Hiring fair and career resources at the library
On Sept. 25, the Central Library will hold its fourth annual hiring fair. This is a great opportunity for job seekers to be connected to companies that are filling open positions and to agencies that provide career guidance, such as CareerSource Suncoast and Goodwill Job Connection, all in one place. The hiring fair will feature more than 40 companies and agencies, free resume review, and something we all need when we are job searching and writing resumes … free coffee. You may also make an appointment with a librarian for a 30-minute resume review consultation in the weeks prior to the hiring fair; call 941-748-5555, ext. 6311.
Manatee County Public Libraries abound with resources for job seekers. We have many books on how to write resumes and cover letters. One of the most popular is a series called “Knock ‘Em Dead.” Just search for that in our library catalog at manatee.polarislibrary.com. We even have electronic versions. Another important aspect of looking for jobs is career guidance. Sometimes you have to research a job industry to find out what kind of education and training is entailed and also the salary you can earn! A great resource for this is “The Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance,” a multi-volume set at the Central Library. You can also look online for something called the “Occupational Outlook Handbook” at www.bls.gov/ooh.
Not all jobs require a college degree, but many require certification and testing, even the military and law enforcement. Courses and practice tests for occupations like nursing, cosmetology, real estate, culinary arts, law enforcement, and more are available in our online resource called “Learning Express Library”, in the “Career Center” module. Ask any library staff member how to access this amazing practice center. All you need is your library card!
And when all you need is a little inspiration, the library has many books that will help you along the way. One of the most famous of these is “What Color is Your Parachute?: a Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers” by Richard Bolles, an easy-to-use workbook that focuses on translating personal interests into marketable job skills. It can be inspiring to read about others’ personal career paths, such as in Hoda Kotb’s “Where We Belong: Journeys That Show Us the Way.” Also check out “48 Days to the Work You Love” by Dan Miller for more insight on how to translate your dreams and passions into a thriving career.
The Central Library’s Information Services staff is available to assist you with all of our career resource collections. In addition, every library in Manatee County offers extended use computers where you can perform job searches, work on your resume, and study for job certification tests.
The library offers monthly e-mail newsletters, called NextReads, with a selection of genres to choose from; each lists several books, new and classics, as well as library events. Sign up from the library website.
Speaking Volumes, written by Manatee County Public Library System staff members, is published each Sunday. Ericka Dow is the Information Services department supervisor at the Manatee County Central Library.
This story was originally published September 1, 2017 at 5:17 PM with the headline "Hiring fair and career resources at the library."