Your Library - Connecting You to the Work World

By Hilery Walker, Community Relations Coordinator

March 23, 2005

Have you been contemplating a career move, but don't know where to start? Are you graduating from college in May and worried about finding a good job? Whether you are considering changing careers or searching for a fun summer job, your Natrona County Public Library can help. With a number of resources both in print and online, your library is a great place to research careers, find tips on writing resumes and begin answering that age-old question - what do I want to do for the rest of my life?

Identifying the occupations that best suit your interests can be a daunting task. "The Pathfinder: How to Choose or Change Your Career for a Lifetime of Satisfaction and Success," by Nicholas Lore, has over 100 self-tests and diagnostic tools and is an excellent tool to help you discover where your interests really lie. As you begin to focus on specific occupations, you might find it useful to look at recent occupational outlook books, like William Glover's "Occupational Outlook: 2010" which forecasts upcoming job trends over the next five years. "Top 100: The Fastest Growing Careers for the 21st Century" provides detailed overviews of various jobs, their educational requirements, potential earnings and an outlook on the future of each occupation.

Preparing your resume and writing cover letters can also be a stressful process. Your library has a number of resources packed with advice on writing effective resumes and cover letters as well as preparing for interviews. Take a look at the 650.14 section on the library's second floor for such books as "Cover Letters that Knock 'Em Dead" by Martin Yate, Richard Beatty's "The Resume Kit" and Richard Fein's "101 Dynamite Questions to Ask at Your Job Interview."

For occupations requiring licensing tests, such as teacher certification and EMT, your library has a number of books to help you prepare. Also, check out Learn-A-Test, which is online test-prep software available through the library website at www.natronacountylibrary.org/learn_a_test.php. By using your library card number and PIN, you can access an array of practice tests that provide the experience of online test-taking and let you review incorrect answers.

High school and college students contemplating their futures can also find a number of helpful resources. Nora Coon's "Teen Dream Jobs: How to Find the Job You Really Want Now" has some solid, down-to-earth advice for those just entering the work world, including tips on finding internships, knowing your legal rights on the job and quitting a job that isn't right for you. For students not yet ready to get serious about the working world, the "Back Door Guide to Short-Term Job Adventures," by Michael Landes, has descriptions and contact information for fun summer jobs with companies like Phillips Cruises and Tours in Alaska, the Hawaii-based Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory and Yellowstone National Park Lodges.

Finding a job you truly enjoy is not an easy process, but is well worth the time and energy invested. Drop by your library and make your dream job a reality.

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