Comments on: The Job Hunt: What I Learned

By: Kathryn Simon

Kathryn Simon — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 13:15:32 +0000

After an exhaustive job search due to a career change I found the one thing that opened doors was knowing someone no matter how distant in the organization to mention as a referral. Its unfortunate but with the number of CV’s coming across desks it seems that when I have a referral my resume gets read and responded to not as a form letter but a response of interest.

My suggestion is that when one is applying for any position think about who in your network has a contact with the institution.

By: Librarian Careers Information: Resources for Prospective Librarians (Australia) » Rambling Thoughts on IT, Computer Hardware/Electronics, Books, Must Watch TV/DVD, Open Source Software, Personal Finance, Photography, Travel and Web Development

Mon, 01 May 2006 12:12:11 +0000

[...] Librarian Job Hunting Tips [...]

By: Heather

Heather — Sun, 05 Feb 2006 17:34:38 +0000

How should I handle this??????????????
I have my third phone interview with the hiring manager tomorrow and if all continues to go well, the company wants me to fly to VA. I live and work f/t in a professional job in LA. I can’t jepordize my current job for a “maybe” in VA. After 3 interviews by phone, I would think that this company already has a pretty good idea if they want me or someone else. If the VA interview is just a formality, then that’s ok…but surely a large corp. would understand this? Would they really want someone working for them who does not take into account their current company–most companies look for loyalty with their employees, don’t they? Basically, my question is…after 3 phone interviews, if they want to be come to VA to interview, should I go on just a “maybe” and possibly jepordize my current position? I’ve been told by some hiring managers not to go on just a maybe after 3 interviews, but I would like some other input……….?????????

By: Morph3ous’s Weblog » Blog Archive » Good Post on Job Hunting

Morph3ous’s Weblog » Blog Archive » Good Post on Job Hunting — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 20:09:32 +0000

[...] There is a good post about job hunting entitled The Job Hunt: What I Learned on the Information Wants To Be Free blog. The author writes about what she learned from her job hunt. [...]

By: Meng

Meng — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 16:50:44 +0000

Thank you Paul and Meredith!

Sending Thank You notes is really not in the culture where I came from. I am just picking it up after having been in the US for two years. I sent my first Thank You card, painted by myself, to my previous landlord and landlady last month. Here is what I will do for my next interview: mail each person I meet at the interview a hand painted card after the interview.

Most jobs I apply for are at museums or non-profits. It is almost impossible to find nice petite size suits in the small town I am in.

By: Meredith

Meredith — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 15:47:02 +0000

Ditto to what Paul wrote on the handwritten thank-you note! I think whether or not you wear a suit depends on the organization you’re interviewing with. I’ve worn a suit to all of the places I’ve interviewed, but I certainly could have worn a nice skirt and shirt or dress pants. I feel more confident when I wear my suit. I’m sure there are some organizations you could interview at where not wearing a suit might be looked upon as bad form, but I don’t think the majority of libraries are that way. Obviously, it’s better to wear a suit, so if you can find one you’re comfortable in, you’d be far better off.

By: Paul Pival

Paul Pival — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 14:45:26 +0000

Meng, if I may jump in on the thank you notes – it’s just common courtesy! These people spent a lot of time hopefully trying to make you feel welcome in their organization, the least you could do is thank them for their time. And what better way to show that you too care about them and their organization than to take a few minutes of your valuable time to handwrite a thank-you. It has the added benefit of refreshing their memory about you, and hopefully confirming the choice they’ve made that yes, you *are* the right person for the job. Personalizing the note in a small way shows them that you were paying attention to at least something during the day. It’s only an *unfair* influence if you find out who all the other candidates are and somehow make sure their letters aren’t delivered

IMHO you don’t need to wear a suit as long as you’re professionally presented, but others may have different opinions. I agree with you that as long as it’s not a t-shirt, it’s pretty important to feel good about what you’re wearing. Perhaps you could solve both issues with a really snazzy interview suit though – something that’s been alterered or tailored to fit you the way you like?

Good luck!

By: Meng

Meng — Sun, 14 Aug 2005 22:50:38 +0000

Very good article. Thank you. I believe many of your suggestions apply to non-librarian jobs as well. I have a question though: how do you send Thank You notes to people on the Search Committee? Could that be considered as trying to influence the members’ decision making in an unfair way?

I also want to know more about what to wear for a job interview. (I suspect not wearing a suit was the reason why I didn’t get one job. ) I don’t look nice in suit. So I usually choose a black shirt, sometimes with a silk scarf, and formal trousers. Do I have to wear suits? If so, what color?

Because I look less smart in a suit, I usually feel less confident when wearing it.

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 04 Aug 2005 23:59:21 +0000

I just came across your blog and it is very interesting. I will have to read more of it later.

I have been job searching for a year now and trying to find a web design related position. This post had great information.

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 18:27:30 +0000

All very good points. I’ve certainly been on both sides of the job search to know when to pursue a situation and when to go with your gut and walk away.

However, I can’t totally agree with just not applying for a job you don’t want (unless it’s so geographically or economically impossible). As a long time public librarian, I never thought I’d want a job in a corporate library. It just didn’t fit my criteria of what a job should be. Then I had a few interviews in corporate libraries and realized that I actually was a good fit. But I had to go see for myself, not just take what my initial uninformed feeling was.

Still congratulations on a quick job search!