews
 Meet with 2-8 people (or more) all at once
 Usually last at least an hour
 Field several questions from each person in the room
 An opportunity to get a sense of the institutional culture

9. Behavioral Questions: The STAR Model
Situation
Task
Action
Result
Action
Result
Experience 1
Experience 2
Situation
Task
Needed to create a Write a
communications
newsletter, start a
plan
blog and Twitter
feed
Tapped colleagues 50% increase in
for web design
visits to our
help and content
library’s main
website, via all
outlets
Redesigned a
study space
Surveyed current
library users for
ideas
Select furniture,
etc. to encourage
study
Profiled in local
newspaper

10. Know Before You Go
Try to gain an understanding of the institution and
people you will meet with before the interview.
 Check their website. Is there a:
Mission statement
 Org chart: tells you who reports to whom, indicates major
departments
 History of the organization
 Bios of leaders
 Statistics - number of students, size of the city/service
area, circulation statistics, market share, etc.
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11. What to wear

12. What NOT to wear

13. Game Day
 Essentials to bring with you (p. 61)
 Copy of the job announcement
 Your resume and cover letter, printed on high-quality paper
(100% cotton)
 Directions, itinerary, tickets, contact information for your
arrival, receipts (if you are getting reimbursed)
 Portfolio of any extra materials (i.e., publications, samples of
web designs, etc.)
 Pen and notebook
 Emergency kit (brush/comb, breath mints, safety pin, etc.)
 Professional-looking bag or briefcase

14. Sample Questions to Ask Your Interviewers
 What is a typical day like for a librarian in this role?
 How do the librarians work together/collaborate?
 How (by whom and how often) are the librarians
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evaluated on their performance?
Is professional development supported and/or
encouraged?
What are some new initiatives you are working on?
What is the library’s reference/instruction/collection
development philosophy? (tailor to fit the position)
What do you (the interviewers) like about your job?

15. After the Interview
 Email to say thank you
 Follow up with written thank you notes
 Wait at least 2 weeks before following up on the
status of the search; some will take months
 Keep applying to other jobs - even if your interview
went well, don’t assume you will receive an offer.
 Accept LinkedIn invites if they are offered; do not
send them yourself.
 Be gracious

16. Questions?
Web Site:
http://librarycareerpeople.com
Email:
librarycareerpeople@gmail.com
Twitter:
@LibCareerPeople