I applied online. I interviewed at Scottsdale Public Library
Interview
The interview involves a panel of bureaucrats. The panel members are drawn from both the Scottsdale Public Library system and the City of Scottsdale. Expect to meet with a panel of 4-6 bureaucrats in a boardroom. This scene is a common across various settings, including city, state, library, and museum jobs. (Have you heard the joke about the lightbulb?) The interview consists of presenting ideas for programs that you will likely never be able to implement due to the byzantine systems in place to stymie innovation or change at every step and turn. The best advice is to research their current activities and, if you're still interested in working there, create a pitch that fits within their existing calendar. This task can be accomplished by creating a permutation of existing programs. Use AI to simplify the process. If you get hired, you might as well expect most of the communication from upper management to be written by AI.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
"Describe a time you had to overcome a challenge." And lots of questions about how you handle difficult customers. The interview is only tricky because you will be trying to accommodate the vicissitudinous preferences of lifelong bureaucrats.
I applied online. The process took 4 weeks. I interviewed at Scottsdale Public Library in Jan 2025
Interview
In person panel of three employees. Similar to other government library job interviews. I was asked to create a program and pitch this program as if I were doing so for a patron.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Describe your experience working with a difficult customer service interaction. What was your takeaway from the situation and would you have done anything differently.
