Getting answers to questions during the recruitment and hiring process

Our library has a number of MLIS co-op positions each year and, as our students’ contracts come to an end, there has been lots of discussion recently about the job search and hiring processes, and what to expect in terms of job responsibilities, salary and benefits once you land your first position. I have been fortunate enough to have had the experience of working in three Canadian university libraries and the policies surrounding librarians have been different at each. Some of the areas where there have been notable differences include (in no particular order):

• The status of librarians on campus (academic staff, faculty or neither)
• Tenure vs. non-tenure
• Whether or not librarians are members of an affiliated union or an association
• The percentage of benefits paid by the employer
• Eligibility for research leave
• Annual professional development allowance
• The merit process (or lack thereof)
• How new positions are advertised and filled

You can never do enough research or ask enough questions about these kinds of issues when considering a position. The problem is that can be difficult or awkward (and in some cases inappropriate) to ask these questions during the interview process and sometimes it’s hard to figure out who might be able to answer them. It can also be hard to figure out what it all means even when you get the answers! One suggestion is to contact the association or union representative prior to accepting a job offer; we sometimes forget that their role is to help clarify these kinds of issues for potential hires.