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Interview Questions
64 Interview questions you need to be able to answer; traps and tricks
InterviewUp
Search, Find, Share, Ask and Read Interview Questions & Answers.
Not library-specific, best for HR and general questions.
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TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF
Tell me about yourself.
This is the #1 question on "64 Interview questions," and the answer is surprising: use the opportunity to find out more about the company, and the needs and desires of the interviewer!
Tell us how your education and experience prepares you for this position.
Consider experience with various types of patrons (children, teens, seniors, recent immigrants, etc.)
Any special subject expertise?
How would your current supervisor describe your greatest strength and greatest weakness?
Pick a strength that they are looking for in the position (be honest.) Pick a weakness that doesn't matter or demonstrates that in fact you are the person they are looking for. "I'm too gregarious with the customers," perhaps?
What unique attributes would you bring to this position?
Why are you interested in this position? / Why do you want to work here?
WORKING WITH PEOPLE
Describe a time when you encountered a difficult patron, and the outcome.
Prepare this story in advance; obviously, pick a story that makes you look good!
What qualities do you want to see in an ideal supervisor?
Describe a time when you had a miscommunication with a coworker/patron. How did you handle it?
What are some success stories you have had in dealing with patrons?
Describe a time where you have worked in a team of people (e.g. collaboration on a project)
YOUTH SERVICES
Describe your experiences working with youth.
Consider the whole youth span, from babies/toddlers to high schoolers
How would you deal with a disruptive child/teenager in the library?
OUTREACH
Describe your outreach experience.
Think about a good partnership example. If you don't have a good example about working with another organization, discuss a time that you crossed department lines to get a task done.
How would you go about creating an outreach program at this library?
Do a little research ahead of time for this one. What are some organizations in the neighborhood with which you could partner? Daycares, schools, universities, parks, and other social groups are all possible partners. What sort of outreach is the library already doing and how could you expand upon this?
How would you establish partnerships in the community? How would you start community outreach?
Talk about how you would approach organizations. Every organization is very busy and must know how a partnership could be beneficial for their organization as well as for the library.
LEADERSHIP
Describe your project leadership activity.
Describe a time when you took a leadership role.
TECHNICAL SKILLS
What software are you familiar with?
Think about this ahead of time and bring a list.
I have been asked this as an internal candidate and an external candidate.
What databases are you familiar with?
Think about this ahead of time and bring a list.
I have been asked this as an internal candidate.
Databases used at HCL
What are some ways a blog can be used in a library?
Staff blog
Departmental blogs (technical services, youth services)
Public blog about all sorts of library info; e.g. Director's Blog
Book blog and/or new book blog; e.g. Bookspace
Teen blog by and for teens
(please add more!)
What are some ways a wiki can be used in a library?
Project team members don't have to meet face to face, don't have to mail and cc ever-lengthening e-mails, can work a-synchrously (spelling?); cuts down on e-mail up to 75% (Ifrom Information is Miscellaneous)
One library did a summer book wiki where people could post reviews
Departmental best practices
Library policies and procedures
Describe your experience with web 2.0
WORK HABITS AND GOALS
Tell me about a time when you have had to juggle multiple tasks in your work.
Where do you see yourself in your career 5 years from now?
READERS ADVISORY
How do you go about providing reader's advisory? What resources do you use? What are some titles you would recommend to children/teens/adults and why?
COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT
Describe your experience with collection development
OTHER
Any questions?
You will almost certainly get asked this at the end of the interview. Asking well-thought out questions shows your interest in the position. Ask questions where the answers cannot be easily found on the library's website.
How soon can you start?
What salary are you looking for?
You probably won't be asked this one unless you're being offered the job but its good to have a figure in mind.
bookwormishnerd |
Latest page update: made by bookwormishnerd
, Oct 9 2008, 12:01 AM EDT
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | ||
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| MinnLib | Interview answers | 3 | Sep 5 2008, 1:04 AM EDT by MN_Bibliophile | ||
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Thread started: Aug 22 2008, 12:45 PM EDT
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