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You may be thinking: "I can't even find a first job, let alone a second one." If so, print this article and tuck it away for later.

I once got a good piece of advice: stay in a job until there is nothing more you can learn from it. Although I had many valuable experiences at my first job, after a year and a half, I realized that my opportunities for professional growth were limited, and I decided to move on.

Weighing All the Factors

Some factors that affected my decision about what kind of second job I should look for:

• I wasn't opposed to relocating.

  Although I had no children and owned no property, I had a significant other who was also a librarian, so smaller locales with fewer library jobs were out of the question.

• I had enough money to finance a long-distance move, if my new employer did not provide relocation assistance.

Some factors you may want to consider before you start looking:

• What is it at your job that you wish you could change? Prioritize your answers. For example: if you can't live with eight vacation days, then make it a point not to accept any job that offers eight vacation days (or fewer).

• What changes are you expecting in your life? Taking a job at $25K while saving for a row house in Boston won't work - unless you are an investment genius!

• Don't feel obligated to stick with what you studied in library school. If you thought you'd like YA, but have since realized that you prefer reference, apply for jobs accordingly.

• Pick two geographic regions you wouldn't mind living in, and look for jobs there first. You may want to consider how many library schools are within driving distance of your destination, which will affect the number of applicants for any given position. Although it's not totally scientific, try http://www.findyourspot.com to check out areas you might enjoy living in.

• If you feel like taking a risk, pick the place you want to move to, and move there. If it's meant to be, an opportunity will arise.

Avoiding Pitfalls

• If you hate your current job, don't apply for jobs willy-nilly - even if you think that "anything would be better than this!" Your aim should be to land a gig that you like. Remember, you have a job now, so you can afford to be choosy.

• Don't make enemies at your current job. The supervisors of today are the references of tomorrow.

• Don't apply for jobs in places where you would be unhappy. If you hate humidity, don't take a job in Florida.

• Remember that $50,000 in Seattle and $50,000 in Cleveland are two very different salaries. Check out relocation calculators such as http://www.homefair.com to compare. However, don't get too hung up on this: only you know your financial needs. If you have no debt, $40,000 on the Jersey Shore might be OK.

Interviewing Issues

When you get an interview, make sure to think about the following issues:

• Does the employer provide relocation assistance? If so, how does it work?

• Benefits! Some might discourage asking about this, but benefits (or lack thereof) can really make or break a job, I was offered two jobs at once, and, although one paid significantly more, its vacation time didn't meet my needs. The other's did, and, since that was my priority, I took it.

• How does the library encourage professional growth?

• What challenges do new employees typically face?

• If your interview requires you to travel, are travel expenses paid? If an employer won't pay your travel expenses, don't go, unless you highly suspect you would like living there – again, be choosy.

  On the other hand, there are situations in which you might accept a job sight unseen. If you are an ambitious type, and a particular library has an unparalleled reputation, this might trump your need for a livable place. (For a while, at least – second jobs aren't forever, either!)

• Don't get hung up on online travel sites. Find the lowest price you can online, and then call ten travel agents from the Yellow Pages and ask if they can get you a lower price. It works!

• Don't forget to use your AAA (or comparable) discount for rental cars and lodging.

• If you do use an online service, beware of sites like http://www.hotwire.com that don't allow you to select travel times. This can be problematic for your interview schedule.

  The site I like best is http://www.cheapair.com – their Fare Tracker notifies you by e-mail when a flight's price changes. CheapAir also includes budget carriers such as AirTran, which many of the other popular travel sites don't. One tip: once you find the flight you're looking for, avoid paying the "agent fee" by going directly to the airline's site and buying your ticket there instead. Also, sign up for the Smarter Travel Last Minute Airfares newsletter. Choose your preferred departure airport and get a weekly list of discounted last-minute fares.

• Track down another librarian in the area who might be able to put you up. Obviously, don't do this if you're uncomfortable with the idea of staying with someone you don't know, but I've found librarians to be friendly and accommodating people who know the value of a dollar. (If you ever interview in Central Jersey, e-mail me: christineborne@yahoo.com).

Evaluating Offers

• Try to negotiate the salary – especially if you get more than one offer at once.

• Ask to be put in contact with another new employee - preferably one who is on his or her second job, too. Compare notes about transitioning.

• Be frank with your new boss. Tell him or her what your frustrations were at your old job and how you'd like things to be different. Good bosses value the perspective new employees bring.

Above all, remember that you're much wiser now than when you started your library career. Don't expect things to be perfect, and remember that thoughtful experience builds thoughtful leaders!

Christine Borne is a Senior Librarian at the Ocean County Library in Toms River, New Jersey, as well as the editor of nexgenlibrarian.net.