BootsnAll Travel Community

i got back from a 3 1/2 month trip around europe a month ago, and have been looking for a job as a librarian. i was on an interview for an academic librarian position and the head librarian was interviewing me, and she said, "i notice you write--i hope this isn't something you'll be wanting to focus on more. and are you done with your traveling?" i swallowed hard; in my bag was a book of travel essays, and i have several guidebooks from the library in my apartment, and i am already dreaming of my next trip (not for a a year or two b/c of money!)--and writing is my passion. so i stumble, "oh, yeah, i don't want to travel any more, not for a long, long time. and writing, that's my spare time thing. librarianship is what i want as my career." i felt so terrible because i LIED--this summer i learned my writing is VERY impt to me, as is traveling. where do you stop telling the truth?

There is a way to balance things in interviews without lying, but without telling the entire truth.

In a case like this (and this is, of course, with the luxury of not being on the spot as you were), you may have said something like traveling is a part of who I am, and while at the moment I don't plan on taking any extended trips, I do like to spend my vacation time in places that I have never seen. As far as writing, it is a way for me to record and share what I have seen, and also keeps my mind sharp and me articulate.

I am kind of surprised that someone who lives in the world of books, makes her living off people's writing, so to speak, is so down on her employees expressing themselves. If that is going to be the deciding factor of you getting/not getting a job, is it really a job you want? (that is rhetorical) Most good employers would celebrate a candidate who has world experience.

To be honest, I think I would have walked out at that point. Like annie said, I wasn't there, and I know know the details of your situation, but that would have just made me mad. It's one thing to say "Hay, you know, we need someone who is going to be around for a bit, do you plan on taking any trips soon?" or something like that, that's a practical question. But if she actually SAID what you wrote, that just displays... well, lots of bad things! It's a LIBRARY. Hello?! Why would she have a problem with you WRITING? And the travel comment, well that's just closedminded.

Perhaps the question is not whether you should have lied, but do you want to work with people you feel you have to lie to about something that is so important to you?

Plus what business is it of hers if you write at home when you're not working?

That's really awful.

In your position I would feel pressured to say the same thing and I would feel bad too then.

Ideally all jobs would want to hire curious people with interests in their lives besides work. I don't know how old you are but do they really want to hire a 25 year old (or something) who wants to work at that very job the rest of their life?

I've focused on seasonal jobs while I'm back home but I imagine when/if I go for anything normal this might come up for me too...arg. I don't think everyone is completely honest in the job process but, like you, I'd feel bad about it if I wasn't. More than one person has told me that I should apply for some non-seasonal jobs and just not tell them my plan is to leave in three months, but I don't feel okay with it and it would make it hard to talk with co-workers, etc. Annieb's suggestion is a good one I think.

i am not going to take the job if i'm offered it. the commute (an hour and fifteen minutes each way) is too much. i thought it was strange how she asked me about my writing, and honestly, i want to take another big trip in the next two or so years. it was for a business school's library, a horrible little room with no windows, and they are not that into books, apparently.

people say to me, "oh just take it [this job or any of the other crappy jobs i'm looking at] until you find something you like" but like kate, i don't want to just quit after a few months.

kate, what abt temping? you might be able to get a long-term temp job.

people who don't travel generally don't see why it's so great. even i didn't before i left!

i may just apply at a public library b/c they are more open to these sorts of things, even if it is heaps less money (and i'm not that fond of dealing with the public).

It sounds like a good choice not to take that job, and it looks like you have a number of reasons, not just the anti-traveling thing.

Temping is a thought and I may look into it - thanks.

I also agree that many people don't "get" the value of travel. People at home tell me that traveling and working overseas is great on a resume, but I kind of think if more employers (people) at home valued travel so highly, more of them would do it...I guess there are many reasons for people not traveling, not just that they don't care about it, but this is just my thought.

I can relate to Katelr57 and Cherie. I spent two years working outside the country, then traveled to Italy for 3 months, and the re-entry back to the working world in the United States has been tough. I am struggling to find a job that I can manage for a year, but also something that progresses my career. Also, how do my skills abroad transfer to the buttoned down world of Washington, DC (or insert any other big city here)? But I wish you the best of luck, Cherie, with the search!

That person sounds like a prisoner of her own small mind. "Are you done with your traveling?" I would have responded, "when do you intend to begin?" You made the right call-being around people like that sucks the life out of you...

Just to put a light humor spin on this whole situation...

she's a librarian - she spends her time around books, not people. *Obviously* she can't be very socially skilled...



P.S. no offense to librarians. books are good!

This may not be exactly the right topic to put this in, but I thought of this one first...

I'm leaning more towards staying in Chicago long-term (though not permanently) and have been on several regular/non-temp interviews. I absolutely mention my travel/work/volunteer abroad experience in my cover letter, because it was for such a substantial amount of time and because for some of that time I don't have a job to list. I was worried about hearing this question - "Are you going to travel/leave the US again?"

No one has asked in any of my 15-30 minute interviews.

There is a short "What were you doing in India?" question when I mention that I volunteered with stray dogs there, but that's it.

On the one hand, this is good because I don't have to say that travel/being abroad will always be part of my life etc etc. And I wouldn't want to work for someone who asked me "are you done travelling?". But apparently the people I've interviewed with are not interested in the slightest in this three year period of my life...hmmm...

"Are you done with your travelling?"

"Are you done with this interview?"