The document summarizes a presentation on what hiring committees look for in candidates, based on a survey of over 400 librarians who have participated in hiring committees. Key findings include that personality, enthusiasm, and fit within the institution are very important, as well as communication skills, customer service skills, and experience. The presentation also provides advice for candidates such as showcasing technology skills, gaining experience through volunteering, and connecting one's experience to the specific position.

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

2. About This Presentation
• Topic and Scope
• Poll Everywhere
• Housekeeping Issues

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

4. Now tell us a little about you!

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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)

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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%)

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

12. Break!
What is your “elevator speech”?

13. 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.”

14. 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

15. 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)

16. 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)

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

18. 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 you don't
agree with?
4.Why did you leave your previous position?

19. 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