Mid-Continent Public Library Interview Questions
& Process

First they invite you to a phone interview that lasts about 30 minutes, and they ask more general questions. That is followed by in-person panel interview lasting 45-60 minutes, asking more detailed scenario-type questions.

The interview was with the branch manager and assistant branch manager. The questions were all situational and sort of irrelevant. No questions were asked about my experience or abilities outside of the dreaded "strengths and weaknesses" prompt. There was a bizarre test at the tail end of the interview wherein they asked me to separate a stack of graphic novels into categories. Apparently this is some sort of creative test and they expect you to do something whimsical, such as divide the books by color or spell out your name using book titles.

I applied online and got an interview about a week and a half to two weeks after. The interview was around 30 minutes. They read questions from a packet and then asked me to do a computer task: find a book in their catalog, find a tax form on the IRS website, and show how to save a file to a flash drive. I didn't get the job at first because they hired someone from another branch. But they called me back when that didn't work out. It's tough for outsiders to get this job because of the training involved, so they usually hire internally. Even with my background as a recent grad with experience in web content, writing, research, and teaching, I initially lost out to an inside candidate. But it's possible! I'd suggest emphasizing any experience with kids (like leading workshops) or with tech gadgets (like Nooks or Kindles). It's mainly customer service, and you might later specialize in tech or 'storytime' for kids.

I applied to this job 4 separate times, getting rejected 3 times before finally being offered the position. The interviews happen at the Library's main office in Independence and typically involve 2-3 interviewers. The process usually includes a computer-based assessment, a written exam testing knowledge of literary works and genres, and a lengthy set of verbal questions that range from moderate to quite challenging. For a part-time role paying around $12.43/hr, the interview is surprisingly rigorous.