Interview virtuoso

I just finished reading Susan Katz's article on the disparity between mock interviews and how employers actually interview. Here's the story:

Most career service centres offer a mock interview service and the schedule of questions in mock interviews are usually based on research into the professional human resource literature or on actual employer surveys the career centre has conducted. Katz argues that though it is true that many large corporations are using BDI questions, many small organizations--where many grads, and many library school grads may actually get their first jobs--don't use BDI questions. In other words, you will probably work for a library that doesn't have an HR department and who may not use BDI questions. (Academic librarian wannabes, you can wait for the astounding enlightenment to be found in tomorrow's post; all academic libraries have HR departments and tons of BDI questions.)

Based on her action research, Katz has created a handout for her students that helps them, not with BDI questions (and she still includes some sample questions), but with how to tell employers what they should know about the candidate/student who is interviewing for a job.

If you were to do this for yourself, for this posting, your sheet would look like this:

• Library science degree
• Proof:
  
• One-two years industry experience
  
• Proof:
  
• Customer service
  
• Proof:
  
• Answered "customized" research queries
• Proof:
• Identified research needs
• Proof:
• Identified tools clients can use repeatedly and trained them in the use of the tool
• Proof:
• Shared knowledge with colleagues
  
• Proof:
  
• Explained complex concepts in plain language; these concepts may not represent your field of expertise
• Proof:
  
• Provided evidence to support initial research and suppositions
• Proof:
• Responds in a timely manner to requests
• Proof:
  
• Delegated tasks to the appropriate officer/researcher
• Proof:
  
• Worked independently and completed projects on time
• Proof:
• Worked as team member and completed portion of project on time
• Proof:
  

All I did was take the job description and describe what they wanted the person to do. You can also include any specific databases or programs (Lexis-Nexis, for example), if necessary and make your own skills sheet. They are also in past tense since when you write your statement, I would like you to give proof that you have done what you say, not, I'm sure I can do that (aye, aye, Captain Bligh).

If you are interested in Katz's original article, the NACE Journal is only open to NACE members; you may be able able to access it through ProQuest. The citation is below:

Katz, Susan, M. "The Job Interview: Is Career Services Giving Students a Realistic Picture of What to Expect?" NACE Journal. Oct 2007. Vol. 68, Iss. 1, pp. 38-44.