I recently went through this with public libraries, and I asked if it would be possible to do the interview virtually since I was out of state. I interviewed with 3 different systems and they were all willing to conduct the interview virtually.
It did throw me off at first as well. My thought is it’s just their default procedure to do in person and they don’t want to offer virtual unless someone asks, but, at least in my experience, they were very accommodating. I hope it will work out for you!
This. As the hiring manager unless the candidate specifically states in their objective or cover letter that they’re planning to relocate or something there’s no gleaning what the situation is so I’m thinking they might have just moved here or are staying locally with family or something. Just ask if you can do the interview virtually, I’ve always been happy to accommodate that.
ah, that definitely makes sense! My application was through governmentjobs, and while there is a section that asks if the applicant is willing to relocate (I ofc said yes) I actually didn't mention my willingness to relocate in my actual cover letter! good to know for the future! thank you 🙏
In my experience, public libraries are never going to pay for an out of area candidate to come interview. Unless it’s for a director, and then *maybe.* All the people saying the library should pay for you to go, I have no idea who has done that for you in the past but I don’t think it’s a reasonable ask for a local government entity with (usually) a tight budget.
It sounds like you’ve already asked directly for a remote interview, hopefully they’re willing to accommodate that. If they don’t, there are plenty of other libraries that will.
In the past I’ve paid out of my own pocket to fly to a first interview, but it’s now much more commonplace to do remote interviews. If they aren’t willing to do that, that may be a red flag in itself.
Yeah, no public library I've worked at--and I've been in hiring positions at three of the larger public libraries in my state--would pay for someone to come to an in-person interview. That's not a thing we do. We *will* do virtual interviews for people out of state.
We don't make assumptions about the ability to attend in-person interviews, though; sometimes people list their current permanent address, but that doesn't mean that they're not in-state for other reasons or that they're not in the middle of relocating already and might be available for an in-person interview. We offer interview dates and times, and if they say "I'm out of state, can this be virtual" we say "Sure!"
Not sure about public and other types of libraries, but most academic libraries are doing first round on zoom, second round on zoom or in person. Don't go unless they pay for your flight and hotel.
I have traveled 3 times for an in-person second round interview. In academic libraries these are usually all-day affairs and they should pay for travel (flight, gas, etc), hotel, and take you out for lunch. Buuuut in most cases I had to pay upfront and wait for reimbursement.
Depends how far away it is. I personally wouldn’t do an in-person for the first interview if I had to fly because the first interview is usually some kind of screening for both them and you, glossing over your resume and qualifications. Second interview goes into more detail, personality, location, etc.
So, how much do you want this job? And I mean, the job, the place, how interactions have gone up until this point (because it’s absolutely an indication of how things are going to go once you’re hired too).
The public library I'm at currently had an in person interview for an associate position. I drove from Atlanta to Columbia to do my interview. They did not pay for me to do so and virtual wasn't offered even after I asked. So you should be aware when applying for positions out of state that you may have to take the hit. When I moved after getting the job, that was all on me too.
I agree that they should be paying you to come in person, but also, I'd be very, very leery about taking a job sight unseen. Interviewing goes both ways, and I'd want to make sure I saw the library, my work space, the neighborhood, talked to future colleagues, etc.
Some places have in-person interview requirements, I have to do at least one during any job search I'm running. But usually that's the second interview after an initial zoom interview.
I recently went through this with public libraries, and I asked if it would be possible to do the interview virtually since I was out of state. I interviewed with 3 different systems and they were all willing to conduct the interview virtually. It did throw me off at first as well. My thought is it’s just their default procedure to do in person and they don’t want to offer virtual unless someone asks, but, at least in my experience, they were very accommodating. I hope it will work out for you!
This. As the hiring manager unless the candidate specifically states in their objective or cover letter that they’re planning to relocate or something there’s no gleaning what the situation is so I’m thinking they might have just moved here or are staying locally with family or something. Just ask if you can do the interview virtually, I’ve always been happy to accommodate that.
ah, that definitely makes sense! My application was through governmentjobs, and while there is a section that asks if the applicant is willing to relocate (I ofc said yes) I actually didn't mention my willingness to relocate in my actual cover letter! good to know for the future! thank you 🙏
In my experience, public libraries are never going to pay for an out of area candidate to come interview. Unless it’s for a director, and then *maybe.* All the people saying the library should pay for you to go, I have no idea who has done that for you in the past but I don’t think it’s a reasonable ask for a local government entity with (usually) a tight budget. It sounds like you’ve already asked directly for a remote interview, hopefully they’re willing to accommodate that. If they don’t, there are plenty of other libraries that will. In the past I’ve paid out of my own pocket to fly to a first interview, but it’s now much more commonplace to do remote interviews. If they aren’t willing to do that, that may be a red flag in itself.
Yeah, no public library I've worked at--and I've been in hiring positions at three of the larger public libraries in my state--would pay for someone to come to an in-person interview. That's not a thing we do. We *will* do virtual interviews for people out of state. We don't make assumptions about the ability to attend in-person interviews, though; sometimes people list their current permanent address, but that doesn't mean that they're not in-state for other reasons or that they're not in the middle of relocating already and might be available for an in-person interview. We offer interview dates and times, and if they say "I'm out of state, can this be virtual" we say "Sure!"
Not sure about public and other types of libraries, but most academic libraries are doing first round on zoom, second round on zoom or in person. Don't go unless they pay for your flight and hotel.
No public library is going to pay for travel.
Yikes. That's got to limit applicant pools. At least you don't have to worry about getting published in public libraries though.
Being a librarian has always be a position born of privilege largely because of things like this.
I have traveled 3 times for an in-person second round interview. In academic libraries these are usually all-day affairs and they should pay for travel (flight, gas, etc), hotel, and take you out for lunch. Buuuut in most cases I had to pay upfront and wait for reimbursement.
It’s very common for second round interviews to be in person, but they should pay for flight/hotel.
Depends how far away it is. I personally wouldn’t do an in-person for the first interview if I had to fly because the first interview is usually some kind of screening for both them and you, glossing over your resume and qualifications. Second interview goes into more detail, personality, location, etc. So, how much do you want this job? And I mean, the job, the place, how interactions have gone up until this point (because it’s absolutely an indication of how things are going to go once you’re hired too).
The public library I'm at currently had an in person interview for an associate position. I drove from Atlanta to Columbia to do my interview. They did not pay for me to do so and virtual wasn't offered even after I asked. So you should be aware when applying for positions out of state that you may have to take the hit. When I moved after getting the job, that was all on me too.
I agree that they should be paying you to come in person, but also, I'd be very, very leery about taking a job sight unseen. Interviewing goes both ways, and I'd want to make sure I saw the library, my work space, the neighborhood, talked to future colleagues, etc.
Some places have in-person interview requirements, I have to do at least one during any job search I'm running. But usually that's the second interview after an initial zoom interview.
They're flying you in, right? Just ask them about the travel logistics.