THE INTERVIEW

ALA Annual Conference - Placement Center | June 26, 2016

Preparing for Today’s Job Market (Part 2)

Susanne Markgren | Starr Hoffman

Who are We?Susanne MarkgrenAssistant Director for Technical ServicesManhattan CollegeBronx, NY

Starr HoffmanHead, Planning and AssessmentUniversity LibrariesUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas

Hi, my name is…

Your 30-second commercial

• 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?

Make a brief list for each of the following:

Types of Interviews

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 20-60 minutes

• Make sure you have good service (if using a cell phone)• Dress professionally even though they can’t see you• Breathe and smile and enjoy yourself - it will come

through in your voice

Remote Interviews• By Videoconference (Skype or similar)

• Dress as though you are going to an interview• Have a back-up plan • 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

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

In-Person Interviews• Group Interviews

• Meet with 2-8 people (or more) all at once

• Usually lasts at least an hour

• Field several questions from each person in the room

• An opportunity to get a sense of the institutional culture

Behavioral Questions: The STAR ModelSituation Task Action ResultExperience 1

Experience 2

Situation Task Action ResultNeeded to create a communications plan

Write a newsletter, start a blog and Twitter feed

Tapped colleagues for web design help and content

50% increase in visits to our library’s main website, via all outlets

Redesigned a study space

Select furniture, etc. to encourage study

Surveyed current library users for ideas

Profiled in local newspaper

Know Before You GoTry 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.

Your Social Media PresenceWhile you are job-seeking, and interviewing, you need to be extra conscious of your online presence and your social media activity:• Make sure your online information is up-to-date and

professional• If you have a public Twitter account, stick to professional

and/or harmless tweets• Google yourself often to see what comes up• Clean up, or “unfriend” any unprofessional or questionable

content or “friends”• Use social media to promote yourself, and your

professional content

Game Day

Game Day • Essentials to have close to you for remote interview• Copy of the job announcement• Your resume and cover letter • Organizational chart of the library / mission statement /

names and titles of interviewers, information about the library/institution/etc.

• Pen and notebook• Your questions for them• Tissues, water

Game Day • Essentials to bring with you for in-person interview

• Copy of the job announcement• Your resume and cover letter• Directions, map, 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• USB drive for presentation backup and other files

What to wear

What NOT to wear

Traveling Tips• Pack light. If flying, use a carry-on suitcase.• Think about buying/bringing wrinkle-free business attire. • Know where you’re going, and how you will get from Point

A to Point B.• Have contact information, and a backup plan.• Give yourself a time cushion.• If you have time, get to know the area.• Be economical. Keep your receipts. Know what you will

be reimbursed for.• Get plenty of rest.• Stay relaxed with small comforts.

Questions you may be asked• What makes you the right candidate for this position?• Why do you want this position?• How do you keep up with the changing technologies in the

library field?• When a patron makes a truly unreasonable demand, how do

you approach saying no? • Describe an important goal that you achieved in the past. What

strategies did you use to achieve it? • Describe a project you worked on that failed. What would you

do differently, or what did you learn?• Talk about your project management skills.• Describe your supervisory style and experience• How does this position fit into your career plans?

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

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?• What would a successful year in this position look like?

Preparing a “Job Talk” or Presentation

• Know what is expected (what type of presentation you are doing, who is your audience, what is the time frame, how many people will attend, etc.).

• Have something visual to show – a slideshow, a graphic, data sets, handouts, etc.

• Don’t go over the time limit, or way under. (Don’t forget Q&A time!)

• Practice ahead of time and get feedback. • Have backup for technical difficulties.• Stick with software you are very comfortable using.• Attempt to tailor to their environment.• Have fun.

After the Interview / Following Up• Email to say thank you (within a day after)• Follow up with written/typed thank you letters• 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 (or other social media) invites if they are offered; do not send them yourself

• If you accept another position, contact them right away

Questions? …. And, Thank you!Susanne MarkgrenAssistant Director for Technical Services (starting August 1)

Manhattan Collegesmarkgren@gmail.comTwitter: @smarkgrenPortfolio: https://smarkgren.wordpress.com/Library Career People: https://librarycareerpeople.com/

Starr HoffmanHead, Planning & Assessment

UNLV Libraries starr.hoffman@unlv.edu

Twitter: @artgeeklibrarianPortfolio: https://geekyartistlibrarian.wordpress.com/