1. Presented by CMLE Dr. Mary Wilkins Jordan
Hiring in Libraries
Presented by CMLE
Dr. Mary Wilkins Jordan

2. Introduction Recruiting plan Writing the ad Application process
Sorting applications
Interviewing
Making the offer
Orientation

3. Recruiting Plan Think about what you need to get done
Identify skills necessary to make that happen; write the ad
Make contact with people and organizations to post the ad where it will connect with potential candidates
Online resources
Local newspapers
Professional organizations
Translate into languages spoken in your community in addition to Englis

4. Writing the job ad Put in required skills
Have a longer section of desired skills – not all necessary
Maybe a couple of “really nice skills” just in case
Talk about your organization, what a day is like, what the culture is like
Add color and life!
If you can’t think of anything nice to say –maybe you need to be job hunting!
Salary!! Don’t waste everyone’s time, or try to lowball

5. Quality check the application process
I’m kind of passionate about this, as I was just on the job market and couldn’t even figure out HOW to apply for a few jobs!
Have a procedure for candidates to follow
Set up a website with information and an application or a direct link to it
Put that direct link in any ad
Giving a general link to your City’s or school’s website is appallingly bad
TEST IT! And then have someone else, outside your organization, test to see if they can get through it all.

6. Sorting applications
At the end of this stage: write everyone eliminated a quick postcard or so they know they are not under consideration.
Politeness goes a long way!
Ideally, this is a High Class Problem
You get so many great ones it’s hard to go through them all
Eliminate the clearly terrible ones
Not complete, not even close to required skills, written in crayon
Eliminate the ones that are okay-ish, but not great
The tough part: looking at the last maybe third of them to see which ones are the best
Make piles: SO great, pretty darn good, nice enough
That last pile is the group going on to interviews, so choose carefully

7. Interviewing Bring in three to five people as candidates
Make a solid plan for the interview (see CMLE checklist!)
Develop a standard set of questions to ask every candidate
Be prepared
Have a folder for each interviewer with the applicant material and questions for easy note taking of candidate answers
Let the candidate answer how s/he wants, but give a little push if they are missing the point completely
Thank them, tell them the next steps and time frame

8. Making the offer Yay!! One of them is just right!
You might call or send an to give a preliminary offer
Mail paper documents to give formal offer
Include a reply deadline; after that the offer is dead
Include contact information if the candidate wants to ask questions
Set a start day; send out all information about benefits

9. Orientation Have a plan!
First day
First week
First month
First six weeks
Assign someone to be in charge and to answer questions
Give them a list of all employee names, job titles, s, and any other information they need
Prepare your new employee to be great!!

10. Conclusion Are you a CMLE member? We are here to help you!
Developing recruiting plans
Writing job ads
Sorting applications
Interviewing
We can take over the recruiting and hiring process for your library!
For more information, see: monthly-topics/
Links, templates, resources to read