I am a recent MLIS graduate with library experience through an internship and current volunteer work. Though my actual experience minimal, I have published academically about public library collections and I have over 15 years of customer service experience. I am currently a manager in a customer service oriented environment and manage a team of 9 employees.
I received a voice message from the HR representative indicating that Southwest Public Libraries would like to bring me in to interview for this position. I called back and was administered a phone interview on the spot despite the voicemail indicating interest in a face-to-face interview. The impromptu phone interview was a bit tough for me because I was at work and there is absolutely no private area for me to do this. I had to be as discrete as possible. First off, the HR rep told me to "hold on" and she answered her cell phone while she was on the phone with me. Second, she called me a name that was not my own. Third, she repeatedly asked me why I think I am qualified to work in a public library even though I have never worked in one before. It seems that my customer service experience, management experience, academic research (pertinent to public libraries), and MLIS are not enough. The interview ended with the HR rep indicating that she would pass this information along to the hiring manager to see if they would like to proceed. (Pssst -- they didn't want to proceed, I knew that before the call ended).
I honestly cannot figure out why Southwest Public Libraries called me if they had no interest.
How am I supposed to get a library job if I am already thrown out of the pool for not having library experience? Not every person has followed the path of page while in high school, library assistant while in college, librarian once they get the MLIS.
