Phoenix Public Library Children's Library Assistant Interview Questions & Reviews

Interview Details – I was very inspired by the job description: working with kids, presenting workshops, visiting schools - all for children of the 5 and under set. I wrote a killer resume and cover letter (in my opinion) and was promptly called in for an interview. The person on the phone - head of the system's children & youth departments - was very friendly and appeared excited with my interest in interviewing. Having 3 children of my own, ages 5 and under, I thought I was a shoe-in.

Then came the interview. Suddenly things were different. Very stiff. Very formal. I sat in a small waiting area with one other candidate, plus an office secretary/assistant. No one spoke. Once called, I entered the room and was greeted by a panel 6. The dept. head was not present. I was presented with the usual round of library interview questions - google the phrase "librarian interview questions" - and left feeling FAIRLY confident that the interview had been a success. I was, however, somewhat unsettled by the lack of...friendliness (?)...in the atmosphere. To be fair, that's rarely the vibe presented at any job interviews.

I returned to my usual day to day activities, eagerly anticipating "THE" call. There was little doubt in my mind that the job was mine (BTW, there were about 6 positions.) I waited, and waited, and nothing happened. After a couple of weeks went by, I emailed the dept. head that had been so friendly the other week, on the phone. She quickly replied with a generic email that basically stated that they went with someone else. Fair enough. I just wish someone had let me know earlier. A mass generic email would have sufficed.

I'm not bitter, really. I think I have a bruised ego more than anything. Overall experience on a scale of 1 to 5: 4.