Many LIS job seekers are overwhelmed by the plethora of job posting sites out there. There are so many sites that could eat up your time. Where are you most likely to find success?

Since our profession is so broad in potential skills, it behooves you to expose yourself to a broad list of technologies and skills but it is just as important to dive down into a specific niche. When someone asks me to consult with them on finding a job, I ask them to tell me "What is your ideal"? In this economy many students feel a sense of urgency to get ANY professional position, it is less likely you will secure just ANY position. You need to cater your skills and message for a particular area. There are just too many people looking for work to shotgun your search. You need to position yourself as an expert.

With that in mind, where should you put your energies? Monster.com is not the answer for our field. The use of terminology for our profession is often ambiguous. Terms like "librarian" or "archive" are often used in reference to specific technology positions rather than overall information management.

Go with professional associations and lists in your preferred niche. Also if you want an academic position, look at individual institutional sites. These may or may not make it to the greater jobs lists and there is a potential that less people will see it and apply. You might regularly look at individual university, city or corporate sites for job postings.

Also, follow grant award announcements. Institutions receiving grants may be in need of extra staff to execute the project.

Lastly and perhaps the option most likely for success…network, network, network. Meet people, be known. Volunteer at institutions at which you want to work one day, participate in professional associations, publish research papers, work at local conferences and do whatever you can do to let people know that you are an asset.

Additional job opening sites are available on the Job Resources page at http://students.slis.wayne.edu/job-resources.php.