Job Hotlines USA pinpoints over 1,000 hard-to-find telephone numbers for companies and government agencies that use pre-recorded job messages and listings. Very few of the telephone numbers listed are toll-free, and sometimes recordings are long, so callers beware!
The Job Hunter is a national biweekly newspaper listing business, arts, media, government, human services, health, community-related, and student services job openings, Current Jobs for Graduates is a national employment listing for liberal arts professions, including editorial positions, management opportunities, museum work, teaching, and non-profit work.
Environmental Opportunities serves environmental job interests nationwide by listing administrative, marketing, and human resources positions along with education-related jobs and positions directly related to a degree in an environmental field.
National Vacancy List shows YMCA professional vacancies, including development, administration, programming, membership, and recreation postings.
ART Search is a national employment service bulletin for the arts, including administration, managerial, marketing, and financial management jobs.
Community Jobs is an employment newspaper for the non-profit sector that provides a variety of listings, including project manager, canvas director, government relations specialist, community organizer, and program instructor.
College Placement Council Annual: A Guide to Employment Opportunities for College Graduates is an annual guide containing solid job-hunting information and, more importantly, displaying ads from large corporations actively seeking recent college graduates in all majors. Company profiles provide brief descriptions and available employment opportunities. Contact names and addresses are given. Profiles are indexed by organization name, geographic location, and occupation.
Videos. You may be one of the many job seekers who like to get information via a medium other than paper. Many career libraries, public libraries, and career centers in libraries carry an assortment of videos that will help you learn new techniques and get information helpful in the job search. A small sampling of the multitude of videos now available includes the following:
The Skills Search (20 min.) discusses three types of skills important in the workplace, how to present the skills in an interview, and how to respond to problem questions.
Effective Answers to Interview Questions (35 min.) presents two real-life job seekers and shows how they realized the true meaning of interview questions and formulated positive answers. Employers Expectations (33 min.) covers three areas that are important to all employers; appearance, dependability, and skills.
The Tough New Labor Market of the 1990s (30 min,) presents labor market facts as well as suggestions on what job seekers should do to gain employment in this market.
Dialing for fobs: Using the Phone in the fob Search (30 min.) describes how to use the phone effectively to gain information and arrange interviews by following two new graduates as they learn and apply techniques.
Locating Information Resources
The job market is changing, and the old guarantees of lifelong employment no longer hold true. Some of our major corporations, which were once seen as the most prestigious of employment destinations, are now laying off thousands of employees. Middle management is especially hard hit in downsizing situations. On the other side of the coin, smaller, more entrepreneurial firms are adding employees and realizing enormous profit margins. The geography of the new job market is unfamiliar, and the terrain is much harder to map. New and smaller firms can mean different kinds of jobs and new job titles. The successful job seeker will keep an open mind about where he or she might find employment and what that employment might be called.
In order to become familiar with this new terrain, you will need to undertake some research, which can be done at any of the following locations;
- Public libraries
- Business organizations
- Employment agencies
- Bookstores
- Career libraries
As you meet and talk with service professionals at all these sites, be sure to let them know what you're doing. Inform them of your job search, what you've already accomplished, and what you're looking for. The more people who know you're job seeking, the greater the possibility that someone will have information or know someone who can help you along your way.
Public Libraries. Large city libraries, college and university libraries, and even well-supported town library collections contain a variety of resources to help you conduct a job search. It is not uncommon for libraries to have separate "vocational choices" sections with books, tapes, and associated materials relating to job search and selection. Some are now even making resume creation software available for use by patrons.
Some of the publications we name throughout this book are expensive reference items that are rarely purchased by individuals. In addition, libraries carry a wide range of newspapers and telephone yellow pages as well as the usual array of books. If resources are not immediately available, many libraries have loan arrangements with other facilities and can make information available to you relatively quickly.
Take advantage of not only the reference collections, but also the skilled and informed staff. Let them know exactly what you are looking for, and they'll have their own suggestions. You'll be visiting the library frequently, and the reference staff will soon come to know who you are and what you're working on. They'll be part of your job search network!
Business Organizations. Chambers of Commerce, Offices of New Business Development, Councils on Business and Industry, Small Business Administration (SBA) offices, and professional associations can all provide geographically specific lists of companies and organizations that have hiring needs. They also have an array of other available materials, including visitors' guides and regional fact books that provide additional employment information.
These agencies serve to promote local and regional businesses and ensure their survival and success. Although these business organizations do not advertise job openings or seek employees for their members, they may be very aware of staffing needs among their member firms
