Getting Your First LIS Job:

Tips, Tricks, and

Reflections from Recent

LIS GradsSarah Crissinger

Information Literacy LibrarianDavidson College

Madison SullivanNCSU Libraries Fellow for

Research and Information Services, and External RelationsNorth Carolina State University

CC BY-NC 4.0 International

Our Journeys

Applied to mostly academic

Any institution size

Not landlocked

Public services, scholarly communication, residencies/fellows, subject specialists

In short, we had a great deal of privilege in our search Path near Itchen Abbas by Nell

Howard is licensed under a CC BY NC 2.0

Starting Out

Source: https://mrlibrarydude.wordpress.com/nailing-the-library-interview/advice-job-hunting-tips-links/

Steps, Canal Road, Armley by Tim Green is licensed under a CC BY 2.0

Cover Letter & Resume TipsConnect it back! Does it pass the “why does this matter?” test for this position?

Double check that you have addressed every required bullet & it’s easy to find

Thread coursework and training/ experience together for a more holistic perspective

Research the organization, it can inform your writing

Address important documents & what makes them unique. Let your passion shine through

Skype & Phone Interviews

On-Campus Timelines

TIP: You are interviewing them just as much as they are interviewing you!

Sample QuestionsWhat qualities are essential for a (reference/ metadata/ scholarly communication) librarian? How do you embody those qualities?

Describe a time when you had to complete a project on a team/ work with a faculty member/ lead a project. What were the challenges you faced and how did you overcome them?

How would you talk to x audience (faculty, student assistants, your colleagues) about x issues (open access, instructional design, the new social media campaign, how to do a thorough reference interview, metadata standards)?

What is your philosophy of (customer service, instruction) and how would you apply it in this position?

Situational questions: you’re at the reference desk and x happens. A faculty member wants to do x. Our repository has x technical issue. These usually illustrate to search committee members if you can think on your feet and apply your prior experience to different situations.

The role of the _____ is continually evolving. Where do you see ________ service going in the next 3-5 years? How might the duties and skills required for this position evolve? What’s your plan for keeping up-to-date?

What is your greatest professional accomplishment?

Describe a time when you failed at something and how you responded.

Source: FSU Library Interview Questions

It’s a Process!

Activity TimeYou’re serving on a search committee and you’re

reviewing the following application...

Discussion,

Feedback, &

TestimonyShare by GotCredit is licensed under a CC BY 2.0