Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Use Of Work Sample Exercises As Part Of Screening Candidates For Support Staff Positions In Cataloging, Judith Shelton, David G. Anderson

University Library Faculty Publications

Finding the right support staff for a library cataloging operation is a perennial dilemma. People are needed who can learn and conform to highly complex rules for description and access, survive the ever-increasing rate of change in technology, and yet cope with the repetitive nature of the work. When job postings feature language such as "attention to detail," or "analytical ability," do candidates understand what that means? How do employers screen for these attributes in the current legal climate? One screening technique with potential for addressing these questions is the realistic job preview, or work sample test.