(Revised from Article Originally Published on Feb. 1, 2002)
In the past several years, the Internet has created a new way for people to search for that “perfect” job. Employment hunting has become much more fun. It is easy to search for possible positions with a company, business or educational facility. Websites containing employment classifieds are much simpler to search than their print companions. Webmasters have designed ways for prospective employees to sign-up on job-finding websites and create personal alerts concerning their job needs. In many cases, the job hunter can post a resume online, which can be utilized by prospective headhunters and company human resources personnel.
Many of these job boards have added value to their websites with information including relocation surveys, job search tips, moving companies, salary comparisons, city data, Fortune 500 information, real estate companies, and assessment resources. Most of these job boards have simple search engines and online help documents.
There are a few things for job hunters to consider when using these job boards. Watch for out-of-date listings, inquiries unacknowledged by potential employers, positions filled already at the company, and postings without date of listing or expiration date.
Two of the top popular job boards on the web are Monster.com and Libgig.com. Both offer thousands of job opportunities but use simple search engines. There are however, many other useful resources, so let’s begin:
Monster.com
This site has over a million postings. A job seeker can post a resume and also create a job portal under the button “My Monster.” This portal can help a person activate a resume to show potential employers, track online job applications, and create job search alerts. Monster.com was launched in January 1999.
Hotjobs.com
Hotjobs has been compared to Monster.com, and until recently, Monster.com was looking at buying Hotjobs. The sites are identical in nature in both searching and posting information.
Career USAToday
This is a great website for searching for positions. If a company has placed a job ad in a print newspaper owned by Gannett, the ad is automatically added to this website. Ads also come from national employers through USA Today, and from CareerBuilder (see next entry). Search by topic, state, or city. The database is updated daily. In my opinion, this has something more to offer than Monster.com or Hotjobs.com. I would recommend this website as one of your Top 5 job hunting resources.
Careerbuilder & HeadHunter.net
A job seeker can now find twice as many postings including international listings using both services. CareerBuilder has a Personal Search Agent (PSA) that searches for new postings that is initiated by an e-mail message. NOTE: for librarians there is a separate category for Library Science. This is different than Monster.com or Hotjobs.com where library postings are listed under Education. CareerBuilder and Headhunter.net have postings from a variety of resources, including ads published in print newspapers. At CareerBuilder, a job seeker can also search by salary requirements. The format of these websites is much easier on the eye of the searcher.
CareerJournal
This Wall Street Journal website lists ads from the newspaper for executives, managers and professionals. Compared to other job boards, they have a small database of listings.
AllStarJobs
Look for a variety of jobs listed in USA job banks, online classifieds, and career specific sites. All ads are listed for 60 days. Jobs are cross posted to Jobster.com, Indeed.com, vast.com, etc. RSS Feeds available per state.
Flipdog.com
Almost 500,000 job opportunities to search. You can locate a job via category, location or by keyword. Librarian is not listed in the categories, so I used it as a keyword search. Powered by Monster.com.
Career Site
The advanced search uses a tool called Smart March. Smart Match uses terms similar to your keywords to find additional jobs in your area. Headquartered in Pennsylvania, the company Career Ventures, LLC does business as CareerSite.com.
Futurestep
This website is set up by the Korn/Ferry International recruiting firm for executives and management positions. Seekers have to register to look at potential postings.
Nonprofit Jobs
Nonprofit Jobs Around the World is a large directory of positions in the nonprofit and community organizations available in 153 countries. Powered by Idealist.org, there are also volunteer opportunity postings and internship information. It is organized by country, state and organization. Idealist is the most comprehensive directory of nonprofit and volunteering resources on the Web, including private and public organizations.
Searching for Library or Information Professional Positions
There are some follies of searching for librarian jobs on the classified websites such as Hotjobs.com, Monster.com or 411Jobs. When searching for a librarian’s position on these websites, use the keyword librarian or information professional, which will also find the keyword library. Hits will bring up positions in the Library and/or Information Technology (IT) or computer postings. Library jobs can also be found in the “Education, Training & Library” category. The following websites are considered the top sites to use when looking for a librarian job. Besides associations’ websites, state libraries’ websites also provide postings for similar positions.
American Association of Law Libraries’ Career Center
This is a list of open positions in the law library field. No search engine is available, but the descriptions are in-depth. This list is updated on a regular basis. RSS feeds available. To look for additional jobs, look at the chapters’ websites. There are usually job postings listed on each website.
American Library Association JobList
This is a directory of job openings after the publication of the last issue of American Libraries. Advanced search engine available. Postings are listed by the most recent date. RSS feeds available. Employer profiles available for each organization, company, library, etc.
Association of Legal Administrators
Job seekers may view the current openings or search by job category. Besides legal administrator positions, there are classifieds for librarians, marketing directors, IT personnel, paralegals, etc. Advertisements run for 6 weeks.
Special Libraries Association Career Center
New jobs are posted frequently on this site. Search the classifieds or view all available jobs. For members of SLA, one can also apply for a job or post a resume at this site. The system can also notify the member when a job becomes available that fits the user’s criteria via RSS feeds. SLA also provides information to other placement and executive search firms. To look for additional jobs, look at the chapters’ websites. There are usually job postings listed on each website.
Other Library or Information Professional Organizations, Directories, and HeadHunters
Accufile
No listings available. A job seeker must send in their resume. Boston area
AimUSA
Wonderful website of information for librarians and information professionals in the LA & San Francisco areas.
American Society for Information Science & Technology
Search and view the latest information and technology jobs!
Association of Research Libraries (ARL)
This association was established in 1996 to provide job hunters with an easy-to-use resource for finding positions in ARL libraries. Current job announcements submitted by academic and research libraries.
Cadence Group
Based in Atlanta, this group offers offers a wide range of library and research services. There are a few recruiting listings under the “Jobs” link. The group also offers information concerning the library profession.
C. Berger Group
This group provides job postings for information professionals and record management positions, including temporary positions.
F1 Services
Temporary and consulting for Dallas & Austin libraries.
Findlaw
Career Center for Legal Professionals. One can seek positions by subject (including Librarian), location, and keywords.
Diane M. Goldstein & Associates
Based in Greater NY area. Executive Recruiting for information professionals. Contact via Linkedin
Heller & Associates
Open positions for Chicago and New York area information professionals.
InfoCurrent: CoreStaff Services
Good information about open positions for librarian and records management positions.
Library & Information Technology Association
A division of ALA that lists current postings for librarians focusing on information technology in libraries.
LAC Group
Headhunters for the information industry. Began in 1986 as Library Associates Companies. Good position listings.
Sarah L Warner and Associates LLC.
Company will be involved in recruitment of librarians and information professionals. Newly formed and website coming soon. Linkedin profile only.
Library Job Postings on the Internet
Website created by Sarah L. Johnson. List all positions by state. Great pathfinder!
Lisjobs.com
An online resource for librarians to find current postings. The site is maintained by information professional Rachel Singer Gordon.
LibGig
The latest job postings, comings and goings of the library and information community including new publications, products and services, events, and conferences. Job alerts and RSS feeds available.
Mountain Plains Library Association (AZ, CO, KS MT, NE, NV, NM, ND, OK, SD, UT)
New England Library Association (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, and VT)
Online Computer Library Center, Inc. (OCLC)
Pacific Northwest Library Association (AK, ID, MT, OR, and WA, as well as AB and BC in Canada)
Southeastern Library Association (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA and WV)
UK Placement Firms
City Professionals
This site has a search engine. The keyword librarian is listed in the search mode. I used the keyword “ALL” in the Job Type to find all listings. Based in London.
Glen Recruitment
Listed by salary requirements. Based in London. BTW, nice web design.
Aquent Company (Recruit Media)
One can search for librarian jobs as well as Internet researcher positions. Based in London.
Sue Hill Recruitment
Information management, information professional and librarian positions available.
State Libraries and Other Library Associations with Employment Web Pages
ALASKA
Alaska Library Association
ALABAMA
Alabama Public Library Service
Alabama Library Association
ARIZONA
Arizona Library Association
ARKANSAS
Arkansas Library Association
CALIFORNIA
California Library Association
California State Library
COLORADO
Colorado Association of Libraries
CONNECTICUT
Connecticut Library Association
Connecticut State Library
DELAWARE
Delaware Library Association
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
DC Library Association
FLORIDA
State Library of Florida
GEORGIA
Georgia Public Library Service
HAWAII
Hawaii Library Association
IDAHO
Idaho Library Association
ILLINOIS
Illinois Library Association
INDIANA
Indiana State Library
KANSAS
Kansas Library Association
KENTUCKY
Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives
LOUISANA
State Library of Louisiana
MAINE
Maine State Library
MARYLAND
Maryland Library Association
MASSACHUSETTS
Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners
Massachusetts Library Association
MICHIGAN
Library of Michigan
Michigan Library Association
MINNESOTA
Minnesota Libraries
Minnesota Library Association
MISSISSIPPI
Mississippi Library Commission
MISSOURI
Missouri Library Association
Missouri State Library
MONTANA
Montana State Library
NEBRASKA
Nebraska Library Commission
NEVADA
Nevada Library Association
NEW HAMPSHIRE
New Hampshire State Library
NEW JERSEY
New Jersey Library Association
NEW YORK
New York State Library
New York Library Association
NORTH CAROLINA
State Library of North Carolina
NORTH DAKOTA
North Dakota State Library
OHIO
Ohio Library Council
State Library of Ohio
OKLAHOMA
Oklahoma Department of Libraries
OREGON
Oregon Library Association
Oregon State Library
PENNSYLVANIA
Bureau of State Library
Pennsylvania Library Association
RHODE ISLAND
Library Programs: Office of Library & Information Services
SOUTH CAROLINA
South Carolina Library Jobs
South Carolina State Library
SOUTH DAKOTA
South Dakota Library Association
TENNESSEE
Tennessee Library Association
TEXAS
Texas Library Association
Texas State Library & Archives Commission
VERMONT
Vermont Department of Libraries: Vermont Automated Libraries System
VIRGINIA
The Library of Virginia
Virginia Library Association
WASHINGTON
Washington State Library
WEST VIRGINIA
West Virginia Library Commission
WISCONSIN
Wisconsin Library Association
WYOMING
Wyoming State Library
Wyoming Library Association
There are many resources on the web to locate postings, apply for positions, and find information about companies and education facilities, including company websites and vendors or publishers’ websites. Many employers are moving toward the electronic access of tracking resumes to share information about potential job seekers within the company. Companies are using a variety of databases to house these electronic resumes so when a potential match is available, a resume can be reviewed and profiled.
And, if life gets too hectic and you find that even changing positions can be tiresome or challenging, you may want to change identities instead of positions. Check out the Change Your Identity website. You can locate resources on how to change identities and purchase papers to become a completely new person.