Pulling Back the Curtain: Preparing Students for the Academic Job Interview

The LIBS 6810: Academic Libraries course offered in the Master of Library Science Program at East Carolina University was originally structured to offer students a broad overview of working in academic libraries. To insert more practicality into the course, the author expanded two assignments to move students from completing hypothetical plans related to their future careers, to identifying a position to apply for and participating in a job talk interview with a mock search committee of professionals in the field. Students’ reflections indicate the updated assignments had the benefit of revealing the realities of the academic job search process and building students’ confidence in their ability to obtain a position after graduation. This case study details the activities and to update the assignments, shares students’ reflections on the activities, and offers recommendations for structuring the assignments and the course for others interested in applying the same approach.