Studies suggest the majority of jobs are found through
personal connections or knowing the 'right' people; in other words
“through networking”. Networking is getting known and knowing
others so you can be in the right place at the right time for that job.
The SLA and other professional associations are ideal
networks to develop. We invite you to join the SLA (and the WCC
listserv), attend a few meetings, talk to other members and, know your
strengths so you can promote your value as a potential employee or
co-worker.
Between meetings and networking revise your resume and
checkout some of the following sources to see what positions are open.
Western Canada
SLA WCC Discussion List
The list is the main communication tool of the Western Canada Chapter
for relevant news articles, Chapter event announcements, and for the
weekly "employment dispatches" which broadcast 10-15 job ads per week.
The focus is on special library positions (technician and professional)
in Western Canada. To join the list, see the
Discussion List instructions.
The
Partnership Job Board
The Provincial and Territorial Library
Associations of Canada provides The Partnership Job Board, a listing of
positions available in the library and information sector in
Canada.
Foothills Library Association Jobs Page
This job web page is maintained by the Foothills Library Association of
Calgary and lists positions in public, academic, and special settings
across Western Canada. Postings are updated once per week on Mondays
with new postings marked. Be sure to scroll down the
screen to see additional "ad scan" postings which the Association has
located.
Manitoba Library Association job listings
The MLA has a web page on its site for posting job notices. Job
announcements are also usually included on the association's regular
listserv. See the instructions for joining the listserv. This site
also includes links to articles on resume tips and interview
suggestions.
Saskatchewan Library Association job line
The Saskatchewan Library Association maintains a web page for job
announcements.
SlaisJobs (UBC School of Library, Archival, and
Information Studies Jobs Listserv)
This list is open to all students and interested professionals.
The listserv picks up many BC and Western Canadian positions, but also
includes some American and overseas positions. Instructions for joining SlaisJobs.
Rest of Canada
This list is not exhaustive but several sites a job
seeker might use.
Atlantic
Provinces Library Association
This association site includes information about subscribing to the APLA
bulletin and listserv. The listserv is free to join however,
there is a fee to join the Association and receive the APLA bulletin.
Canadian Library Association Careers Page
The CLA site lists positions from all types of libraries from across
Canada, and occasionally US positions.
Canadian Association of Law Libraries
The CALL listserv sometimes includes job announcements. To subscribe to
the list, see the instructions.
List
of Links
"Library Job Postings on the
Internet" this site also provides links to the library
association sites not listed here.
Newfoundland & Labrador Library
Association (NLLA)
An employment resource for information professionals and library
support staff; includes links to other local and Canadian resources for
employment.
Ontario Library Association
The OLA page lists positions in Ontario.
Public
Service Commission of Canada
The Public Service Commission is responsible for hiring all federal
civil servants.
U of T Faculty of Information Studies Jobsite
This site includes jobs in Canada
(particularly Ontario) and US jobs. Ads are posted in the order
they arrive so check the site regularly and scan the new postings at
the top of the list. The postings can be sorted by location (Greater
Toronto, Rest of Canada, International) and by type (Full time, Part
time, etc.).
University of Western Ontario jobs page
The library school at UWO has a page listing a number of positions,
although it is usually less comprehensive than the FIS site.
Non-library-specific Job
Web sites
If you are looking for something outside of a
traditional library setting here are three commonly used job posting
sites you can explore. Searching job web sites like Monster can
takes a bit of skill because very few of the ads will ever use the word
'librarian'. In fact companies may not realize that a librarian has the
skill set they are looking for.
Workopolis.com
Part of the Globe and Mail's empire, it claims to be Canada's
biggest job site. You can search for jobs by keyword, and apply various
limits such as job category, industry, and geographic location. There
are job categories for 'library' and 'library and archives', but I
would recommend sticking to keyword searches to pick up on those
positions where the employer didn't think to check the 'library'
box. Try using the search string 'knowledge management' or
'information specialist' or 'librarian'.
On the Workopolis search page you can restrict the
search to specific provinces and/or a city. Furthermore you can
save your search and have future jobs (that match your save search
parameters) automatically emailed to you as 'Career Alert'.
Monster.ca
Monster is not as sophisticated as Workopolis,
but allows similar functionality. In the search box try two different
searches using 'librarian' in one search and 'information manager' or
'information specialist' or 'knowledge management' in the second
search. Again these searches can be saved and future jobs emailed
to you. Scroll to the bottom of the list adn click the "OK"
button to save your search.
Working.com
Formerly known as CareerClick this site includes ads from the
Southam/National Post chain such as the Vancouver Sun, Edmonton
Journal, Calgary Herald, Star Phoenix and Leader-Post. You can
search specific newspapers or nationally.
United
States and International
There are countless websites and listservs announcing
jobs in the United States and many more for positions abroad. Here are
a few of the best known sites.
- The SLA
maintains a searchable list of positions mostly located in the United
States. If you are a member it is also possible to post your resume.
- The SLA Toronto Chapter Career Development section
has a page entitled Links to Job Sites.
- The library school at the University of Illinois
has a page of links to job sites.
- Listjobs.com
is perhaps the most famous site for
library jobs, mostly in the US but a few from elsewhere.
- IFLA has a jobs listserv for positions (mostly US).
To subscribe, see the instructions
(scroll down to LISJOBS). If you do not want to subscribe you can
simply view archived job postings.
- TFPL
is the definitive site for cutting-edge information management jobs in
the UK. Note the categories they use: Taxonomies, KM, RM, IM,
etc. [This site is best viewed with IE.]
Placement Firms
There are a number of 'headhunters' or placement firms
which specialize in placing candidates in positions..
Other Advice for Job Seekers
The CLA maintains an excellent list of
career resource books for librarians. including Karen Melville's The
Information Professional's Job Search Guide. Melville's
book "deals with job search strategies, helpful print, personal and
Internet sources of information, guidance in writing effective cover
letters and resumes, and tips on handling interviews."
Other CLA recommended books cover topics such as
resume writing, interview preparation and alternate career directions
for librarians.
The Toronto SLA chapter has a number of articles
discussing tips for resumes and interviews. See in particular "Ten Tips
for Resumes" by Ulla de Stricker and "Having a Successful Job
Interview" by Margaret B. Hentz, both under the Resumes and Interviews
link on the Career
Development page. SLA salary surveys are available to members.
Articles on our profession and job
search suggestions:
