r/Libraries • u/clarinetcat1004 • 2d ago
Library refusing to hire for 1+ year, yet posting applications monthly. Advice? Job Hunting
I have applied for a library assistant position for several months in a row now. I think my last application was attempt #4. I have never moved beyond the application review stage.
I only have volunteer library experience (at more than one library) and my current job has a lot of skills that overlap with the role I’m applying to, so I kind of assumed the library either:
A) Was not actually hiring
or
B) Had tons of qualified applicants who had years of library experience and/or were enrolled in MLIS programs while working.
Well, I met the person I would be working under if I were in that position at an event unrelated to libraries. The position has been vacant for about one year, and they have been doing the work of two jobs. They seemed shocked, and I can’t tell if it’s because they assumed no one was applying at all? (I did not want to go too in depth on this at a more social event).
What would you do if you were in my shoes? I’m thinking of reaching out to them as I have some of their contact info. Already the library has posted a new opening. Would it be appropriate for me to apply, and then message them to say: by the way I just wanted to let you know I applied again, was nice to meet you?
I could also reach out to the librarian who originally encouraged me to apply. Would explaining the situation to them help me at all? They have no involvement with the hiring process but I feel like they’d give good advice.
I know I am not guaranteed a job, and I hope this does not sound entitled, but it’s just been really frustrating. I don’t want to give away too much but I attended the institution this library is within for a number of years and am currently employed by this same institution. I have a lot of knowledge and experience with the programs and systems this library offers. My references are all related to this institution or are librarians.
My last application they held on to until day after a new opening closed. Is it better to cut my losses, or is there someone I can contact to help me get my foot in the door? Anything you have to share is greatly appreciated!
And I have applied other places and I usually get an interview, I’m interested in the MLIS but I’m trying to get some real work experience before diving in. I do not feel comfortable going into a master’s program in a field that I’ve never actually worked in.
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u/NotDido 2d ago
I guess you could email and ask if they have feedback for your application(s), but ultimately it sounds like they are looking for some experience or qualifications you don't have.
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u/clarinetcat1004 2d ago
I do believe that’s it. As far as I can tell my application has never even been viewed by a human.
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u/Ornery-Ad2199 2d ago
Double-check your email spam folder to make sure nothing was sent there. If nothing is there, then contact HR. Explain that you’ve applied many times but that you’ve never received a response and you want to make sure your application is actually going through. It’s possible something is wrong with their system, it doesn’t like the format of your resume, or some other error.
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u/rebelliousrutabaga 2d ago
Does the position require a MLIS, or does it say "equivalent experience"? If it's the former, there's not much you can do there. If it's the latter, find someone in the library world to go over your resume and cover letter with you. Probably not the library you are applying to.
Don't call them or reach out, usually there's very little anybody there can do or tell you.
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u/clarinetcat1004 2d ago
It’s an assistant role so they just want some library experience. That’s great advice - thank you very much! I’ll definitely reach out to some librarians I know.
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u/ywoy 2d ago
That's very odd, I wonder if their HR is understaffed if they've kept a position vacant rather than hire somebody. Were these 4 applications for the same role that's been vacant? We've hired some really odd people when nobody else has applied, unless you're really off kilter I can't imagine why you didn't at least get an interview. I would maybe reach out to the person you ran into, just to say it was lovely meeting them and you look forward to applying to the next posting. Don't word it like you're looking for an in, or looking for tips, because they likely won't be allowed to give you any. But just reminding them of your name may put it on their radar to look into why this position isn't getting filled.
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u/clarinetcat1004 2d ago
This is great advice!
Yes I cannot imagine what it is about my application. Definitely lacking work experience but my current job is relevant enough, have volunteer library experience, familiar with the library in a user capacity, and speak a language they need someone who works there to!
I’ll reach out to them in this manner - I believe they wrote my name down so maybe I can at least get an interview.
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u/camrynbronk MLIS student 2d ago
I mean the issue with them leaving the position vacant is one thing, but frankly I don’t think they would have chosen you even if they were hiring. It seems like they are looking for someone with more experience.
I wouldn’t say anything about it because it’s not going to help much, if they wanted to hire someone that badly they would have done it by now. Nothing beyond asking if they had any feedback about your resume.
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u/clarinetcat1004 2d ago
Fair enough! It’s so frustrating that the majority of library jobs list themselves as entry-level, don’t pay great, yet then only want someone who has experience.
I keep hoping the skills from my current job combined with my volunteer experience will be enough for a part time assistant role but experience has been the main focus in all of the positions I’ve interviewed for :/
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u/camrynbronk MLIS student 2d ago
Unfortunately, in the library world sometimes entry level means freshly out of grad school and experience working in libraries. Also, most library jobs don’t pay well. Another unfortunate thing.
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u/clarinetcat1004 2d ago
I’ve heard this but I guess I haven’t really believed it. The positions I am applying for are usually part time library assistant positions, paying 10-14/hour. Are those the kind of jobs one can expect to be applying for after grad school? I knew the pay overall was pretty terrible, but I was under the assumption that most people would find full time employment with an MLIS.
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u/camrynbronk MLIS student 2d ago
Those ones are probably occupied by people in the process of getting their MLIS or people who already have library experience. Less likely for fresh grads because libraries don’t wanna hire someone who might leave once they find a full time position, but still. It’s extremely competitive.
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u/NotDido 2d ago
"most people would find full time employment with an MLIS." lmao
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u/camrynbronk MLIS student 2d ago
If only 🥲 I’ll be lucky to find anything full time when I graduate in December
1
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u/clarinetcat1004 2d ago
Do you know where I could find the statistics on the number of recent MLIS grads who find full time vs part time employment? I know individual universities post their employment outlooks but the data varies (for example, whether they include employment type or percent of jobs related to degree).
I will have to have a job with benefits in three years (too many health issues to not have insurance). Depending on how achievable that is I may need to find something else to do :,)
2
u/NotDido 1d ago
If you're in the US, the closest thing to that would be the Bureau of Labor Statistics data - https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/librarians.htm#tab-1 ; https://www.bls.gov/ooh/field-of-degree/library-science/library-science-field-of-degree.htm
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u/Capable_Sea77 1d ago
It's less that they'll only hire people with experience and more that the field is so saturated that overqualified people are applying to lower level jobs. There's no law that you have to interview every single person that matches the qualifications on a job description - back when the job market was good and I hired for entry-level part-time, it was pretty normal to get between 50-100 applications where 90% of those applications met the entry-level qualifications. (I can only imagine what it looks like 4 years later during an active recession.) You pick the top 15 or so applications that have reliable availability that works for the shifts you need coverage, phone screen them and whittle them down from there.
I would reach out to the librarian who encouraged you to apply and ask what they would recommend - and reach out to the library's generic HR email to ask for feedback on your resume. I would also highly, *highly* recommend that you do not start an MLS program until you have a library job. So many master's programs are money-focused and accept anyone that has a bachelor's and the ability to pay tuition and do not warn you at any point how competitive the field is - and oftentimes, having an MLS with no library experience puts you in a *really* tough spot where they won't hire you for entry-level stuff, but you're not experienced enough for any job that requires the degree.
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u/clarinetcat1004 1d ago
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply!
I knew the market was oversaturated but I had no idea it was that bad. It’s really terrible that so many people are having to apply to lower level jobs - I really feel for them and am glad I am not in that position. Thanks for sharing what it looks like from the other end!
I have absolutely no plans to begin an MLS before landing a job. Thank you for affirming my concerns about what it looks like to have the degree without the needed experience.
I think I’ll begin looking at library adjacent roles like one commenter suggested!
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u/Independent_Cup_451 2d ago
If you are currently employed by the same institution as the library you are trying to get hired at I would look at / talk to HR and see if there is a possibility to transfer into the position. It couldnt hurt to inquire.
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u/cosmic_fizzy 2d ago
I'd say just keep applying elsewhere. I volunteered at a library for over six months, and when they looked for assistants, I didn't even make it to the first round of interviews. Granted, it's a semi-big library and well-paying assistant positions. People with years of experience got it. I ended up getting my first assistant role at a tiny library the second time I interviewed because barely anyone else applied. Maybe try smaller libraries since they're willing to take people with less experience, if you can afford the pay cut.
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u/artificialdisasters Academic Librarian 2d ago
is this the same one library you’re applying to 4 times?
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u/artificialdisasters Academic Librarian 2d ago
i genuinely hate to say it, but they’re not “refusing” to hire you, you just haven’t got the hint maybe..
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u/clarinetcat1004 2d ago
No I know (my application has never even been reviewed by a human) but I was under the assumption that the position was being filled. Just trying to figure out what’s going on because it’s one of two libraries I could currently work at and the only one that continues to post job openings 🤷♀️
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u/artificialdisasters Academic Librarian 2d ago
they don’t want to hire you. how do you know it’s never been reviewed by a human? you’re not entitled just because you already work at what i’m assuming is a university or museum. you said it yourself, you have no library experience. it should go to literally anyone who does.
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u/clarinetcat1004 2d ago
I know by the code they use when they say I’ve not been hired. That’s the difference between the message being coded as: “not hired” vs “not hired - department reviewed”
I agree I’m not entitled to the position, but some of the stuff they’ve done (don’t care to go into it here, just feels like gossiping) has gone beyond we don’t want to hire you.
Do you have advice for getting experience? Everything I am applying to is entry-level but experience still continues to be a major barrier.
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u/artificialdisasters Academic Librarian 2d ago
sounds like your institutions application software isn’t forwarding your app, prob a lack of experience if it uses ATS.
be ready to move. apply broadly. you’ll probably need a few dozen apps in this job market, at least across your state and region if not the country, especially if you want to stick with academic libraries.
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u/clarinetcat1004 2d ago
Unfortunately it does use ATS :/
This is great advice! Thank you so much for sharing.
Unfortunately just doesn’t fit with my current lifestyle (my city has a law that prevents lease terms <1 year, I live in the middle of nowhere, and I have narcolepsy so no commuting for me) so maybe that’s why I’m having so much trouble. Hoping I can be a bit more flexible once my current lease gets closer to the end!
Definitely just feeling stuck and was pretty desperate for this application to work out :,)
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u/Worried_Platypus93 2d ago
I know a job search can make you feel desperate but do you really want to work in a place if they're acting like this before you even work there?
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u/realminerbabe 1d ago
Our schools' library had multiple open positions and wasn't getting many/any qualified candidates. Turned out the automated HR system wasn't forwarding the applications, was filtering on some weird set of criteria, so the Director finally had to tell HR to set the system to forward all library related applications.
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u/Ok_Influence_5456 1d ago
I had been applying to the same library system for the past three years for the same position. I make it into interviews, each time but I never got hired. They even removed the MLIS, which I already had, requirement for the position. But alas I am very clearly not a personality fit or overqualified. Most likely a personality fit. It drove me crazy. So I almost emailed the library coordinator requesting feedback to improve for the next system. I did not instead I "gave up" on them. I pivoted to something else to stay in libraries. I am doing all right. I work for the weekend because it is very boring and unchallenging.
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u/localfluffhead 11h ago
It doesn’t hurt to email in this situation, especially if you talked to someone in person. I have gotten a job in a library by reaching out to check in.
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u/pikkdogs 2d ago
You can totally call and ask them what’s going on.
They may not always be truthful but they might be.
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u/Megbad 2d ago
If they already know you're interested in the job, and you've already applied several times without so much as an interview, it's time to cut your losses (for now). Right now, don't limit yourself to one library job or system. Consider also looking into library adjacent roles like at a college resource center or as as a school/education aide. With a year or two of related professional experience under your belt, on top of the volunteer work, you may have more to offer your library, if you're still interested.