I’ve been helping out with a public library system director search process. I love hiring and interviewing; I don’t know why, I just do. This process has gone very well, partly because of a very good committee. Anyway, we’ve had lots of discussions about what to look for in library staff, librarians, managers. . . And these discussions are food for my blog post today.
(Photo credit: @Photo.)
What qualities do we look for when hiring? What qualities can be learned/developed after an employee is hired?
These first ones are more personality/”people-type” things:
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Respect
- Passion
- Customer Service philosophy
- Adaptability
- Intelligence
- Listening skills
- People skills, Management skills
This group is more “book learning”:
- Budgeting
- Strategic Planning
- Knowledge about technology
- Library fundamentals
What else do you look for? How do you determine if a candidate possesses them? What qualities and abilities do you insist on, and which ones do you believe can be learned and developed on the job?
A Life in Libraries 