Looking for a job can often be a confusing, frustrating, or scary process but it does not have to be. Our library has just published a new brochure Job Search & Career Change Resources @ your library. Take a look at it online or come into our library to pick up a paper copy.

And this Thursday (May 14th at 6:30 PM) at our library, Susan Henry, a certified career development advisor, will present a seminar that includes:

• The latest trends in the on-line job search market
• How to create a resume that will be read and acted upon
• Why we still need cover letters
• Creating and honing your personal network
• The best on-line search engines
• .. and if time permits how to get the appointment for an interview

Feel free to bring your current resume and cover letter for review if you have one. The program is designed for people who have lost their jobs and those who want to be prepared just in case. The program is free but registration is required. Click here to register.

Susan Henry is a resident of Atkinson, NH and a Certified Career Development Advisor who recently retired from a multi-faceted career. She holds a BS in Human Services & Psychology (Springfield College) and Master's Level Certification in Career Development (Plymouth State University). She has presented sessions around New England.

And the Nashua Public Library recently ordered a variety of new books about job hunting including internet job searching, resumes, cover letters, interviewing and more. You may wish to take a look at a few of these (you can place a request for those books that are on order and be notified as soon as they arrive at the library):

Career building : your total handbook for finding a job by Careerbuilder.com.

60 seconds & you're hired by Robin Ryan.

Amazing résumés: what employers want to see--and how to say it by Jim Bright and Joanne Earl.

How to say it on your resume: a top recruiting director's guide to writing the perfect resume for every job by Brad Karsh with Courtney Pike.

Finding a job by Facts on File.

Knock 'em dead / The Ultimate Job Search Guide by Martin John Yate.

Knock 'em dead résumés: smart advice to make your online and paper résumés more productive by Martin John Yate.

Knock 'em Dead Cover Letters: Great Letter Techniques and Samples for Every Step of Your Job Search by Martin John Yate.

Guide to internet job searching by Margaret F. Roehm Dike.

Job-hunting online: a guide to job listings, message boards, research sites, the UnderWeb, counseling, networking, self-assessment tools, niche sites by Mark Emery Bolles & Richard Nelson Bolles.

150 best recession-proof jobs by the editors at JIST and Laurence Shatkin.

300 best jobs without a four-year degree by Michael Farr and Laurence Shatkin.

Gallery of best résumés for people without a four-year degree / for People Without a Four-Year Degree by David F. Noble.

Resumes for the 50+ job hunter by the editors of McGraw-Hill.

Acing the interview: how to ask and answer the questions that will get you the job by Tony Beshara.

How everyone dreads job interviews! Job interviewing never seems to become any easier - even when you have gone on more interviews than you can count. You are meeting new people, selling yourself and your skills, and often getting the third degree about what you know or don't know. However, there are a few things that you can control. Here are job interview tips to help prepare you to interview effectively.

First of all - look at the positive side of things. The employer noticed your resume and considers you a potential candidate for the position. You have most likely been picked out of a very large pool of candidates who applied to the same job -- be proud of that! After you let these positive feelings sink in, realize that the more preparation you put into the interview before it happens, the smoother it will go. If you take a test in school that you haven’t studied for, would you expect to do well? This situation is very similar.

A few basics:
What and Why
Of course, make sure you know the name of the company and title of the position for which you are interviewing. Employers expect you to arrive knowing background information about the organization. Learn all you can about the company; put some time into researching the company by visiting their website. Start to think of reasons why you would want to join this company since the interviewer will most likely ask you that question. You do not want to sound like you would take any job. Also be sure you have a copy of the job description and have read through it thoroughly. Is this the right job for you? Do you meet the basic qualifications? What are the requirements for the position and do you possess those skills?

Where and When
Make sure you know the address of the office and the time of the interview. If you have time, do a “dry run” a few days before to see how long the commute is and to ensure you know how to get there. Whether you are taking public transportation, driving or even walking, give yourself enough time to account for unexpected traffic, train delays, etc. You should arrive for the actual interview ten minutes before the scheduled interview time. If you arrive earlier than that, find a place outside of the interview location to pass time; being too early can throw off the interviewer's calendar. It may be helpful to stake out a coffee place nearby where you can relax and refocus before you go in for the interview. And especially during the summer months, you may need a few minutes to stop sweating from the humid outdoors. (You may not want to give the interviewer a sopping wet handshake!)

Who
Know the name of the person who will be interviewing you. Ask the person who is scheduling the interview to spell their name to avoid mispronouncing it. You might want to write it down phonetically as well just to be sure. Use your resources and research the person who is going to interview you. And remember, they will most likely be doing the same for you--know what you have posted on the internet and make sure to block or remove anything you would not want a potential employer to see.

Interview Questions
You can never truly know all the questions to expect from an interviewer, but you can do your best to predict. Most questions the interviewer will ask you will be based on the job description and requirements. If the position is a customer service based position, you can expect several questions about your customer service experience. Do your best before the interview to think of specific work related examples that show off your skills in this area. If you are prepared for questions to meet the skill sets stated in the job description, you will be as prepared as you can for the job related questions. If the interviewer asks other questions, do your best to answer and to use examples from your past work experience to back up your answers. Ask for clarification if you do not understand a question. It is perfectly fine to take a few moments to gather your thoughts before responding. And don't ever interrupt the interviewer, even if you are anxious and enthusiastic about answering the question.

Be sure to visit our Learning Express Library Career Course: Interview Tips to Get the Job You Want (you will need to register or log on into the database prior to accessing this section). Some additional websites you will find helpful are About.com: Interview Questions and Monster.com: Ten Tips to Boost Your Interview Skills.

The Nashua Public Library has several new books about job interviewing:
Instant interviews: 101 ways to get the best job of your life by Jeffrey G. Allen.

Tell me about yourself : storytelling to get jobs and propel your career by Katharine Hansen.

Acing the interview: how to ask and answer the questions that will get you the job by Tony Beshara.

Job interviews for dummies by Joyce Lain Kennedy.

Programming interviews exposed: secrets to landing your next job by John Mongan, Noah Suojanen, Eric Giguère.