I had to fill out a form with the full text of several sample Q-and-A reference transactions just to submit an application - a process that took at least a couple hours. Months later, I received a call that they needed new librarians. The interview process was more than an additional two hours. It was done entirely by chat - we discussed the position, and then I answered a few traditional interview questions. Next was more than an hour of chat reference questions, after which I passed off to another person for yet more questions. All of this for a job that I discovered paid only $17/hr for the first 6 months, then only $18/hr afterwards.
I can't believe that I spent nearly 5 hours overall only to find that the job paid such a meager salary.
This job requires a master's degree. Chatstaff also expects you to handle up to 6 chats at once.
I felt I did very well in the interview/chat test. However, after putting in so much time and investment, I heard absolutely nothing from them for a full three weeks afterward.
I think they believe that librarians will put up with this because they don't have many other choices. However, now that I'm a freelance technical writer, I fortunately do have many other choices.
