Washington Co. Public Library

Job Resources

In this economy, a lot of people are looking for jobs. Some may be recent graduates while others by necessity are changing careers. Whether this is your first time looking for work or you have an extensive work history, there are some important steps to finding a job.

Writing a Resume	Finding Jobs	Difficulty Getting Hired
Interviewing Skills	Finding a Secure Job	Finding the Right Fit
	Coping with Unemployment

Writing a Resume
First, you will need a good resume. Your resume should be tailored to the type of position you are seeking. Make your objectives clear, and list relevant job experience, education, and special skills. This is your opportunity to sell yourself to your potential employers, and having the right key words on your resume will make it stand out in a stack of resumes. For ideas and guidance in developing your resume, there are various resources you can consult:

Books

Both Washington County Libraries

Boldt, Arnold G. Resumes for the rest of us: secrets from the pros for job seekers with unconventional career paths. Franklin Lakes, NJ: Career Press, 2008. 650.14 BOL 2008
Byers, Ann. Great resume, application, and interview skills. New York: Rosen Pub., 2008. Y 650.14 BYE 2008
Farr, J. Michael. The quick résumé & cover letter book: write and use an effective résumé in only one day. Indianapolis, IN: JIST Works, 2008. 650.142 FAR 2008
Kursmark, Louise. 30-minute résumé makeover: rev up your résumé in half an hour. Indianapolis, IN: JIST Works, 2008. 650.142 KUR 2008
The only resume and cover letter book you'll ever need. Avon, Mass.: Adams Media, 2007. 650.142 WAL 2007
Resumes for re-entering the job market. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008. 650.142 RES 2008
Rosenberg, Arthur D. The resume handbook: how to write outstanding resumes & cover letters for every situation. Avon, Mass.: Adams Media, 2008. 650.14 ROS 2008
Schuman, Nancy. The everything resume book: create a winning resume that stands out from the crowd. Avon, Mass.: Adams Media; Newton Abbot: David & Charles [distributor], 2008. 650.142 SCH 2008
Yate, Martin John. Knock 'em dead cover letters: great letter techniques and samples for every step of your search. Avon, Mass.: Adams Media, 2008. 650.14 YAT 2008
Yate, Martin John. Knock 'em dead résumés: smart advice to make your online and paper résumés more productive. Avon, Mass.: Adams Media, 2008. 650.14 YAT 2008

Gray Branch Library

Beatty, Richard H. The resume kit. New York: John Wiley, 1995. 650.14 BEA 1995
Block, Jay A. 101 more best resumes. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1999. 650.14 BLO 1999
Criscito, Pat. Designing the perfect resume: a unique "idea" book filled with hundreds of sample resumes created using WordPerfect software. Hauppauge, N.Y.: Barron's, 1995. 650.14 CRI 1995
Eggert, Max. The perfect resume. New York: Wings Books, 1994. 808 EGG 1994
Mayer, Dale. How to write & design a professional résumé to get the job: insider secrets you need to know: with companion CD-ROM. Ocala, Fla.: Atlantic Pub. Group, 2008. 658.142 MAY 2008
Noble, David F. Gallery of best resumes: a collection of quality resumes by professional resume writers. Indianapolis, IN: Jist, 1994.
808 NOB 1994
Potter, Ray. Resumes that get jobs: with disk. New York: Macmillan USA, 1998. 650.14 RES 1998
Resumes! resumes! resumes! Franklin Lakes, NJ: Career Press, 1997. 808.06665 RES 1997
Whitcomb, Susan Britton. Resume magic: trade secrets of a professional resume writer. Indianapolis: JIST Works, 1999. 650.14 WHI 1999

Jonesborough Library

Asher, Donald. From college to career: entry-level résumés for any major. Berkeley, Calif.: Ten Speed Press, 1992. 650.14 ASH 1992
Block, Jay A. 101 best resumes to sell yourself. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2002. 650.142 BLO 2002
Ireland, Susan. The complete idiot's guide to the perfect resume. New York, NY: Alpha Books, 1996. 650.1 IRE 1996
Kennedy, Joyce Lain. Cover letters for dummies. Foster City, CA: IDG Books Worldwide, 1996. 650.14 KEN 1996
Krannich, Ronald L. The blue-collar resume and job hunting guide: secrets to getting and keeping the job you really want. Manassas Park, VA: Impact Publications, 2007. 650.14 KRA 2007
McDaniels, Carl. Developing a professional vita or resume. Chicago: J.G. Ferguson Pub., 1996. 650.14 MCD 1997
Resumes that get you hired. New York: LearningExpress, 2006. 650.14 RES 2006

Websites

http://www.myresumeonline.org/

http://career-advice.monster.com/resumes-cover-letters/careers.aspx

http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/resume

http://www.eresumes.com/

http://www.resume-help.org/

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/workshops/hypertext/ResumeW/

*We also have resume templates available through Microsoft Office Word.

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Interviewing Skills
A good resume will help get your foot in the door and hopefully lead to an interview. Interviewing is a very important part of the hiring process. The interview is your chance to demonstrate confidence and give a sales pitch to promote yourself. You want to show the interviewers that you are the best candidate for the position. The interview is a way to see if your personality is a good fit for the company, and you will also have the chance to see if the company culture feels right for you. To help you prepare for your interview, the following resources are available:

Books

Gray Branch Library

Beatty, Richard H. The interview kit. New York: J. Wiley, 1995. 650.14 BEA 1995

Jonesborough Library

Farr, J. Michael. Next-day job interview: prepare tonight and get the job tomorrow. Indianapolis, IN: JIST Works, c2005. 650.14 FAR 2005

Websites

http://www.collegegrad.com/intv/

http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/interview

http://career-advice.monster.com/job-interview/careers.aspx

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Finding Jobs
There are multiple places to look to find jobs, so be careful not to limit yourself to just the classifieds in the newspaper. There are various website where employers can post jobs and job seekers can post resumes. Some professions have websites specific to one type of job or general skill set. Sometimes word of mouth is a good way to find out about jobs, and knocking on doors is still a good option. Job placement agencies can also be of assistance. Here are a few places to start your job search:

Books

Gray Branch Library

Boylan, Michael A. The power to get in: using the Circle of Leverage system to get in anyone's door faster, more effectively, and with less expense. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1997. 650.1 BOY 1997
Starkey, Carolyn. What you need to know about getting a job & filling out forms. Lincolnwood, Ill.: National Textbook Co., 1985.
650.14 STA 1985

Jonesborough Library

Simonsen, Peggy. Getting and keeping a job. Glenview, Ill.: Scott, Foresman, 1982. LIT 650.14 SIM 1982

Periodicals

Bristol Herald Courier http://www.tricities.com/tri/tools/site_information/bristol_herald_courier/
Johnson City Press http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/
Jonesborough Herald & Tribune http://www.heraldandtribune.com/
Kingsport Times News http://www.timesnews.net/

Websites

http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/jobs

http://www.tricityjobs.com

http://www.tricities.com/tri/jobs/

http://www.bettertcjobs.com/

http://www.netcc.org/

http://www.indeed.com/

http://www.jobs.com/

http://www.careerbuilder.com/

http://www.monster.com/

http://www.jobs.net/

http://www.simplyhired.com/

http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/government/employment.html

http://www.job-hunt.org/

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Finding a Secure Job
If you find that you have been obtaining jobs only to have your department dissolved a few months later, there are some professions that tend to survive well in economic recessions:

Books

Gray Branch Library

Burr, Catherine. Resume building and interviewing skills: excelling in the pharmaceutical job search. Philadelphia, Pa.: Xlibris, 2008.
650.14 BUR 2008
Lott, Catherine S. How to land a better job. Lincolnwood, Ill.: VGM Career Horizons, 1989. 650.14 LOT 1989 c.2
Waelde, David E. How to get a federal job. Washington, D.C.: FEDHELP Publications, 1989. 353.001 WAE 1989

Jonesborough Library

Farr, J. Michael. America's 101 fastest growing jobs: detailed information on major jobs with the most openings and growth. Indianapolis, IN: Jist Works, 2005. 331.702 FAR 2005
Farr, J. Michael. Best jobs for the 21st century. Indianapolis, IN: JIST Pub., 2006. REF FAR 331.702 2006

Websites

http://www.hrworld.com/features/top-25-recession-careers-022008/

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1858788,00.html

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1857411,00.html

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jul2008/tc20080717_842379.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_technology

http://www.bspcn.com/2009/02/09/9-recession-proof-careers-why-they-are-secure/

http://denver.jobing.com/blog_post.asp?post=9761

http://workspacekc.typepad.com/workspace_by_diane_staffo/2008/10/top-10-recession-proof-jobs.html

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1292487/secure_and_recessionresilient_professions.html

http://www.pbs.org/nbr/site/onair/transcripts/080403b/

http://monster.typepad.com/monsterblog/2009/01/recession-proof-jobs.html

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Difficulty Getting Hired
If you have been unemployed for a while, or you graduated a while ago and still have not landed that first job, it is easy to get frustrated. You are not alone. There are many reasons that employers do not hire people. Sometimes you were not the best candidate for the position. In the current economy, there may be too many people applying for the same job. This is why it is important to look in different places for jobs rather than posting to only one website or sticking to the classifieds. If you are not getting hired, or unable to land interviews, it could be one of the reasons most commonly cited:

Websites

http://www.dllr.state.md.us/county/brochures/15reasons.htm

http://www.jobbankusa.com/nohire.html

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/05/28/cb.sabotage.job.search/index.html

http://www.newsday.com/classified/jobs/ny-jobs-nointstory,0,7746287.story

http://www.startribune.com/jobs/career/16382686.html?elr=KArks+c4iU0EyDDy_nE:EQDkD:aUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HUV/is_4_30/ai_81529254

Although we like to think that discrimination in the workplace has been eliminated, it can still be a problem. It is important to know your rights:

Books

Both Washington County Libraries

Shapiro, Cynthia. What does somebody have to do to get a job around here?: 44 insider secrets that will get you hired. New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 2008. 650.14 SHA 2008

Gray Branch Library

Allen, Jeffrey G. Successful job search strategies for the disabled: understanding the ADA. New York: J. Wiley, 1994. 650.14 ALL 1994

Jonesborough Library

Fein, Richard. 95 mistakes job seekers make and how to avoid them. Manassas Park, VA: Impact Publications, 2003. 650.14 FEI 2003
Freeman, Allyn. Reworking retirement: a practical guide for retirees returning to the workplace. Avon, Mass.: Adams Business, 2008.
332.024 FRE 2008
Swinger, Joe. Leave your nose ring at home: get the job you want by creating a powerful first impression. Franklin Lakes, NJ: Career Press, 2006. 650.14 SWI 2006

If you feel that you have been discriminated against, please contact the EEOC: http://www.eeoc.gov/contact.html

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Finding the Right Fit
If you still seem stuck in a rut, then maybe you need some help focusing on what you really want in a career. Maybe you need more training for your specific interests, or even need help finding what interests you the most. If you have the qualifications and the interest in your field, employers will notice, and will be more likely to hire you. First you should think about where your interests and abilities fit in the job market. Then you can find out if you need special training for those areas. Resources are available to help you decide what to do and even obtain financial assistance for education and job training:

Books

Both Washington County Libraries

Occupational outlook handbook 2008-09. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2008. REF 331.7 OCC 2008
Whitcomb, Susan Britton. The Christian's career journey: finding the job God designed for you. Indianapolis, IN: JIST Works, 2008.
650.14 WHI 2008

Gray Branch Library

Edwards, Paul. Finding your perfect work: the new career guide to making a living, creating a life. New York: Putnam, 1996. 658.041 EDW 1996

Jonesborough Library

Bolles, Richard Nelson. The 2007 what color is your parachute?: a practical manual for job-hunters and career-changers. Berkeley, Calif.: Ten Speed, 2007. 650.14 BOL
Bolles, Richard Nelson. The 2008 what color is your parachute?: a practical manual for job-hunters and career-changers. Berkeley: Ten Speed Press, 2007. 650.14 BOL 2007
Ferguson career resource guide to apprenticeship programs. New York: Ferguson, 2006. REF 331.25 OAK 2006 Vol. 1,
REF 331.25 OAK 2006 Vol. 2
The librarian's career guidebook. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press, 2004. 020.23 LIB 2004
Miller, Dan. 48 days to the work you love. Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group, 2007. 650.14 MIL 2007
Rawls, George. So you want to be a doctor: a guide for the student from high school through retirement. Roscoe, [Ill.]: Hilton Pub. Co., 2007.
610.71 RAW 2007
Unger, Harlow G. But what if I don't want to go to college?: a guide to success through alternative education. New York: Checkmark Books, 2006. Y 374 UNG 2006

Websites

http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/education/adultedu.html

http://www.tn.gov/CollegePays/

http://www.ed.gov/fund/landing.jhtml

http://www.goarmy.com/benefits/education_money.jsp

http://money.cnn.com/pf/college/

http://education.military.com/money-for-school/vocational-training-and-certifications-program

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/index.jsp

http://www.careervoyages.gov/

Learning Express Library is an online resource that can help you with the job finding process as well as preparing for further education. For assistance, please ask at your library.

The Government has also established a central website for helping the unemployed: http://www.careeronestop.org/ReEmployment/

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Coping with Unemployment
Until you find a job, help is available from the government. To see if you qualify for help from DHS:

http://www.tennessee.gov/humanserv/index.html

https://fabenefits.dhs.tn.gov/vip/website/signupservlet?pagename=homepage

To apply for unemployment benefits, visit the following website: http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/labor/

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