Job and Career Education Center Staff Picks

Are you considering a career change? With sections on "Fun ways to Make Money" and "Dirty and Ugly Jobs" this well-researched book is as entertaining as it is informative. The author profiles dozens of unique and lucrative jobs, and ends each chapter with practical advice on how to get started.

This easy-to-read and concise guide to interviewing covers it all. In addition to detailed questions and answers on topic areas such as skills, achievements, and career goals, each chapter includes a list keywords and phrases that interviewees should be prepared to work into the conversation. Also helpful are the industry-specific "buzz words" and a chapter devoted to the best questions to ask during your interview.

If you are looking for a great guide to finding work you love, then this book is for you. Career at the Crossroads features heavy emphasis on personal marketing and provides thoughtful exercises and assignments to get you thinking about your work experience and how it translates into finding a new career. With plenty of interest profilers, sample resumes, interview tips, and much more, this book will be especially valuable to any career changer wanting to prepare for reentry into today's job market.

With over twenty years of experience as a career counselor, Robin Ryan offers wise and relevant advice for the over-40 job seeker. She also surveyed hundreds of hiring managers across the country, who offered their insights on hiring someone over 40. According to Ryan, one of the most important skills a job seeker should develop is the ability to self-market. She outlines how to craft a "60 Second Sell" and provides tips on how to update your professional appearance. Ryan also emphasizes must-have computer and Internet proficiencies and suggests that readers look for "hidden jobs" through networks and social media. One standout of the book is the substantial and detailed chapters on resumes, cover letters and interviewing. These include real-life examples and advice from actual employers. Closing with an encouraging chapter on staying positive and focused through goal-setting, this book is essential reading for job seekers of any age.

Featured in Levinson's latest edition are the latest strategies for job-hunting in a world turned digital. Expand your job search by learning step-by-step instructions on how to adopt social media and social networking tools. Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters will teach you how to build an effective network and make the most out of social networking sites.

Highlighting the best sites for information on careers and employment, this book is a great resource for those new to job seeking on the internet. Readers can learn how to create an electronic resume, and complete job applications and network online. Also included are many resources to help you plan and fund your education, become self-employed, or start a small business.

Many employers today are using competency-based interviews to assess job candidates. These types of interviews require applicants to answer targeted, skill-specific questions and provide concrete examples. Preparation is essential, and this book can help. The author provides sample questions and answers in the five main competency areas - individual responsibility, managerial/leadership skills, personal motivation, analytical skills and people skills - with detailed information on each one. She also includes fill-in-the-blank exercises, common interviewing mistakes, and tips for standing out in a crowd of applicants.

Business and communications consultant Donna Flagg gives readers the tools to handle uncomfortable office conversations with confidence. Surviving Dreaded Conversations: Talk Through Any Difficult Situation at Work offers concise, effective scripts to use with coworkers, clients, and supervisors in a variety of professional situations. The exercises included in each chapter are especially helpful. Humorous and insightful with great real-life accounts, this book provides a nice mix of practical advice and encouragement.

Career experts often advise jobseekers to create a strong profile on LinkedIn. This will not only help you network with, and market yourself towards, other LinkedIn users; it can also improve Google search results for your name. But for many jobseekers, getting started can be frustrating. Alba walks you through the setup process, then discusses strategies for using your account.

This guide covers the entire job searching process with a holistic, integrated approach. From writing a resume and networking, through interviewing, to dealing with rejection and negotiating offers, learn strategies that can turn a potentially problematic time in your career into an opportunity for growth.

McKay is a former manager and librarian at her public library's Job and Education Information Center. This book explores the entire interview process, from preparation to follow-up. It offers specific advice for every possible complication, from general anxiety to interviewing over a meal. There are also more than 300 sample questions, with examples of strong and weak answers.