Could you address the issue of informational interviews in more detail, maybe even in its own post? I’m job hunting in a brand new city with no network of my own. The emails I’ve sent asking for informational interviews have gone unanswered. Do you have any tips on how to even get an informational interview set up? I have started to wonder if it’s a foreign concept to most librarians (too “businessy” maybe?) or if it’s only appropriate if you’re still in grad school or a very recent grad (which I’m not). In a particularly worried moment, I wondered if it was a major faux pas to be requesting informational interviews at places which have jobs open you can’t apply for. And then there’s the question of who do you try to contact, the person who has the kind of job you’d like or the person who supervises that position?

I could go on and on about what I’ve tried so far, but those questions should give sense of what I (and others) would be interested in hearing.

Thanks again!

Joyce, this post is not meant as recruiting (I don’t think any of us are in the position to be hiring anyone), but as advice for those seeking jobs. We realize the job market can be tough, and offer our post as advice in an effort to assist job applicants.

Speaking for myself, I’m just passing on the rants I’ve heard from coworkers when they see people with MLSs applying for circulation positions. Of course there are people with MLSs in circulation positions, so not every place of employment has the same view.

I would certainly suggest addressing your over-qualification in your cover letter, since the implicit message without any further information is likely to come across as, “I want a job, any job to get something on my resume and/or to be able to move to this city and as soon as something better comes along I’m gone,” which is unlikely to add points in your favor.

Joan offered the more standard advice – go ahead and apply for everything, you never know. Then Derik and I offered our responses – a little stretch may be fine, but let’s not get carried away here…

There’s also a difference between the required and the preferred qualifications sections. Typically HR will not even pass on the resumes that do not meet the mandatory requirements (e.g. an MLS), and if they do leave the weeding of resumes to the library, they still won’t let you hire someone who doesn’t meet the stated minimum qualifications in the job description. Plus the library hiring committee will sit there sifting through the resumes growing more frustrated with each one that doesn’t meet the requirements, wondering why these people applied for something that clearly stated it required 5 years of supervisory experience when they have 0. Now, on the other hand, if the job description states 2 years experience in the preferred qualification category but none in the required, then by all means, go for it. That is probably a library like Joan’s that is looking to hire new graduates. Don’t worry if you don’t have all the preferred qualifications.

And an additional caveat – everything I just said is coming purely from an academic library perspective.

3 sequential recommendations:

1. go for stretch positions. don’t fret about being underqualified- Joan Bernstein
2. for god’s sake, don’t apply for positions for which you’re underqualified – Derik
3. know what’s almost as bad as lacking experience? too much experience! you’ll piss people off if you try to get your foot in the door by applying for a position for which you’re overqualified. – Ellie

apologies for the rant.