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A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Interview

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Interview. Virginia Library Association Conference 2013 Renée DiPilato Kevin Osborne Lynda Y. Rudd Clint S. Rudy. What we will cover today. Helpful tips for cover letters and resumes How to impress a panel during an interview

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A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Interview

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  1. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Interview Virginia Library Association Conference 2013 Renée DiPilato Kevin Osborne Lynda Y. Rudd Clint S. Rudy

  2. What we will cover today • Helpful tips for cover letters and resumes • How to impress a panel during an interview • Special guidance for cataloging & technical services positions • What to do once you have an offer

  3. A caveat… • We will be using examples from personal experience as managers and job seekers • In a competitive market, we think these tips will be helpful

  4. Prior to the Interview • Do your research • Look at community demographics • Does the library have a strategic plan? • A job description can be revealing • Is this truly the right community and library for you?

  5. Cover Letters • Make sure you are addressing the letter to the appropriate people/the correct job • Take the opportunity to highlight a few key accomplishments • Be honest, especially if you are relocating or attempting to shift careers

  6. Resumes • Check for spelling and grammatical errors (then, check again) • Neatness and formatting count • Use caution when using photos or trendy designs • If you include an objective line, add substance

  7. InterviewsThe Basics • Dress and Appearance • Punctuality • Nerves • Candor is refreshing

  8. InterviewsResponding to Questions • Take your time • If you need clarification, ask • Answer questions fully • Answer the question posed (not the question you want to answer) • Use examples from your experiences • Don’t ramble

  9. InterviewsSpecial Situations (Phone, Skype, etc.) • Treat this like a regular interview • If Skyping, test your connections/equipment in advance • When responding, don’t read from pre-written texts

  10. InterviewsSpecial Situations (Entry-level/Re-entry) • Honesty is the best policy • Personality goes a long way • Don’t discount volunteer activities

  11. InterviewsThe Close • Ask substantive questions • Take a moment to sell your qualifications • A thank you note or e-mail is a nice touch • If necessary, follow-up with additional information (keep it succinct)

  12. A Few Helpful Resources: • Hiring Librarians (hiringlibrarians.com) • Open Cover Letters (opencoverletters.com) • I Need a Library Job (inalj.com) • Libgig (libgig.com)

  13. Technical Services Positions • Know the work performed in TS! • Acquisitions/Purchasing/Procurement • Archiving • Cataloguing • Contracts • Copy-Cataloguing • Digitization • Digital Collections • Preservation & Repair • SaaS & Cloud Management • Serials Maintenance & Processing • Website Development & Markup Languages

  14. Technical Services Interviews • Résumé and cover letter should reflect actual work experience • Be prepared for interview questions specifically tailored to TS. (Tests are not rare!) • Show any specialized knowledge/experience needed in the changing nature of TS work • Present information to the interviewer or panel regarding actual TS work experience

  15. Technical Services (Entry/Re-Entry) • Research! Update yourself on changes in TS! • Résumé and cover letter should reflect real work experience • Honesty about lack of practical skills will mostly go unnoticed • Highlight internships, volunteer work, student work – any initiative taken to get hands-on work experience • Show any specialized knowledge/experience needed in the changing nature of TS work • Do not be discouraged!

  16. Technical Services Interviews-The Close • Ask substantive questions • Sell your qualifications! • A thank you note or e-mail is a nice touch • Okay to follow-up about status of position, however, providing additional information is not necessary

  17. The OFFER, Now What?

  18. The Call • Great! How exciting! Thank you. • What are the next steps? • Do you provide the offer in writing? • May I take time to discuss with family and friends?

  19. Salary & Benefits • Who goes first? • Ask for what you want or 10% more than they offer • How close can you get to that figure?; Can we meet in the middle?; I was looking for…; I was seeking… • Negotiated benefits (tuition reimbursement, telecommuting/flexible hours, vacation leave)

  20. Alternative Offers • Second Interview • Alternative Position • “Acting” or Conditional

  21. Thank you for coming!

  22. Questions? • Please contact us if you would like additional information • Please see our handout for more resources

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