Librarian Mock Interview
Master 21 Librarian interview questions covering collection management, reference services, and digital systems.
Question 3 of 21
How do you handle stressful situations?
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Audra Kresinske is an educator with over 7 years experience teaching English and employment readiness skills.
As peaceful as the library can be, there can also be busy and chaotic times when lots of different responsibilities will be thrown your way. There will be crowded times, lots of people looking for books and needing help, books that need to be reshelved, long lines of patrons, and at times, unhappy visitors. Explain to the interviewer how you handle stress. Be sure to include that you are able to remain calm and positive and consider the experience of library visitors before anything else.
Audra Kresinske is an educator with over 7 years experience teaching English and employment readiness skills.
"I've seen the library get busy and hectic, so I know there is not often downtime. There are always things to be done, and I enjoy keeping busy. When I begin to feel any kind of pressure, I take a moment to step back and prioritize. The experience of people who visit the library should always be top of mind, but so should maintaining a clean and safe space. I would be sure to consider all that needed to be done, prioritize the highest need items, and delegate amongst the entire team to tackle tasks during busy times. Once busy times pass, I would reflect on my performance to ensure I got it right, and readjust next time, if necessary."
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