by Philippe Cloutier

Layoffs, budget cuts, closures, and furloughs are just a few of the dismal words facing today’s libraries. As no stranger to layoffs, I’ve relied on a slew of blogs/RSS feeds and twitter accounts to stay apprised of new openings, job hunting tips, résumé and interview recommendations, and all things encompassing the search for work. Here is my basic platform for job-hunting in the electronic age.

LibGIG

Outside of library associations and my personal network, LibGIG has proven to be the most valuable multi-faceted career assistant. Their services are well-rounded, offering regular updates on job opportunities, news, tips, blogs, etc. Staying on top of LibGIG is made easier thanks to twitter, @libgig_jobs, and their newsletter(presented by their parent company LAC Group). While other sites provide pieces to a puzzle; LibGIG presents a complete web package of job seeking aid.

Ask A Manager

This is a blog you will want to follow, regardless of whether you are searching for a job or not. Alison Green’s honest and professional words of wisdom span everything from the day to day, career goals, interviews, networking, applying, the odd, relationships, and more. Job markets and professional development can sometimes feel dark, stoic, and robotic. Luckily, Ask A Manager is personable and human, effectively connecting work place environments and people. She’s also on twitter: @AskAManager.

RSS Feeds

There are far too many library job websites that continually list open positions to follow via bookmarks or daily searches. While RSS requires a small amount of effort if you’ve never set it up, the results pay dividends. Sites you collect may come from around the globe, focusing on certain markets, regions, and associations. You can also manage RSS feeds for job databases (i.e. monster, indeed, and hotjobs) that will collect predefined keyword and search string results. This means no more searching day-in and day-out on the same sites: it’s delivered to you. I use Google Reader to maintain my feeds and highly recommend it.

Getting into the job-hunt mindset isn’t painless. Writing cover letters and résumés, looking for work, interviewing, and networking is a craft unto itself. Preparing yourself for success requires time, effort, and dedication. Having these resources at my fingertips laid out the first steps and prepared me for the next. If you have any search tips please comment. Good luck and remember to stay positive, connect with people, and remain involved in the community!