I am not exaggerating when I say this was the poorest interview experience I have endured in my entire life. Roughly two months after I submitted the application, I got an email saying I was invited to interview for the role on October 12, 2023 anytime between 11 AM-3 PM CST. I thought it was odd to show up anytime within that time frame, but went along with it. This is the timeline of events following: Interview Day- The Waiting Room Part 1 10:45 AM - I was logged into the Microsoft Teams link, ready to go. 11:15 AM (30 minute wait) - While I'm still waiting to be let into the room, I'm booted off of Teams with a message saying try again no one has answered. I immediately opened up the link again. 11:50 AM (1 hour and 5 minute wait) - Someone from HR gets me. They ask me to scan a QR code to access a "check-in form." I know most folks have smartphones nowadays, but what happens if a candidate didn't, and as a result couldn't scan/access the form? Then give me the assignment, which was that we got 10 minutes to create a 20 minute book talk presentation. Every librarian knows that a book talk typically lasts one, maybe five minutes max, so I thought it was bizarre to say the least. However, I went with it, and the HR representative said that they'd come get me within 20 minutes to connect with the librarians interviewing candidates. Interview Day- The Waiting Room Part 2 12:10 PM (10 minute wait) - I finished the book talk, using more time than they allotted because no one had called me after 10 minutes. 12:45 PM (35 minute wait)- No one has gotten me yet. 1:10 PM (1 hour 10 minute wait) - I emailed all of the HR representatives I've connected with to see if they have a status update. came by. No response. 1:40 PM (1 hour 40 minute wait) - I emailed all of my contacts again after another half hour. I send another email to my contacts. 1:55 PM (1 hour 55 minute wait) - One HR representative finally responds to my email, saying that the interviewers are running late and that they don't have an estimated time of arrival. 2:15 PM (2 hour 15 minute wait) - The HR representative that gave me the check in form pops into my waiting room to let me know that all the librarians went to lunch at the same time (meanwhile, I missed my lunch for this interview), and that they'd be ready to see me in 10 minutes. 2:35 PM (2 hour and 35 minute wait) - Finally, I am let into the interview room to see the interviewing librarians. 2:40 PM (2 hour and 40 minute wait) - I am in the room, but I have not been interviewed yet. The librarians appear to be in a room with several interviews happening at the same time, because I hear a lot of background noise. One of the librarians interviewing me is having mic issues on their laptop. 3:15 PM - I am finished with the interview. The total amount of time I spent from start to finish this day was 4 hours and 45 minutes, nearly 4 of those hours spent waiting to be interviewed. I sincerely hope that no one has to experience the debilitating anxiety of being forced to sit in front of your computer for hours on end and having to be on your A game waiting for someone to get you. I missed my lunch for this interview, I was literally physically ill afterwards and needed a full two days to recover. The Following Monday 4:15 PM - I received an email saying that I was among successful candidates, but there were no open positions left. My information would be put on file for one year in case potential vacancies arise. In the email was an attached letter thanking me for my time and that an HR representative would reach out by October 18 with the final status of my interview. I had not received this letter previously. 4:30 PM - I received an email saying to ignore the attached letter because the letter was supposed to go out first. No kidding. I'm disgusted at the poor planning and lack of care that HR and the librarians had for candidates. They clearly did not respect their candidates' time and effort. The only silver lining of this experience is that I found out how chaotic and disorganized Chicago Public Library is without being employed by them. I have even called the provided number several times to share my feedback to an HR representative, but no one has responded to my voicemails. Based on this experience, I would not recommend working for them.

It was ten questions in total that were asked by two people, both of whom take notes on your answers. An assessment was also included in which you have to create a Power Point presentation.