This case study describes an academic library search committee's decision-making, practice, and assessment of using performance-based interviews as part of a national search for lecturer-level positions with a primary focus of reference and research services and minimal expectations of teaching information literacy in the classroom. The search committee determined performance-based interviews were successful in establishing candidates’ depth of skill in simulated reference transactions. The authors recommend incorporating an element of unscripted job simulation to employment interviews in libraries of all types.