Check out the following resources that can help you find the right job and then land it. Whether you are a recent graduate, a newcomer to the job market, looking for something different, or returning after a long absence, the library has a resource for you. These titles and similar resources may be obtained through the Coventry Public Library. Titles we own are noted with a double asterisk**. 
Where to Start?
There is such a wide variety of ways to approach the job search, from the volumes that describe careers and occupations in detail to the books that help you identify your personality and strengths; from those to help you with resumes, cover letters, and interviewing to resources to help you start your own business. Use the categories below to focus in on what you need.
Career Guides
**The Big Book of Jobs, 2009-2010. (331.7 BIG)
This 784-page compendium has nearly everything you could need for job hunting. The first 50 pages lay out a blueprint for job searching, discuss resume and cover letter strategies, and provide interview tips; the remainder of the book examines 250 careers using current data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
**Career Guide to Industries. Online at http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/ (older print edition circulates)
Discusses occupations in the industry, training and advancement, earnings, expected job prospects, and working conditions for dozens of different industries. Also provides links to information about the job market in each state.
**Career Information Center. (331.7 CAR REF)
Multi-volume reference work detailing numerous careers under broad categories such as health, agribusiness, transportation, communication, engineering, marketing, and hospitality. Includes salary range and education requirements as well as employment trends.
**Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance. (331.7 ENC REF; older edition circulates.)
Accessible, accurate, and timely information on over 700 occupations with 2500 web links to additional information.
**Great Jobs for…/McGraw Hill or VGM Career Planner. (331.7 DEG)
Similar to the Opportunities in…series, these guides discuss options for the person holding a particular major—biology, English, sociology, etc. Each volume discusses possible career paths as well as specific aspects of the job search—resume, cover letter, and interview preparation.
**Occupational Outlook Handbook. (331.7 OCC REF; older editions circulate)
Gives the nature of the work, working conditions, job outlook, training and education needed, earnings, related occupations, and additional information sources, including Web sites for 270 jobs. Also includes brief descriptions of additional jobs and a personality-career quiz. Put out by the US Dept of Labor.
**Opportunities in…. / VGM Career Planner series. (331.7 OPP)
Individual books that cover over 100 different professions, ranging from accounting to veterinary science. Each volume provides an overview of the field, employment outlook, training or educational requirements, and questions to help decide if this is the field for you.
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What’s Right for You?
**50 Best Jobs for Your Personality / Farr, J. Michael. (331.7 FAR)
How personality relates to careers, how to determine your personality, and what are the best jobs for each personality type—all in one easy-to-read handbook, which also lists jobs with best growth potential, best part-time jobs, best jobs for the self-employed.
**The AARP Crash Course in Finding the Work You Love / Greengard, Samuel. (650.14 GRE)
A handbook on “recareering”—changing jobs by refining or augmenting your education and skill set. Includes profiles of successful job changers as well as quizzes, worksheets, and various how-to’s.
**Do What You Are / Tieger, Paul D. (155.2 TIE)
Read about 16 personality types and what the best occupations for each are. Includes workbook exercises and real-life examples.
You Majored in What? / Brooks, Katharine.
An engaging discussion of how to use your academic and life experiences to connect with the right job or career for you, this book can help both the new graduate uncertain of what’s next or the career changer seeking a more fulfilling job.
Changing Careers?
**The Authentic Career / Craddock, Maggie. (650.1 CRA)
Experiencing job dissatisfaction? Follow this four-step process for finding yourself and thus connecting with the right job.
**Career Renegade / Fields, Jonathan. (331.7 FIE)
A practical guide to starting your own business, from writing a realistic business plan to utilizing technology and marketing your product or service.
Escape from Corporate America/ Skillings, Pamela.
From the simple—reworking the job you have now—to the complex—launching your own business, this guide provides indispensable advice on how to get enjoyment from work.
**Re-Working Retirement: A Practical Guide for Retirees… / Freeman, Allyn. (332.024 FRE)
A complete reference guide to re-entering the workforce with practical advice on resumes, cover letters, and the job search itself. Includes case studies, interviews, and professional advice.
**What Color is Your Parachute? / Bolles, Richard N. (331.7 BOL)
The most complete guide for first-time job seekers as well as second and encore careers changers, this annually revised compendium remains a best seller.
Re-entering the Workforce
10 Strategies for Reentering the Workforce: career advice for anyone who needs a good (or better) job now / Ghilani, Mary E.
A practical, usable reference book for job seekers, job changers, and job improvers.
Back on the Career Track / Cohen, Carol.
Written by two women who experienced firsthand the difficulties of re-entering their profession after taking time off to raise a family, this book offers practical advice, inspirational stories and much-needed encouragement.
**Career Comeback / Richardson, Bradley. (331.7 RIC)
Practical advice for those who have lost a job and want to make a successful comeback, written by a CEO who went through the process himself.
Comeback Moms: How to…Restart Your Career / Samuels, Monica.
A practical guide to combining family and career with advice from women who have been there.
**Re-Working Retirement: A Practical Guide for Retirees… / Freeman, Allyn. (332.024 FRE)
A complete reference guide to re-entering the workforce with practical advice on resumes, cover letters, and the job search itself. Includes case studies, interviews, and professional advice.
Other Helpful Guides for Great Careers
**150 Best Recession-Proof Jobs / Shatkin, Laurence. (331.7 ONE)
Practical and timely advice on focusing your career options and connecting with one of the careers detailed here—growth, salary, tasks, skills, and more.
**Best Jobs… series / JIST Publishing
Divided into two parts—the “best jobs” lists and the job descriptions, each volume in this series provides specialized information about the job market and detailed descriptions of each.
**Best Jobs for the 21st Century / Farr, J. Michael. (331.7 FAR)
Descriptions of 500 jobs arranged in over 65 useful lists: fastest-growing, best paying, skills needed, personality traits, education required, and more!
**Bulletproof Your Job / Viscusi, Stephen. (650.1 VIS)
Four strategies—50 tactics—to make your boss keep you over the others, ranging from being easy to work with to creating your indispensable niche.
**Surviving a Layoff: a week by week guide… /Epstein, Lita. (650.14 EPS)
A practical guide offering advice on such topics as: coping with grief and anger after a downsizing; reorganizing life after a layoff; launching a job search; and setting financial and organizational priorities.
**Top 100 Careers without a Four Year Degree. (331.7 TOP)
Examines 100 careers that don't require a bachelor's degree and provides the tools to assess which ones match your skills.
The Top 100: The Fastest Growing Careers for the 21st Century.
Profiling 100 careers that the US Dept of Labor projects to be the fastest growing of the future, this handbook actually identifies over 600 occupations. Approximately 40% require a bachelors or higher degree.
**What Color is Your Parachute? / Bolles, Richard N. (331.7 BOL)
The most complete guide for first-time job seekers as well as second and encore careers changers, this annually revised compendium remains a best seller.
Resumes and Cover Letters
The Coventry Public Library has a large and up-to-date collection of books on resumes and cover letters that you can check out for three weeks at a time. All include “how-to” advice as well as samples. Below are a few of the many titles:
**30-Minute Resume Makeover / Kursmark, Louise. (331.1 KUR)
**202 Great Cover Letters / Betrus, Michael. (331.1 BET)
**How to Say It on Your Resume / Karsh, Brad. (331.1 KAR)
**The Only Resume and Cover Letter Book You’ll Ever Need. (331.1 ONL)
**Resumes for the 50+ Job Hunter. (331.1 RES)
**Resumes for the Rest of Us / Boldt, Arnold G. (331.1 BOL)
Also specialized resume books, for example:
**Resumes for Re-entering the Job Market. (331.1 RES)
**Top Notch Executive Resumes…Managers, Executives, and CEOs / Hansen, Katherine. (331.1)
Interviewing (What to Expect)
Can I Wear My Nose Ring to the Interview? / Reeves, Ellen Gordon
An experienced counselor, hirer, and resume doctor provides friendly advice to job seekers on how to behave and what not to do.
Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Perfect Interview / Dorio, Marc.
Internet interviews, video conferences, electronic resumes—welcome to the modern world of the interview.
The Everything Job Interview / Darlington, Joy.
What to wear, when to arrive, how to write a thank you letter, plus overcoming jitters, asking the right questions, and avoiding common mistakes.
**Next Day Job Interview / Farr, Michael. (650.14 FAR)
Seven short chapters cover all the basics as well as how to ask questions and prepare for the unexpected questions. Includes post-interview suggestions on salary negotiation.
Sell Yourself in Any Interview: Use Proven Sales Techniques…/ Adler, Oscar.
How to turn your skills, experience, education, and background into what the interviewer wants. Includes advice on how to listen and how to ask the right questions.
Starting Your Own Business or Working at Home
Home-based Business for Dummies / Edwards, Paul.
Selecting your business, setting up your office, managing finances, and marketing plus how to use the latest technologies to your benefit.
**Career Renegade / Fields, Jonathan. (331.7 FIE)
A practical guide to starting your own business, from writing a realistic business plan, through utilizing technology to your advantage, to affordable marketing.
Escape from Corporate America/ Skillings, Pamela.
From the simple—reworking the job you have now—to the complex—launching your own business, this guide provides indispensable advice on how to get enjoyment from work.
Small Business Administration in Rhode Island. http://www.sba.gov/localresources/district/ri/index.html
Links to articles, programs, and services available to help you “start, grow, and succeed.”
**Starting an Online Business for Dummies/ Belew, Shannon. (658.8 STA)
From starting with a business plan and following up with appropriate software to web design, stocking and shipping inventory, and marketing strategies, this all-in-one desk reference has it covered.
Check out these terrific free resources from the United States Government online:
www.sba.gov For small businesses, this website covers planning, starting, and managing, and connects you to services, tools, and local resources.
www.business.gov The official business link to the US government, this site answers frequently asked questions and provides information on loans, grants, networking, licensing, permits, and more.
www.irs.gov/businesses/small/index.html This part of the IRS website provides the entrepreneur with all the necessary tax information, forms, and advice to get started.
www.export.gov This site brings together resources from across the U.S. government to assist American businesses in planning international sales strategies and for succeeding in today’s global marketplace.
http://trade.gov/index.asp The International Trade Administration of the Department of Commerce has as its mission strengthening the competitiveness of U.S. industry, promoting trade and investment, and ensuring fair trade and compliance with trade laws and agreements.
tse.export.gov Get the latest annual and quarterly trade data with TradeStats Express covering national trade and state exports.
Using the Internet
How to REALLY Use LinkedIn / Vermeiren, Jan.
Practical, up-to-the-minute advice on using professional computer networks to help you find the right job.
Job Hunter’s Bible http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/
Companion website for What Color is Your Parachute? Well-organized, easily accessible annotated web links covering all aspects of employment.
Job Hunting Online / Bolles, Mark Emery.
How to navigate the overwhelming amount of information available on the Internet to find the most useful sites and avoid common pitfalls. Contains annotated links to hundreds of websites.
Job Seekers Online Goldmine: …Government and No-Cost Web Tools / Wall, Janet E.
Free Internet tools to assess your interests, research occupations, get a job, improve your skills, and plan your education.
Plugged In: the Generation Y Guide to Thriving at Work / Erickson, Tamara J.
Customized to the younger generation, the book still has broad appeal. Includes demographic data as well as strategies for improving communication and “soft” skills.
Job Openings
Fortune 500 Companies in RI: http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2009/states/RI.html Includes company name, rank, revenue, local headquarters, and job openings.
Jobs in RI: http://JobsinRI.com Career advice, resume posting, and a comprehensive database of Rhode Island jobs searchable by city, industry, full or part-time, or temporary/seasonal.
NetworkRI:
http://www.networkri.org Rhode Island's One-Stop Career Center System, a partnership of professional labor, training, and education organizations, where jobseekers and employers are matched through programs and services.
Rhode Island’s Largest Employers: http://www.dlt.ri.gov/lmi/es202/largestemp.htm Alphabetical.
RI Department of Labor and Training: http://www.dlt.ri.gov/jobseeker.htm Links to job fairs, want ads, professional services available to job seekers, state job vacancies, apprenticeship opportunities, and more.
State Workforce Investment Office: http://www.dlt.ri.gov/wio/programs.htm A comprehensive list of eligible training programs searchable by agency, industry, or occupation.
US Government Job Search: http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov The official government website for federal jobs. Search by agency, state, or occupation.