Job Searching Tips for Everyone

photo of newspaper- job searchingHaving lived in college towns for much of my adult life, I have come to recognize a feeling of anticipation during the spring semester. It seems to be connected to the reality of students graduating and moving on to the next phase of their lives. For some it is graduate school, for others perhaps travel, but for many (and to the relief of their parents) they are beginning to work on obtaining employment. There are newly retired individuals looking for part-time jobs to augment their income and stay involved in the community. Spring also seems to be a time to job hunt for a better salary or to increase job satisfaction.

All of these situations require the ability to job search, interview, complete applications and develop a résumé. The world of job hunting has changed significantly over the last 10 to 15 years. Paper applications have morphed into complicated online applications. Digital copies of résumés are often required; no longer can we assume that a paper copy will be sufficient for a potential employer. To negotiate this often complex process requires patience, attention to detail and lots of emotional stamina. This often leads to an overwhelming feeling and what I like to call “the job search groan.”

Obtaining guidance in this process is also hard to find, but don’t give up yet. Your library has several resources that can assist in the job search. We offer the class Tips and Tricks for Getting a Job which covers the basics of job searching, interviewing and résumé/cover letter writing. This class is usually held every other month, and the next class will be May 10 from 12:30-2 p.m. in the Columbia Public Library’s Training Center — you can register starting April 26. Several resources can be found on our website, including our Employment Guide, which provides a list of links to job listings and career resources. We have a number of databases accessible with your library card that provide not only job searching assistance (Job and Career Accelerator), but study guides and practice tests (LearningExpress Library) required for specific occupations, such as the exam for civil service employees.

Finally, we have a multitude of books in our library to help with every step of the job search. The sampling below represents some of what can be found in our collection.

The Knock ‘em Dead series by Martin Yate covers job searching, résumé writing and cover letters, and is updated regularly. It offers a comprehensive look at all aspects of the job search, including sections which highlight where the employment opportunities are and developing skills and values that employers are looking for:Knock 'em Dead Cover Letters book cover

Great Jobs for Everyone 50+: Finding Work That Keeps You Happy and Healthy and Pays the Bills” by Kerry Hannon offers advice on looking for something new to try, or just finding something that can bring in a little extra income.

Being laid off or even fired adds a whole other layer to the job searching process. It is important to know that almost everyone has been in that position at some point in life, and “Make Job Loss Work for You” by Richard Deems has lots of advice on how to peel that layer off and obtain employment.

Resume 101 book coverThese books and others, such as “The Ex-Offender’s Quick Job Hunting Guide: Putting the 10 Steps Into Action” by Ronald Krannich, “Résumé 101: A Student and Recent Grad Guide to Crafting Résumés and Cover Letters That Land Jobs” by Quentin Schulze and the “Job Search Handbook for People with Disabilities” by Daniel Ryan are among a multitude of published resources that can help anyone land meaningful employment.

Good luck in your job search!

 

image credit: Kate Hiscock, Job search via Flickr (license)