Choosing a Career

What Color is Your Parachute? Bolles, Richard. Berkeley, Calif.: Ten Speed Press. (331.128 Bolle.R)

In the author’s words, this book "gives a step-by-step process for getting around all the obstacles normally encountered in the job hunt, which people have successfully used to change jobs or careers, over the past three decades."

Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance. Hopke, William E., editor-in-chief. Chicago : J. G. Ferguson, 2008. (R 371.42 Encyclo v. 1-5)

This four-volume reference work contains information ranging from general career guidance and advice to profiles of career fields and of specific professions within those fields.

New Guide for Occupational Exploration: linking interests, learning and careers. (331.702 Farr.J)

Compiled by J. Michael Farr, Laurence Shatkin. Indianapolis, IN : Jist Works, c2006. This guide contains job descriptions, salary information, training and education requirements, and more, and covers nearly 1,000 jobs available in today’s market.

Internet Sites:

Career OneStop

This site, sponsored by the Department of Labor, provides links to career assessments. Also, from the main home page, you can select a link to check your "employability", a snapshot of your ability to find a similar job at a similar wage if you became unemployed today.

Illinois Career Resource Network

Use the Career Information system, or the CIS Junior edition if you are still in high school, to explore career options by matching interests and skills with possible occupations.

JobHuntersBible

This site is designed as a supplement to the author’s book, What Color is My Parachute, mentioned above. There are links to interactive tests that assess job skills and personality traits.

University of Waterloo Career Development eManual

The University of Waterloo presents detailed information on self-assessment and career exploration, providing exercises in a step-by-step workbook.

Disabilities and Job Searching

Ferguson career resource guide for people with disabilities New York : Ferguson, c2006. (R 650.14087 Ferguso)

Job Hunting for the So-called Handicapped Bolles, Richard Nelson and Dale Susan Brown. Berkeley : TenSpeed Press, c2001 (650.14087 Bolle.R )

The authors describe the finer points of the ADA, describing in clear terms what the act does and does not guarantee disabled job hunters. They then describe job-hunting strategies tailored specifically to people with disabilities.

Job Search Handbook for People with Disabilities Ryan, Daniel J. Indianapolis, IN : JIST Pub., c2000. (650.14087 Ryan.D or [R] 650.14087 Ryan.D)

This book gives an overview of job-search topics and how they relate to an individual with a disability.

Internet Sites:

AbilityLinks

Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital launched the AbilityLinks consortium to increase employment of people with disABILITIES, and to provide support to businesses, employment programs and job seekers

Job Accommodation Network

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is a free consulting service that provides information about job accommodations, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the employability of people with disabilities.

U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy

This government site contains information about federal employment policies and the disabled, and has a "Jobs Link" to a list of employers who have have indicated interest in recruiting and hiring qualified individuals with disabilities for open positions within their company or organization.

Industry and Employment Trends

Standard & Poor’s Industry Surveys.

Each of the 52 industry surveys presented here is updated annually. Although primarily aimed at investors, the broad industry discussions can be useful for job searchers also.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor

The Bureau of Labor provides forecasts of specific industries and occupations, and gives the government’s best guess about which jobs will have the largest projected increase in openings through the year 2016.

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Interviewing

101 Great Answers to the Toughest Interview Questions Fry, Ronald W. Boston, MA : Course Technology, c2009. (650.144 Fry.R 2009)

The author identifies the toughest themes of a successful encounter and provides proven responses in clear, readable text. (from Library Journal review)

Interview MagicWhitcomb, Susan Britton. Indianapolis, IN : JIST Works, c2005 (650.144 Whitc.S)

Advice from a certified career management coach about how to conquer any interviewing obstacle.

Internet Sites:

Monster Career Center

This site contains practical tips on interviewing, and even some practice ‘virtual’ interviews.

The Riley Guide: Network, Interview and Negotiate.

The author provides links to other sites with practical advice about interviewing and follow-up.

Job Banks, Job Listings - Chicago/Illinois Area

Internet Sites:

Chicago Jobs

This web site, sponsored by the Skokie Public Library, provides Chicago and Illinois job leads by field, and also provides links to the classified listings of the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and the Pioneer Press.

ChicagoJobs.com

A comprehensive local career resource formed by a partnership of major newspapers in the Chicago region, including Pioneer Press, the Chicago Sun Times, The Doings Newspapers, the Daily Herald, Shaw Newspapers, the Daily Southtown and Star Newspapers, Suburban Chicago Newspapers and Liberty Newspapers.

Chicago Sun Times

Search the "Help Wanted" ads and find links to the Sun Times’s partner newspapers in the Chicagoland area.

Chicago Tribune

The Chicago Tribune’s career website has listings for Chicago and elsewhere in the U.S., and has some useful links to salary information, resume writing and resume posting.

Illinois Skills Match

Part of the Illinois Dept. of Employment Security, the Skills Match will enable you to quickly match your job requirements and skills to thousands of job openings in Illinois and surrounding states.

Pioneer Press

Search listing in the Evanston Review, and other north suburban newspapers.

Job Banks, Job Listings - National/Regional

National Job Bank. Holbrook, Mass. : Adams Media Corp., c1996-. ([R] 331.11 Nationa)

The national edition of Job Bank is organized by state, with alphabetical listings within each state.

Check the library catalog for Job Bank books for other cities and states available at the Evanston Public Library.

The Career Guide: Dun's Employment Opportunities Directory. Parsippany, N.J. : Dun's Marketing Services, 1984-. ([R] 331.128 Career 2009)

Each listing reveals job facts such as company description, potential opportunities, details on training and benefits, degrees required and other company locations.

Internet Sites:

America’s Job Bank

In addition to posting thousands of jobs, this site allows you to develop a personal online career account to help you with your job search.

Black Collegian

The print publication for college students and professionals of color has set up an extensive information resource online. Job resources, resume information, career guidance, and all kinds of other great articles and resources for everyone.

IMDiversity.com

This is an excellent resource for all minority and diversity candidates. Job seekers can choose from a variety of "villages" – African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic-American, Native American, and Women’s. There is also a Minorities Global Village for those searching for information about minorities in other countries.

USAJobs

Use this website to find a job with the federal government.

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Researching Prospective Employers

Directory of Corporate Affiliations. New Providence, N.J. : LexisNexis Group, c2002-. ([R] 659 Directo 2008). Located on Business Index Tables.

This 8-volume set presents extensive information on U.S. and foreign companies, both public and private. Entries include information on financials, personnel, outside service firms, and subsidiaries, with an emphasis on hierarchy and reporting structure.

The Career Guide: 2009 D&B Employment Opportunities Directory. Parsippany, N.J. : Dun's Marketing Services, c1984- . ([R] 331.128 Career 2009)

This book lists companies alphabetically. Each listing contains a company overview, potential career opportunities and contact information. Companies are also indexed in a number of ways to make the job search easier: geographically; by branch offices geographically; by disciplines hired geographically; by industry classification; and by employers offering work study or internship programs.

Illinois Services Directory. Chicago: Manufacturers’ News, 2009. ([R] 338.761 IL6). and Illinois Manufacturers Directory. Chicago: Manufacturers’ News, 2009. ([R] 670.2 IL6). Located on Business Index Tables.

These volumes contain basic information on medium-to-large size companies in the state, many in the Chicago area. Included are names of officers, short description of the businesses, founding dates, and number of employees.

Internet Sites:

In addition to studying the individual websites of the companies in which you are interested, check the following sites for more information.

Corporate Information

This web site provides brief company snapshots produced by Wright Investor Services. Detailed descriptions now require a fee-based subscription

Hoover’s Online

This web site offers "capsule" information on nearly 15,000 public and private enterprises worldwide (and access to an additional 37,000 companies).

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Resume Writing

Gallery of Best Resumes for People without a Degree. Noble, David F. Indianapolis, IN.: JIST, c2009. ([R] 650.142 Noble.D)

The author provides resume preparation techniques for anyone with special education, training or experience beyond high school.

Resume Magic: Trade Secrets of a Professional Resume Writer.Whitcomb, Susan Britton. Indianapolis, IN.: JIST, c2007

Advice and before-and-after resume transformations help to explain resume creation and to illustrate professional techniques. Examples show why the techniques work.

How to say it on your resume: a top recruiting director's guide to writing the perfect resume for every job. Karsh, Brad. New York : Prentice Hall Press, 2009. (650.142 Karsh.B)

How to write a resume that, in the eyes of the hiring manager, will instantly distinguish you from the hundreds of candidates competing for the same position.

Resumes for re-entering the job market. New York : McGraw-Hill, c2008. (650.142 Resumes 2008)

This book will help you re-energize your resume, especially if you've taken some time away from your career path.

There are other resume books available in the Careers section, and there are many more located in the Non-Fiction section on the Second Floor of the Library. Many of the circulating books on the Second Floor offer advice on creating resumes for specific professions, i.e., Sales, Banking and Finance, and Social Service careers, to name a few.

Internet Sites:

Jobweb

JobWeb offers career and job-search advice for new college graduates.

The Resume Guide from Susan Ireland

Susan Ireland is the author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Perfect Resume and other books, and her web site has information and samples for the job seeker. The author provides online workshops for resume writing, e-resumes, and cover letters, along with many samples of resumes, cover letters, and thank you letters.

Resume Center at Monster.com

This site contains resume writing help, including sample resumes and cover letters that cover a number of professions and situations. The site also includes military-to-civilian and career change resumes and the Thank You and Follow up letters.

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Salary Information

Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance. Hopke, William E., Editor-in-chief. Chicago: J. G. Ferguson, 1987-. ([R] 371.42 Encyclo 2005)

This 4-volume set provides profiles of a variety of professions, including salary information.

Internet Sites:

Glassdoor 

This web site gives you an inside look at company reviews, interview questions, & salary information for thousands of jobs.

Jobstar

This web site offers links to hundreds of profession specific salary surveys.

The Riley Guide

This site offers links to a number of U.S. salary surveys, including extras like severance packages, stock options and executive compensation. There are also tips on salary negotiation.

SalaryExpert

Select from SalaryExpert’s list of the 826 most common U.S. jobs, and then choose your zip code or a state/metropolitan area. You will get information about the salary range and the average salary of the occupation and location you have selected. You will also see how that compares to the national average.

The Wall Street Journal

The Salaries and Hiring Info link contains an in-depth review of hiring activity, salaries and trends nationwide.

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Social Networking

How to find a job on LinkedIn, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter : and other social networks.Schepp, Brad, New York : McGraw-Hill, c2010. (650.140285 Schep.B

Discover how best to take full advantage of the  opportunities to be found on the most popular networking sites.

Seven days to online networking : make connections to advance your career and business quickly. Sautter, Ellen. JIST Works, c2008. ( 650.13 Sautt.E)

An entry in JIST's best-selling Help in a Hurry series,  this book provides a quick and easy format to help you learn about social media and the job search.

Internet Sites:

Facebook

LInkedIn

MySpace

Twitter

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Using the Internet in your Job Search

Adams Electronic Job Search Almanac. Holbrook, Mass.: Adams Media Corp., c2000. (650.14 Adams – 2000 and [R] 650.14 Adams – 2000)

This reference work contains hundreds of electronic resources to help with every aspect of the job search.

Cyberspace Job Search Kit: The Complete Guide to Job Seeking and Career Information. Nemnich, Mary B. Indianapolis, IN: JIST Works, c2001. (650.14 Nemni.M - 2001)

The Guide to Internet Job Searching. Riley-Dikel, Margaret. Lincolnwood, (Chicago), Ill.: VGM Career Horizons, c1996-. (650.14 Riley.M 2004-2005 or [R] 650.14 Riley.M 2004-2005)

Internet Sites:

The following sites all have extensive job search resources. Some have been mentioned under individual headings above.

America’s Career InfoNet

Best Jobs USA

Job Hunter’s Bible

Monster Board

The Riley Guide

The Wall Street Journal Careers

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