Q:  I have a resume question and I’m not sure who to ask, so I really hope you can give me some advice.

After skimming over my resume, I just noticed that the ending date for one of my jobs is listed incorrectly. The date is listed as July of 2007 — the correct ending date is actually November of 2006. I’m not sure how I did not notice this error before, but I didn’t and have been submitting this resume with job applications for several months now. I was contacted by one of the libraries where I placed an application, and they are bringing me in for an interview next week.

This was truly an honest mistake — I think it was originally the result of a copying and pasting error — and I want to clear this mistake up quickly and be honest about it with the person with whom I am interviewing. However, I am terrified that he will think that I was lying and trying to inflate my employment date, or that I am not a detail-oriented person, and that it will cost me the job. I have gone over the rest of my resume with a fine tooth comb and have had two other people also look at it for me. This was the only mistake.

How can I fix this? Should I email him with a corrected copy before the interview — and if I do, how do I address the error in the email? Should I wait and mention it at the interview itself? Should I wait and see how the interview goes and proceed from there? Or should I do something else entirely?

TA:  People are human and–breaking news!–we make mistakes.  It’s how we correct them that demonstrates our values and professional judgment.  At the point of the interview, bring a corrected version of your resume.  Simply state that you discovered a mistake on the dates of your employment and wanted to present a corrected copy with the accurate information. Don’t dwell, don’t go on and on about making mistakes; just present the resume, apologize and proceed.  Then carry on with the interview as you’ve planned and prepared.  Good luck!

Q: I have been an MLIS graduate for a year now and still have no job.  I had interviews and am always told they are impressed with me, but I never get the position.  I have lots of experience working and interning in libraries.  What am I doing wrong? How do I get my foot in the door?  Thank you in advance for your time.

 TA: This can be a frustrating experience, but don’t lose sight on the positive: clearly your application materials are strong because you keep getting invitations for an interview.  There are a couple of ideas that come to mind that may get you some additional information.

First, you may want to speak with the institutions where you’ve interviewed.  If they have an HR person, or if you’ve been dealing directly with the chair of the search committee, ask for feedback on your interview.  Some candidates ask if there were particular areas of the interview where their performance could have been stronger, or if there are areas of experience that they could build on to strengthen their candidacy.  Some institutions are more guarded with the information they release to candidates after the interview, but it may be worth your time to inquire to see if you could get some helpful feedback.

Second, you may want to practice some of the more common interviewing techniques.  You could practice with friends or a professional interview coach.  Most campuses offer interviewing services for alumni, so that could also be a resource for you.  Consider practicing your candidate presentation and getting feedback on the content and the delivery.  Also practice the post-presentation Question-and-Answer.  Or practice your answers to some of the more commonly asked interview questions that you will encounter throughout the campus interview day, and get feedback on your responses.

And finally, you may want to consider pursuing an informational interview with librarians in institutions where you’re considering employment.  Be sure to read our recommendations on informational interviews, but briefly, keep the appointments to less than 30 minutes, bring a resume, and schedule the appointment before applying for a position.  What you hope to come out with from those interactions are ideas about what kinds of positions may be on the recruitment horizon at that institution, what the culture and values are of that institution, and what kind of qualities they’re looking for in their candidates.

Q: I am pursuing my MLIS and will be graduating in December. I have started to look for jobs already and have been to a few interviews with no luck. My hair is dark brown with bright red streaks in the front but I dress professionally at my workplace and on interviews. My question is: could my hair color really be affecting my career prospects? I live in a fairly liberal city and I am striving to become a Young Adult librarian. I even use the argument that my ‘alternative’ hair could encourage teens to interact with me, as they’ll relate to me more if I look like them.  I’m curious to hear feedback from someone in the field. If the hair is really considered an issue, then I will dye it all brown. But I do not wish to do so if it is not completely necessary.

SM: This is a difficult question to answer because I want to tell you to be yourself, to stand out, to express your individuality and creativity, and to not conform to what is expected – but, as much as I may love to see someone flaunt their creative flair, another person may find it inappropriate.  Interviewers are not objective. They rely on their own personal tastes and may have pre-conceived opinions about others based on appearance. And, remember, you are being scrutinized and judged on many different levels by many different people when you interview.

I know many people who have facial piercings, tattoos (I have a few myself), and alternative hair styles and colors. Do they take out their nose/eyebrow/lip rings when interviewing? Yes. Do they attempt to hide their tattoos? Depends on where the tattoo is located, but a suit or tights will typically do the job. Do they tone down their alternative hair color and/or style? Usually.

Now, you would think that an interview for a young adult librarian position in an urban public library would warrant more creative expression than an interview for a law librarian position, and you would probably be correct. But, you can never be sure. It really depends on who is on the search committee, and – more importantly – who has the ultimate hiring decision. The people who interview you may love your red streaks, but… the library director may find them unprofessional.

When we interview, we need to present a professional persona, whether or not we normally dress or behave that way.  It is kind of like playing a game… and you should probably play it safe. Once you get the job, you will have more freedom to express your individual style.

There are, what I would call, appearance-related rules for interviewing that everyone should follow:

• Always wear a suit (or something close to it like a coordinated jacket and pants/skirt)
• Be clean and polished (showered, brushed, shaved, etc.)
• Present yourself professionally (shake hands, stand straight, smile, look people in the eye, appear interested)

A downside of following the rules is that it can be easy for you to hide behind a suit and a pair of uncomfortable shoes and present only your professional side. Interviewers yearn for a taste of the “real person” because they want to know if you will be a good fit with the rest of the staff and the patrons. They want to know if you are quirky and have a sense of humor, they want to know if you can get along well with others and can be engaging and thoughtful. Try to let your true self shine through at some point during the interview process and show your creative style in your professional attire, if possible.

Having said all that, if you feel strongly about not getting rid of your streaks, then don’t. Personally, I see no problem with it, but I feel obligated to let you know that yes, it may be an issue.  Since you are in the early stages of searching for jobs, you might want to wait a while and go on a few more interviews before making any changes to your appearance. You hair color really shouldn’t keep you from finding the job you love. I would, however, steer clear of making the argument that your alternative hair color can help you relate to teens unless your interviewers ask you about it. Trust me, they will notice and make their own assumptions… and quite possibly, they will come to the same conclusion. Best of luck to you!

We would love to hear from our readers on this question. How would you answer this question? And, would you (or did you) “tone it down” for interviews, or not?

Q: I would like to know what other jobs and industries I could use my Library Support Staff Diploma in, besides libraries.  Any suggestions are appreciated. 

A: I guess a lot would depend on where and when you received your diploma, and the coursework you took toward the degree.  In looking at the ALA-APA Library Support Staff Certification program online (http://ala-apa.org/lssc/) there seems to be several areas of study that could transfer to other jobs and industries.  In a January 2010 press release, ALA introduced the program: “This new certification program will help library support staff achieve recognition for current and new skills and abilities, as well as increase access to continuing education opportunities.” (http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2010/january2010/lssc_apa1.cfm)  The certification requires three courses of study (Foundations of Library Service; Communication and Teamwork; and Technology), plus three electives (ranging from Access Services to Youth Services). 

Additionally, in an appeal to Library Administrators to support the certification program, ALA-APA’s webpage states that:

“Research shows that LSS certified in a rigorous certification program:

• have more self confidence in their own ability
• believe they provide better service to the public
• better understand how the entire library operates
• are more willing to accept responsibility
• work better on the library team”  (http://ala-apa.org/lssc/for-library-administrators/)

If you take all of this information and try to apply it to another job or field of employment, there are several areas that I believe would transfer well.  First, two of the required courses are relevant to just about any workplace today: Teamwork and Communication, and Technology.  Second, if the research is supported, a confident employee who works better on teams and is willing to accept more responsibility is appealing to any employer.  I would recommend that you explore new areas that include service, technology and teamwork.  Look for positions that are exciting and of interest to you, and think broadly about how your skills, experience, and credentials would apply.