Developing A Vision: What’s The Plan?

The question asked in the interviews while serving on the hiring search committee at my church was a little unnerving.

What is your vision for your ministry? (In the library  world: What is your vision for your position?)

I realized that I couldn’t answer this question if it were placed in front of me because I wasn’t sure if I had a clear vision for what my librarianship should be like. What will I do to as a librarian? What are my ideas for advocacy, programming, organization, outreach, collection development, and reader’s advisory? What do I see my role in the library being? Therefore, I set it as a goal to develop my vision, if I didn’t already have it. It was also my goal to be able to answer the question in future interviews.

So, how do you develop a vision? I did a search for developing a vision as a librarian. I found:

Through that search, I moved the word “vision” out of the way and replaced it with “plan.” What do you plan for the library and your career? What’s your plan? What do you want to implement? What do you want to do? What do you not want to do?

The Steps to Creating Your Plan

1. Look at available resources and literature that discusses “library planning” or “strategic planning for libraries.” 

To start, try:

2. Decide what you’ll do in each category / situation / topic of librarianship.

For example, I’ve already created a Budgeting Rationale and many other plans on my mock- school library website: https://sites.google.com/site/sderingerslmc/.

3. Plan what you will do to continue learning (Professional Development Plan).

Will you join any library groups to stay informed? Will you attend webinars, MOOCs, conferences, workshops, and other events to learn new skills and ideas? Try ALA’s list for Personal Career Development: http://wikis.ala.org/professionaltips/index.php?title=Personal_Career_Development

4. Find a mentor from whom you can learn.

You need someone on your side to show you the ropes and cheer you on. Try these ideas from ALA-APA’s Mentoring 101: http://ala-apa.org/newsletter/2007/10/16/mentoring-101/

5. Enact your plan.

6. Reflect. Did your plan work? What didn’t work?

7. Change your plan if necessary.

8. Don’t give up.

Developing and having a vision is all about bettering the library and yourself. If you fail at something, don’t give up. It’s all about learning.

After going through these steps, I realized that I may already have a “vision” of what my library will look like more so than I previously thought. But I can see myself getting blindsided by this question in a job interview had I not thought about my “vision” for the library. I feel this is important to think about before going into an interview. Preparation is key!

Blog Series: Tips Learned From Serving on a Hiring Search Committee: The Interview

This is the finale of the blog series “Tips Learned From Serving on a Hiring Search Committee,” and today’s topic, the job interview, can be the most nerve-wracking in the job search and hiring process. Our search committee took two weeks to interview candidates via Skype and FaceTime, and during that time, I gained a lot of insight of what an interview is like.

1. Be specific when answering, but don’t blabber on.

Candidates sometimes have a difficult time finding the right balance of answering questions fully without talking too long. Long-winded answers that could have been shorted can make the interviewers bored. Remember, you’re looking to impress the search committee and reel them in. Make sure to answer the question without going off topic.

2. Develop your “vision” of what you want your job to look like.

This was a major question that we asked in the interviews. We decided that we wanted to know what ideas, dreams, and goals the candidate had for the job. Ask yourself and be able to explain during an interview: If you had all the resources, volunteers, and customers available, what would your vision of your job look like? What programs would you implement? What would you do? … This could potentially get you the job because potential employers want to know if you have any ideas for bettering what they already have and if your vision matches the mission and goals of the business.

3. Research the company you’ll potentially work for.

By knowing what the company is like, you’ll be able to tailor your answers to fit what they’re looking for. For example, if the library’s mission is to be service-oriented, you can mention that you worked with serving customers at your previous job. Knowledge is power. Use it wisely.

4. Look over questions that you’ll possibly be asked.

Being prepared is important, so look at potential interview questions online There are tons of lists, and we actually compiled questions we found online to ask our candidates, especially if we didn’t know what to ask. You can even search for specifically library-related questions. Try these:

5. Show your passion for the job.

Even if you’re unsure if this is the right job, act like the job you’re applying for is THE job you want. Showing passion at least for the subject matter can really get the interview committee to like you. If you don’t show any passion for what you’re doing, you most likely won’t get the job because potential employers will wonder if you’ll already be looking for your next job.

6. Show your personality in the job interview.

It can be a little scary for those who have never done a job interview, and it can be even worse if you have to do the interview via Skype or FaceTime. But don’t be scared, and don’t be afraid to show your personality. When you let yourself shine, potential employers know that you can make the company shine too. (If interviewing via Skype or FaceTime, before you connect, take a few deep breaths, pray, and believe that it’ll all work out. If you’ve gotten this far, it means you’re a pretty special candidate.

Need more advice for the interview? Try these:

This is it! We’ve made it! You’ve looked at tips on the job description, resumes and cover letters, questionnaires, and now interviews. If you follow these tips, you’ll be able to show the hiring search committees that you have what it takes. Good luck!

Summary list of rules for interviews:

  1. Be specific when answering, but don’t blabber on.
  2. Develop your “vision” of what you want your job to look like.
  3. Research the company you’ll potentially work for.
  4. Look over questions that you’ll possibly be asked.
  5. Show your passion for the job.
  6. Show your personality in the job interview.

Blog Series: Tips Learned From Serving on a Hiring Search Committee: Questionnaires

Not every company will send out questionnaires as a step in the hiring process, but while I was serving on the search committee for the Children’s Minister at my church, we sent questionnaires via e-mail to get a better knowledge of the candidates. Those that we chose to send the questionnaires were those that had the right educational and work experience and sent us well-written resumes and cover letters. We then used the questionnaires to narrow the candidates yet again. From this process, I learned that questionnaires are very important in keeping the attention of the hiring search committee. Therefore, to keep the spotlight on you as a potential employee, remember these guidelines…

1. Answer honestly. 

Honesty is the best policy, and if it’s ever needed, now is the time to be completely honest. You need to answer the question, even if it’s awkward. Being honest up front develops trust with the committee; even if the answer renders them unable to hire you, they’ll respect your honesty.

2. Check spelling and grammar.

I had this as a rule yesterday, and it still stands. Major spelling and grammar mistakes will send red flags to the committee and hiring personnel. It is imperative that you write with clarity and correctness. If you need help with your writing, ask a friend to look over it. Read it out loud. Use a dictionary.

3. Make sure you understand the question being asked.

Read through the questions a couple of times to check understanding. If you don’t answer the question, you’ll end up giving vague or strange answers. If you truly do not understand the question, ask a friend. If they don’t understand it, politely e-mail the committee (whomever is in charge of corresponding with you) and ask them to restate the question or explain the question. Asking questions doesn’t hurt, and you could help them in learning more about the interviewing / questionnaire process for the future.

4. Answer the question fully, and don’t get off subject.

Hiring search committees dislike vague answers that don’t fully answer the question. If you completely avoid the question, you’ll send up red flags to the committee. Also, getting off subject makes the committee feel like they’re wasting time. Don’t ramble.

5. Continue being professional in correspondence.

You’re still not hired yet. No “Hey bro!” No “Yo, what’s up?” If you want the job, you’ll address the hiring personnel courteously and correctly.

In closing, some questionnaires will include questions about your philosophy and vision for your potential job, especially if you will have any roles in decision-making and leadership. Your vision and ideas can keep the spotlight on you. Companies and businesses want to know what you can bring to the table, and they might start asking you right here, in the questionnaire. (Also, if they bring your vision and ideas up in the questionnaire, be prepared to answer questions about it during the interview! I’ll discuss tips on the interview in tomorrow’s series-ending blog post!) 

Summary list of rules for questionnaires:

  1. Answer honestly. 
  2. Check spelling and grammar.
  3. Make sure you understand the question being asked.
  4. Answer the question fully, and don’t get off subject.
  5. Continue being professional in correspondence. 

For more information on Pre-Interview Questionnaires, try: http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviewquestionsanswers/a/pre-interview-questions.htm and http://work.chron.com/tips-online-job-questionnaire-questions-7094.html.

Blog Series: Tips Learned From Serving on a Hiring Search Committee: Resumes and Cover Letters

Serving on a hiring search committee at my church has brought to my attention the most important things one can do when applying and interviewing for a job. The resumes and cover letters are the first step in communication during the application process, which means that this step could be determined as the most important step. At the very least, resumes and cover letters are the way you can make a first and sometimes lasting impression on your future employer.

The first important rule in applying to a job will be mentioned to you by anyone who gives you advice. You’ve probably heard it a billion times already. You will be told this over and over and over again; so much so that you might begin to feel numb to it. But don’t do that! You need this rule because it says so much about your education and background.

  1.  Make sure you have correct spelling.

See?! I told you that you had probably heard this a lot. But it’s true. The first thing I did while I was on the hiring search committee was to look at the spelling and grammar of the resumes, cover letters, and any other additional information that we required. It’s what can make or break you in the application process.

This second tip was thought to be common knowledge, but I don’t think that I was told this in high school. I had to learn this by searching online years later. Therefore, you may or may not have heard about this one. But it is extremely important because hiring search committees or HR personnel will question if you know how to write resumes and cover letters if you don’t pay attention to this rule:

2.  Describe everything out on your resume; the cover letter is for the highlights of your career.

The resume is where you should put ALL education, work, and volunteer experience. Sometimes people want to say to keep your resume under 2 pages, but the more experience you show, the more the potential employer can know. Then, in the cover letter, draw a few items out and explain how that experience will help you at your job should you obtain it. If you get this right, you’ll be way better off than candidates who don’t do this.

The third thing I learned is important to potential employers and hiring search committees because they need to know more about your work experience. If you have a lack of it or a lapse of time in it, they want to know one thing: why? That’s what brings me to the third rule:

3. If you have any lapses / breaks in work experience, explain in cover letter.

Again, follow rule #2, which is to write all your experience (education, work, and volunteer) in the resume. If there is a year or more in which you took a break, explain why you did or what was going on in your life, and make sure to explain that information in the cover letter. Candidates who have lapses in work experience without explaining why there was a lapse will not be sent on to the next level. Hiring committees need to know all the information, and if you did just “take a break,” explaining it will help you further in your application process.

The fourth and fifth rules deal with the same item, and they will affect you later on in the process, but it’s just as necessary to pay attention to these rules. This can make or break you, especially if the information given through this part doesn’t align with what you’ve told us. The fourth  and fifth rules deal with your references:

4. Include references in your resume OR cover letter OR “upon request.” However, if it is listed in the job description as an application requirement, you had better put those in your application somewhere!

5. Make sure your references are there to support you.

References are extremely important; this is the one way that hiring committees and potential employers can see what you’re really like. So, make sure to include references somewhere in the application process, especially if they included as a requirement. It says a lot about you if you don’t follow the rules. Because references are so important, you should pick people that truly believe in you and are cheering you on. If they don’t have something nice to say about you, don’t pick them! If they don’t know you that well, don’t pick them! These people should know who you are and what you’re truly about, and they should really want to see you succeed. Also, if you get bad references who tell the hiring committee something completely different than what you’ve told them, you’re most likely not going to get the job. It feels like you’re lying to the hiring committee if the reference says something completely different than what you’ve told them.

There are so many more things that could be said about cover letters and resumes because it’s truly an important step of the application process. I’ll leave you with a summary list that can help you remember the rules.

Summary list of rules for resumes and cover letters:

  1. Make sure you have correct spelling.
  2. Spell everything out on your resume; the cover letter is for the highlights of your career.
  3. If you have any lapses / breaks in work experience, explain in cover letter.
  4. Include references in your resume OR cover letter OR “upon request.” However, if it is listed in the job description as an application requirement, you had better put those in your application somewhere!
  5. Make sure your references are there to support you.

If you are looking for further information about resumes and cover letters, try LLAMA or ALA’s “Job Hunting for Today’s Libraries in Today’s Job Market” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rs-Zh8a9ms). Remember to read tomorrow’s post about questionnaires.

Blog Series: Tips Learned From Serving on a Hiring Search Committee: Understanding the Job Description

While I served on the hiring search committee at my church, the first step that we took was to create the job description and vision for whom we’re searching. It took us about 2 – 3 hours to get this organized, developed, and written out. So it should take at least 30 minutes to really soak in and focus on what the job description has to say.

Job descriptions typically include information about the company, the community, the actual job position, the salary, the job requirements, and the application process information.

1. Read through the job description two times before doing anything.

By reading through the job description, you’ll get the feel for the company and what they’re looking for. This can help you better prepare your cover letter and resume. Also reading through the information a couple of times can help you ease your nerves, especially if this is the first time going through the job application process. Don’t be afraid to take your time in reading through the job description, it will help you know what you’re getting into.

2. Take notes. This may feel like re-writing what they have already written, but it will help you understand better what is in front of you. Make the outline (for example):

- The company name, address, contact information, any information about the company (Where is it that you’ll be working?)

- The job position information (What will you do if you get the job?)

- The job requirements (What do you have to have in order to get the job?)

- The salary (How much will you make?)

- Application process (What steps do you take in order to get the job?)

By writing down information about the job, you can compare notes to each position you’re applying for. If you get multiple job offers, you can look back over your notes to see which one you liked more in the beginning. Notes can help with your reflection process during the application process.

3. Determine if the salary in the range you need. If it’s not, you probably should apply for something else.

While money is not everything and should not be the main reason why you apply for a job, it can affect how stressful your life will be. If you know that the job salary won’t cover all your needs or your family’s needs, it may be wise to apply for a higher salary job to decrease the chance of stress and job burnout.

4. Ask yourself: Do your qualifications uniquely match the job? Why does this job make sense to you? (You’ll need this information for the resume and cover letter, which I’ll discuss in the next blog post!)

By knowing exactly which of your qualifications match the job, you’ll be able to whip out a resume and cover letter in no time. This information also can help you during the interview  by determining your focus. By asking yourself and answering why this job is the right one for you, you’ll be able to answer hard questions like, “Why should we hire you?” You’ll be ahead of the game, and be on your best game.

This step of the process can help you be prepared for the next steps. For more information on job descriptions, try: Job Descriptions (http://www.jobdescriptions.net/). Also, don’t forget to read my post tomorrow on resumes and cover letters to help you get your job!

Blog Series: Tips Learned From Serving on a Hiring Search Committee

The past three months, my church has been looking for a Children’s Minister. I was asked to serve on the search committee, and while our committee does not make the final decision, we did review each candidate before sending them on to the final round. The choice is left to the Elders of our church.

The process our committee took to search for the right candidate included:

  • creating the job description and vision for whom we’re searching,
  • reading resumes and cover letters,
  • creating and reading questionnaires to help the candidates explain their story,
  • the Skype / video chat interview.

From the process, I’ve learned a few tips for each step of the way to getting the job. I’ll explain what I’ve learned in 4 posts this week. Read my blog posts Tuesday – Friday this week and you may find a tip that helps you get the job!

Right Where I Belong by Krista McGee; Inspirational Young Adult Novel

(Picture from Amazon)

Right Where I Belong by Krista McGee is a wonderful, inspirational young adult novel about a young girl, Natalia, growing in Christ and learning what God has in store for her life. Natalia moves from Spain to Florida with her ex-stepmother Maureen to learn more about God. While adjusting to her home, she meets Brian Younger Jr., the pastor’s son, and even though she has sworn off dating after watching her father go through relationships without regard, Natalia cannot help but fall for Brian. One scene in the novel I found to be a learning experience, Brian takes Natalia to a watch tower and shows her that when you’re looking at life from a higher perspective, you notice things that you wouldn’t when standing on the ground. Brian teaches Natalia that she needs to think about things from God’s perspective and know that God has a good plan for Natalia’s life.

I will admit when first beginning the book, I thought it would be too sappy of a read for me. However, after finishing the book in three days, I look back and realize that I easily grew fond of Brian and the other characters in this charming book. The mission trip to Costa Rica that Natalia and her friends took is described correctly; I’ve been on a couple of mission trips myself, and the feeling at the end of the trip is usually “I don’t want to leave because I’ve grown really fond of the kids that we’re helping.” This is a very good read for readers of any age who are looking for their place in life. Many of the principles portrayed in this book are exactly what one needs to learn when trying to find God’s calling. I would recommend this to all my friends looking for a light read with a heart-warming message.

The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze.