Golden Interview

At the end of April I had another interview, this time for a Teen/Youth librarian position in Golden, CO (part of the Jefferson County Library system). It would have been the perfect job, I'm sure. To let you know right off the bat, I didn't get it. So, it's kind of painful to talk about it, but I'll go over the basics of the experience. I went to the library a few weeks ahead of time to scout the place out. It's small, but well-kept and neat. Right in the library's back yard is a river with a nice walking path on either side and lots of statues, and I decided right away that it would be the perfect place to take a lunch break. When we went inside and I observed how quiet the patrons were (a rare thing at my current library), I knew I had to get this job.

So then was the interview. John came with me, for moral support. I felt I was very well prepared. I had "studied" for the interview for a week or so, compiling a list of possible interview questions and my answers. I had prepared the storytime and teen booktalks like they had asked. I even went the extra mile and made up a craft for the storytime, although it wasn't required. I was ready.

There were three people interviewing me. They gave me an overview of the town of Golden, the library community, and the Jeffco system. Then they gave me a few minutes to look over their list of interview questions. There were a lot! They said they might not read every question, but they pretty much did, in order. For the first time, many of the questions I had prepared for were asked. During the course of the interview I also explained my storytime, and performed my booktalk. And, a long hour and a half later, I came out of the interview shaking (and in need of a restroom...I had nervously guzzled down the glass of water they gave me) but confident. A few of my answers hadn't been perfect, but I thought most had been very good. I hadn't made a complete idiot of myself, and that was the important thing. It was the first interview where I didn't come out groaning over how stupid I sounded.

They were supposed to let us know the outcome the first week of May. Needless to say, I was a nervous wreck from that point on. They said they would first notify the people who didn't get the job, then call references, then call the winner. That was why, at the end of the week when I hadn't heard anything, I felt a little reassured. Surely they would have called me by then if I hadn't got the job! But when I didn't hear anything this Monday, I broke down again. Maybe they forgot to contact me! Or they sent out those annoying rejection letters, and I just hadn't received mine yet. So I vowed to call them on Tuesday.

I didn't get the chance. Tuesday morning, just before I was to give storytime, I happened to look at my phone and see a message. Hope sprang once again! But when I called them back, it was a rejection. They told me (very nicely) that I hadn't done anything wrong; all the candidates were good. But they chose someone with more experience. They said I'd have no trouble finding a librarian job...I wanted to laugh (while I was starting to cry): they had no idea that I've been looking for a job since before I graduated, almost two years! with no luck. I cried for the next hour or so, sobbing through storytime and calling John to wake him up and cry on his proverbial shoulder. There was just so much buildup for this one. I had waited so long, it was the perfect position, and I was sure I had it in the bag. Although I usually don't get my hopes up, I was already planning for my new life and career. I suppose it wasn't meant to be?! I don't usually believe that, but it seems the only explanation in this case.