TELEPHONE INTERVIEW DRY RUN

I have a phone interview tomorrow morning with a university in the valley. I thought I would answer some of the more popular questions that people get in interviews. I am creating a flow chart that I might actually post if I can figure on how to make fit into the dimensions specified by my scanner.


Tell me about you (early years, education, work experience, recent times): I was born in Brooklyn, raised in Miami. B.A. in English from FIU in Miami. Studied Abroad in 96' (London). In 99' got a minority fellowship to study at UMASS-Amherst, where I first taught Composition and Creative Writing. M.F.A. in 02' from UMASS-Amherst. Same year (2002) moved to NYC and worked for several community colleges (Kingsborough, Hudson County) and colleges (Yeshiva) before joining the NYC Teaching Fellows in 04' to teach high school English to Bronx inner-city youth for three years. Along the way, received Adv. Cert. in Secondary English Instruction from Lehman College and my Public School teacher license(which I am in the process of transferring). In 2007, received ALA Spectrum award to subsidize M.L.S. at Queens College. Interned at Museum of Moving Image in 2008. Graduated Queens College in 2009. 2008 started working at Bronx Comm College, let go at the end of 2009 because of budget cuts. 2009 started working at The Bronx Institute and in June of 2010 moved to Los Angeles area.


What do you know about our company? According to U.S. News, The University of blah blah is a private institution, founded in 1891 with a total undergraduate enrollment of a little over 1,500 students. Tuition for the 2010-2011 year was estimated to be $29,800. In addition, "the university provides student-centered, values-based and diverse learning environment."

Why do want to work for us? According to U.S. News, the 2009 endowment was almost $28 million dollars, which means that there is a healthy dialogue on how to best services the needs of students. It also means there is manpower to do many of the amazing things we expect our libraries (especially academic ones) to do. I am also a huge fan and proponent of keeping class size small and personal. According to the Library Factbook, "In 2007-08 41% of the overall instruction sessions were conducted at other campuses while 58% of total sessions were conducted at main campus. One of the library's strategic goals is to provide equitable services for main and off campus programs." Therefore, there is a real push from the data collected to equalize or stabilize the amount of instruction at Wilson Library with other campuses run by University of Blah. From 2007-2009 there was a great reduction in instruction, but from 2009 to date the figures have equalized, which shows great effort and care went into stopping the hemorrhaging.

Why do you want to work for us? I have reviewed the literature on the Blah Library webpage and am impressed by the insistence on Information Literacy exerted. It goes beyond aligning learning standards to those determined by ACRL; the standards expressed in the literature show that the library is making earnest gains in ensuring that the concepts of Information Literacy are firmly embedded in each student. I also feel that ULV is a place where my efforts will be appreciated and incorporated into the administrative infrastructure. Moreover, I feel that my perspective will lend a greater scope of expertise and objectivity to the one already established and in use at the University and its library.

What do you look for in a job? I look for a job that will allow me the opportunity to deliver exemplary service, and utilize my people skills to champion institute endeavors. I work best with supervisors that openly communicate expectations, and provide examples/samples of the work they expect. I look for positions that will allow me to think creatively, visually, and with the full force of my verbal faculties. I enjoy cultivating connections with colleagues in other disciplines and departments; I enjoy solidifying peer networks that use the library as a hub, and talking to people outside of the immediate province of libraries. I especially like telling them what the library where I work can do for them, and how we can both prosper from collaborative efforts.