Monday, July 24, 2006

Vacancies, Filling

There are five basic steps for hiring a new librarian:
  1. Advertise the position
  2. Review applications
  3. Interview candidates
  4. Deliberate over finalists
  5. Offer the position
Be sure to wait 1-2 months between each step of the process so that all your best candidates will have already accepted positions elsewhere. Repeat as necessary.

Your library will eventually hire someone, even if they end up scraping the dregs from the bottom of the unemployment pool.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Right now we're at step 2 1/2: Wait for budget approval to actually hire someone, thereby spreading out the work of 2 positions on an already tired staff.

A. Rivera said...

One to two months between steps? You are being way too generous. I got announcements of positions filled a full year after it had been filled. I am thinking 3 to 5 months between steps unless it is a "desperation" hire where someone leaves suddenly, likely for greener pastures, and you need someone pronto. Then the 1-2 months might apply. Otherwise, you are being kind. Best, and keep on blogging.

Anonymous said...

What I want to know is whether "the unlibrarian" went for either of those interviews!

Also, frustrating as it is to be waiting to be called (I've been there, too), sometimes it's because the preferred hire #1 and #2 (etc.) turn down the job when offered. That could mean a lot of things, but one thing it certainly means is that YOU aren't the number one choice.

Anonymous said...

My library-worldview has just been shaken to the core. Today I received a rejection letter six days after my interview. Six days?!? Most academic libraries can't mail a letter in less than ten days and I'm rejected in under six days?

I don't think I would have survived long at such a fast-moving institution.

tiny robot said...

Eh. Why bother hiring anyone at all? Just keep shoveling more work onto the staff dumb enough to hang around after everyone who knows better has jumped ship. When those people finally get burned out, don't replace them either and let the institution fall in on itself, thus saving huge amounts of money.

Besides...everything is on the Internet, right? Bon temps.

Anonymous said...

Uh, how'd you get hired?