job-interviewing – Charles County Public Library

Jump into Job Hunting

webadmin — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 11:00:46 +0000

Have you been looking for a job this summer? Maybe you just graduated or you’re getting ready to start college this fall and need something part time. CCPL’s Employment Resource Center is here to help you get started in the job seeking department. We have resources that will help you improve your resume, write cover letters, prepare for interviews, and help point you to different job search engines. I know searching for a job can be overwhelming but we are here to help. So deep breath, and let’s dive in.

Writing your Resume

Brainfuse: When you visit Brainfuse if you click on the link “Write a Winning Resume” it takes you to a page that allows you to:
- View example resumes and resources
- Upload a draft resume for them to review and return to you within 24 hours
- Discuss with a live Brainfuse instructor the comments you received on your resume
Quick Resume: This website allows you to type in key information for your resume and then generates one for you.
Hloom free resume: Here you are able to select a template resume and then type in the information to auto populate it. No formatting is required on your end. They also offer resume examples, skills, objectives, formats, and how to format a resume in word. *Note: only certain resume templates are free.

Improving your Resume

For those of you who already have your resume you may find these two resources useful to see how well your resume matches the jobs you are seeking.

JobScan: This site allows you to paste your resume and a job description into two boxes and see how they match up. The site will let you know what you may need to add or prioritize in your resume to more closely match this job. You are also able to scan your LinkedIn profile through this website and it will give you tips on how to organize and optimize your profile.
TagCrowd: You can use this site to paste job descriptions and generate word clouds to see which terms are being used most frequently. You can then add these words into your resume so that the algorithms will be noticed during applications.

Job Searching Sites

CollegeGrad: A site where grads can look for entry level positions, explore different careers, and has tips for resumes and interviews.
GovernmentJobs
Indeed
Maryland Workforce Exchange Jobs
Talent: Talent is a job search engine that centralizes all jobs available on the web to help people find new career opportunities, much like Google for jobs.
SnagaJob
USA Jobs: A site where you can look for federal employment opportunities.

Preparing for an Interview

20 traditional interview questions: Check out these questions and practice answering them. Preparing as much as you can ahead of time is key for interviews.
Preparing for a Job Interview: This page walks you through the research you should do before an interview. It helps you understand what you should know about the company going into the interview, and what you should know about the job. It also offers questions that can be used for a mock interview. If you click on “Interviews part 2” it also offers advice on what to do during the interview and what to do after the interview.

More resources and upcoming programs can be found on the Employment Resource Center page.

Books

What color is your parachute? for teens : discover yourself, design your future, and plan for your dream job by Carol Christen

The proven exercises in What Color Is Your Parachute? for Teens help uncover what matters most to you, what you love to do, the kinds of people you work best with, and how to use the skills and interests you already have–on social media and elsewhere–to choose a major or career path that is uniquely suited to your passions, strengths, and goals. With the most up-to-date information on how COVID-19 and other challenges have altered high education and the job market, this new edition features time-tests techniques such as information interviewing (with sample outreach and thank-you notes), the latest job discovery tactics (both online and in-person), how to connect to and land great internships, and more.

The big book of job-hunting hacks : how to build a résumé, conquer the interview, and land your dream job by Brenda Bernstein

In The Big Book of Job-Hunting Hacks, experienced job-hunting professionals offer detailed advice on every step of the job-hunting process. From how to navigate the interview process, to how to create the perfect resume, this book will help you stand out from your competitors. With a new introduction by John Henry Weiss, president of a recruitment firm, that contextualizes the current economic state as a result of COVID-19, this book offers hundreds of practical tips for those laid-off, fired, or new to enter the workplace

The 2-hour job search : using technology to get the right job faster by Steve Dalton

Use the latest technology to target potential employers and secure the first interview–no matter your experience, education, or network–with these revised and updated tools and recommendations.

The job-hunter’s survival guide : how to find hope and rewarding work even when “there are no jobs” by Richard N. Bolles

An emergency, essentials-only guide to finding a job–even your dream job–in a challenging economic climate.

Get the interview every time : Fortune 500 hiring professionals’ tips for writing winning resumes, cover letters and landing the job by Brenda Greene

The Definitive Resource in Landing a Job in a COVID-Impacted World.

Who knows why employers choose their final candidates? The employer! Whether looking at a Fortune 500 company or a small start-up, to land and excel at the job you want, you need to cut through all the contradictory information out there about securing your new job.

Resumes for dummies by Laura DeCarlo

We’ve all been there: it’s time to apply for a job or internship and you have to create or revise your resume. Many questions pop in your head. What do employers want? What skills should I highlight? How do I format this? How do I get noticed? But resume writing doesn’t have to be a daunting task. The latest edition of Resumes For Dummies answers all of these questions and more–whether you’re a resume rookie, looking for new tips, or want to create that eye-catching winning resume.

Roadmap to federal jobs : how to determine your qualifications, develop an effective USAJOBS resume, apply for and land U.S. government jobs by Barbara A. Adams and Lee Kelley

Learn proven processes for finding, applying for, and landing U.S. Government jobs.

10 Helpful LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com) Videos for Job Hunters

webadmin — Wed, 24 Feb 2021 12:00:50 +0000

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Hunting for a job can be super stressful! Whether you’re looking for something part time to give you a little extra spending money, or a full time job that’s the first step on your path to a new career, a lot goes into preparing to look for a new job! In fact, it can be so stressful that it’s hard to know where to start. But you’re in luck! Charles County Public Library patrons have a database available to them that can help with just that!

LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com) is a great database that offers online courses and webinars in business, creative, and technology fields. Want to learn how to use a Microsoft Office program? LinkedIn Learning has a course! Need help finetuning your resume? LinkedIn Learning can help with that, too! It has a ton of resources for job hunters, and if you have a library card from Charles County Public Library, you have access to it! You can find LinkedIn Learning here if you’d like to get started by searching for a topic, or scroll down and check out our list of 10 videos that have helpful information for job hunters! Just make sure you have your CCPL library card handy, because you’ll need it to access the site. If you don’t have a library card, go here and fill out the form to get one!

Here are 10 LinkedIn Learning videos that will help you get a head start on your job hunt! Good luck!

The Top Five Job Search Tips (37 minutes)

Figuring where to start your job hunt can be a frustrating, exhausting task. This video, part of the Job Search Strategies course, gives a great introduction to five tips that can ease those early stages of your search!

Do you have a habit of working at a job for short periods of time before moving on to another one? Maybe you focus on classes during the school year and only have time to work during the summer. As part of the Writing a Resume course, this video gives tips to form your resume so that your past experience works for you instead of against you.

My Six Career Strategies (1 hour 57 minutes)

Presenter Chris Croft’s course, “Finding Your Dream Job”, is an excellent resource for moving from “just a job” to the career you always wanted. This video dives into six paths you can follow in trying to find your desired balance between money and happiness.

What Is the Hidden Job Market (37 minutes)

Did you know that answering a want ad or replying to a job posting isn’t the only way to find your ideal job? It’s not! In the course Find A Job in the Hidden Job Market, career coach Sarah Johnston introduces us to the hidden job market, and explains how we can best use it to find a job we’d love.

Search for Jobs (1 hour 30 minutes)

From the course Learning LinkedIn, this video gives a good overview on how to best use the networking site LinkedIn to find a job.

Why Resume Writing Is So Hard (1 hour 55 minutes)

Understanding why something is difficult is often the first step to making it less challenging! From the course Resume Makeover, this video breaks down why resume writing is a challenging task, and even goes into an average resume review process. Understanding the process from the employer’s point of view might be helpful when crafting a resume that they’ll want to follow up on!

How to Develop Mental Toughness (2 hour 2 minutes)

Did you miss out on a job you really wanted? Maybe you got the job, but now the new routine and responsibilities are stressing you out. Or perhaps you’ve been at your job for a while and are noticing some changes that are making you uneasy. This video, from the course Handling Workplace Change As an Employee, gives some handy tricks to help stay positive as you handle changes in your employment situation.

How to Follow Up After A Job Interview (35 minutes)

So you just finished an interview with your top choice for a job. You thought you nailed the interview, but you haven’t heard back from them yet. Don’t panic! From the course How to Follow Up On a Job Application, this video gives you tips on one of the hardest parts of the job hunting process!

Identify Your Career Goal (41 minutes)

Sometimes figuring out where you want to end up is the best first step of any journey. Part of Dr. Chaz Austin’s course Creating A Career Plan, this video will explain how figuring out your long-term career goals can benefit you when deciding where to go in the short-term.

These are just a small sample of the thousands of videos and courses available on LinkedIn Learning. Hopefully they help you on your journey to finding the job of your dreams!