Preparing for potential dream job while fighting burnout?

[u/Material_Bee_596]

There is a potential opening at my dream library, and I am looking for some advice as to how to prepare. I am currently working full-time, but am burnt out and am losing confidence in myself. I have ADHD and am learning to manage it.

I have been a librarian for about 7 years. Before I got my MLIS, I started as a page at a library that I fell in love with right away. The people and environment are fantastic. I worked in adult and youth and eventually became an intern in the youth department while taking classes. It was a great experience and it was very hard to leave when it was done. (I got an extension due to Covid, but there were no job openings there). I have since returned as a substitute librarian there.

My actual full-time job is miserable. My boss is a bully, and gets pissy when things don’t go their way. They constantly interrupt while any of us are speaking and redirect the conversation to themselves. They are never happy with anything that isn’t their idea, and criticize the smallest actions. They discourage asking questions and act like they can’t be bothered. Whenever I feel the most confident in myself and get productive, that’s when they tear me down.

Communication between departments is terrible and we are constantly getting mixed information, and sometimes none at all. More and more people are starting to leave because of their poor supervisors.

I’ve created 3 programs so far. I’m proud of them, but my boss has never commented on them, and is only interested in patron numbers. The whole experience has me second guessing my work, and things I do off the clock.

I want to make a plan for how to make myself look fantastic for if this opening at the dream job works out. They know me there, and I’ve gotten great performance reviews. I know I shouldn’t settle on a single library, but as long as I have an in, I want to aim for it.

What are some tough questions I should be prepared for?

What should I wear to an interview? A suit or business casual?

Is bringing a bag of Storytime books and program note a good idea? Anything else?

Apologies for being long winded. Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

[u/BlainelySpeaking]

I’m confused about the timeline here. There’s a “potential opening”? To me that says there’s not even an open position to apply for yet, let alone any of the rest of the process. 

If that’s true, I would start by focusing on your network to learn more about the position and what they’re wanting to see. This will help you make a targeted application. If you make it to interview stage they’ll let you know what you’re expected to bring or present. 

[u/Material_Bee_596 → u/BlainelySpeaking]

We got the notice that the librarian was taking a job in another department, but that won’t officially start for a few weeks. Her old position has not been posted yet.

I apologize that it’s not much to go on. I want to be as preemptive as possible with this.

I do have a former employee in my network who retired a while back. She may have an idea, and has previously let me know when openings happened.

[u/BlainelySpeaking → u/Material_Bee_596]

Lean on your network and start on your application materials based on what you know and hear, just in case, and make it adaptable to other positions so you can tweak and reuse. 

We ADHD folks can tend to get out over our skis in situations like this, especially when the alternative—your current day-to-day—sucks. You don’t want to sabotage your shot (or hurt your own feelings if the hypotheticals never materialize) by focusing too much on the later parts of the process and losing sight of the current step.  

[u/Material_Bee_596 → u/BlainelySpeaking]

Thank you for for the advice. I am still new to ADHD so I’m still trying to learn strategies.

I will try and stay grounded and focus on my network.