Twice a week we publish problems that will feature in a forthcoming Dear Jeremy advice column in the Saturday Guardian so that readers can offer their own advice and suggestions. We then print the best of your comments alongside Jeremy’s own insights.
I am applying for jobs as a school librarian. I hold a master’s degree in information and library studies, and have seven years’ experience working as a school librarian. The last job I applied for, I phoned before sending in my application and asked whether it would be possible to have a look around the library and meet the librarian. The school responded quickly and I visited the following day. I was impressed with the library space and could see by the friendly behaviour of the students that the current librarian was well liked.
I sent her a thank you card after my visit and promptly sent in my application. I was one of seven applicants, but I did not get the job.
There were a number of things we were asked to do on the day of our interview, including being interviewed by a panel of students and two senior members of the school. When it was my turn for the student panel, the librarian was also in the room but she did not acknowledge me. I noticed the students looked to her at one point and I would have looked too, only it seemed rude to turn my attention away from the students. Of the seven applicants, I was rated least liked by the student panel.
Is it no longer appropriate to ask to look around a school library prior to applying for a job being advertised? Or doing what I consider essential research? My feeling is that I do not enhance my chances of being hired by doing so and that I may be creating an atmosphere of mistrust. I am applying for another job in a school library and would have asked to have a look around and perhaps meet the people involved, but I don’t want to lower my chances of being chosen.
Do you need advice on a work issue? For Jeremy’s and readers’ help, send a brief email to dear.jeremy@theguardian.com. Please note that he is unable to answer questions of a legal nature or to reply personally.
