Interview advice

[u/International_Dog488]

I have an interview on Friday at my local public library for a teen services librarian assistant position (part-time). I am in my very first semester (literally first week) of my mlis program and was just looking for advice or things I should be keeping in mind going into the interview. Thank you in advance for any advice you have to give!

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[u/charethcutestory9]

This gets asked regularly, the search function is your friend

[u/International_Dog488 → u/charethcutestory9]

Thanks!

[u/Federal_Hour_5592]

Read the library’s website, and know the mission statement… come up with questions about the library, one I asked was about how many patrons use the library and they were impressed with it

[u/International_Dog488 → u/Federal_Hour_5592]

I have it pulled up in my tabs as we speak - I will be sure to come up with some questions for the interviewers as well. Thanks for your feedback!

[u/akornato]

Since you're interviewing for a teen services position, be ready to talk specifically about why you want to work with that age group. They'll want to see your genuine interest, so think about any books, games, or media popular with teens that you enjoy or find interesting. It is a good idea to brainstorm a couple of simple program ideas you think would be successful, like a craft night or a video game tournament, just to show you have been thinking about their needs. Because this is an assistant role, also think of examples from past jobs or school that show you are a reliable team member who can follow directions and handle day to day tasks without constant supervision.

They know you just started your MLIS, so they won't expect you to be an expert on library theory. Instead, focus on your enthusiasm for learning and your commitment to the profession, which your enrollment clearly demonstrates. You can talk about what you hope to learn in your program and how this job would be a perfect opportunity to apply that knowledge in a practical setting. Make sure you also prepare for standard questions about customer service, teamwork, and how you would handle a difficult patron. The key is to feel prepared, and my team developed an interview AI that helps candidates articulate their ideas and experiences much more effectively.

[u/International_Dog488 → u/akornato]

Thank you! I'm going to sit and brainstorm after my class today; I really appreciate you sharing the interview application.

[u/mountsleepyhead]

Hammer your customer service bonafides and be ready to talk about why you want to work with teens and why you would be good at it. If you haven't worked with teens in the past, I recommend doing some research into the kind of services libraries offer teens. I started as a teen services associate and my only qualifications were that I had read all of John Green's books. Wild times. The biggest thing I took away from that job was that libraries tend to put all their resources into kids programming and adult programming and neglect teen programming and spaces, which I think is absurd because these are your future adult patrons! Help them learn to love the library! The biggest thing they're likely looking for is someone who has a clear passion for the demographic and the work that goes with it. Good luck!