Librarians: Free resources to help job seekers

If you’re a librarian, it’s no secret to you that public libraries are increasingly becoming community job search hubs. And it’s no wonder—they often offer free Internet, computer use, and, perhaps most importantly to some, access to librarians’ expertise.

So what do you do when a patron asks for help with a job search? Does your system or branch have a go-to career and employment platform to help people with resume writing, interviewing practice, job searching, and related tasks?

Did you know that CareerOneStop offers a variety of free, open-access resources for career, training, and job search? Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, CareerOneStop offers simple, streamlined tools and websites for the public to access unbiased, up-to-date labor market and career information.

Check out these resources to see which might help your patrons—they’re all free and none require an account or password:

• The Resume Guide provides a step-by-step plan for how to create an effective resume. It includes tips and samples, as well as advice for job seekers on how to market their resumes and themselves.
• The Skills Matcher helps career changers identify new careers that might use their current skills and work experience. Users rate their levels on 40 key workplace skills, and get a list of careers that match their ratings.
• The Occupation Profile lets career explorers create customized reports for any of nearly 900 occupations, including national and state data on wages, employment, knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs), education and training, and links to more resources.
• The Salary Finder helps job seekers research median wages for occupations. They can use that information to inform their career planning, focus their job search, or prepare for interviews or job offer negotiations.
• The Business Finder includes a searchable database of nearly 12 million U.S. employers.  Job seekers can use it to explore their local business community and plan for informational interviews.

In addition to the specialized tools above,job seekers will discover a wealth of information and additional tools and resources when they explore CareerOneStop.org as well as these related websites:

• Veterans ReEmployment is a one-stop resource for career, training, and employment assistance for veterans and transitioning service members.
• Job Search Help for Ex-Offenders offers information, tips, and resources specifically for job seekers with criminal convictions.
• Worker ReEmployment is a one-stop site for employment, training, and financial help after a layoff.

We’d love to hear your feedback if you use any of CareerOneStop’s resources with your job seekers, and we’d also love to know what other job search resources you use.  Leave us a comment below, or, if you’ll be attending PLA 2018 March 20-24 in Philadelphia, come by and visit CareerOneStop at Booth 230!