Welcome to the Piscataway Public Library's online Career Center. No matter what type of career you’re interested in, every job search should begin right here at the Piscataway Public Library. We provide access to a variety of information sources that will assist you in your search, from books and periodicals, to public computers with access to web sites and electronic databases. If you have any questions about your job search, contact a librarian by telephone, email, or chat.

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Online Job Search

To find open positions in New Jersey and other parts of the United States, visit these web sites below:

4Jobs.com. Post a resume, search jobs, and browse other career resources, including articles and a salary calculator.

CareerBuilder. Find jobs, set up job alerts, and post your resume online for potential employers to view.

Craigslist. Searchable, worldwide job listings.

Indeed. Worldwide search engine for job postings. Searches job sites, newspapers, associations, and company career pages.

LinkedIn. Use this site to network with other professionals.

Monster. Search jobs, post your resume and cover letter for potential employers, and browse other career tools.

NYTimes. Post a job, find a job, and get career advice from The New York Times & Monster.

New Jersey Civil Service Commission. This is your gateway to public employment in the State of New Jersey. Visit this site to search job announcements for the public or promotional announcements for current government employees, and browse civil service testing and evaluation methods.

O*NET OnLine. Developed for the U.S. Department of Labor by the National Center for O*NET Development, this site allows users to search for jobs based on a variety of criteria.

Resume and Cover Letters

Get help drafting your resume or cover letter online from these web sites:

CareerLab - The First and Best Cover Letters. Find free sample cover letters on a variety of career-related topics.

The Riley Guide: Resumes and Cover Letters. Get resume and cover letter tips from The Riley Guide.

Additional Career Resources

New Brunswick Professional Service Group. Network with other area professionals to share expertise and job search.

New Jersey Public Safety Exams. Entry-level Law Enforcement Opportunities - Application and Testing Schedules.

New Jersey Training Opportunities. Search for schools and organizations that provide occupational education and job training opportunities.

One Stop Career Center (PDF). Learn about career services in Middlesex County, New Jersey.

Resources @ Piscataway Public Library

Books

Job information books can be very useful with everything from picking an appropriate career, to preparing for exams. The books listed below can all be checked out and taken with you.

• Farr, Michael J. 300 best jobs without a four-year degree. Indianapolis, IN: JIST Works, 2006. Location: 331.702 FARR (KEN | WES)
• Farr, Michael J. The quick resume & cover letter book: write and use an effective resume in only one day. Indianapolis, IN: JIST Works, 2005. Location: 650.14 FARR (KEN | WES)
  
• Geary, Gail. Over-40 job search guide: 10 strategies for making your age an advantage in your career. Indianapolis, IN: JIST Works, 2005. Location: 650.14 GEARY (KEN)
  
• LearningExpress. Civil service exams. New York: LearningExpress, 2007. Location: 353.003 CIVIL (KEN | WES)
  
• Parnell, T. W. Postal exam 473 & 473-c. Pinehurst, TX: Pathfinder, 2005. Location: 353.003 PARNELL (KEN | WES)
  
• Salvador, Evelyn U. Step-by-step resumes: building an outstanding resume in 10 easy steps. Indianapolis, IN: JIST Works, 2006. Location: 650.14 SALVADOR (KEN)

Reference

There are some reference materials that may aid in your job search. You will need to use these resources at the library, because they do not circulate. These sources will be good for finding background information about various careers, including educational requirements and average salary.

• Career Information Center [volumes 1-13]. New York, NY: Butterick Pub., 2007. Location: 371.42 CAREER (KEN | WES)
• Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance. Chicago, Ill: Ferguson Publishing Company, 2000. Location: 371.42 ENCYCLOPEDIA (KEN | WES)
  
• Occupational Outlook Handbook. Washington, D.C.: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2008. Location: REF 371.42 OCCUPATIONAL (KEN | WES)

 

Periodicals

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most of the periodicals below can be found at both Kennedy and Westergard libraries. Magazines and journals are located in the clear, plastic display racks, with the current month in front of the previous months. Current month magazines and journals do not circulate. Newspapers are located in similar clear, plastic displays nearby. Retention time for periodicals varies, so check with the librarian for more information.

• Courier News. Retention: 2 months (KEN); 1 month (WES)
• Home News and Tribune. Retention: 2 months (KEN); 1 month (WES)
  
• Star Ledger. Retention: 2 months (KEN); 1 month (WES)
  
• The New York Times. Retention: 2 months (KEN); 1 month (WES). Electronic access: see librarian.
  

Instructional Videos

(DVD AND VHS)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All instructional videos are circulating materials located in the nonfiction video section.

• How to Prepare a Job Winning Resume. Denver, CO: Silicon Mountain Publishing, 1994. Location: VHS 650.14 JOB (KEN)
• Quick Resume Video. Indianapolis, IN: JIST Works, 2004. Location: DVD 650.14 QUICK (KEN)
  
• Quick Cover Letter. Indianapolis, IN: JIST Works, 2003. Location: DVD 650.14 QUICK (KEN)
  

Electronic Databases

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Piscataway Public Library maintains online access to a host of electronic databases that can be found through the library’s web site at http://www.piscatawaylibrary.org. Many of the databases and web sites can be accessed on-site or remotely using your library card and pin number.
 

• Business Source Elite. This business database provides full text for nearly 1,100 business publications, including full text for nearly 500 peer-reviewed business publications. The rich collection of titles in Business Source Elite provides information dating back to 1985. This database is updated on a daily basis via EBSCOhost.
• Coin Career Community. Provides access to skills assessment tests, job search, and career description videos.
• LearningExpress Library. Includes practice tests and tutorial course series designed to help patrons—students and adult learners—succeed on the academic or licensing tests they must pass.
• Occupational Outlook Handbook. Provides basic information for hundreds of different careers.

 

Developing Computer Skills

Sign up for hands-on computer instruction. These classes will provide you with an introduction to the computer, word processing, Internet searching, and basic email. A variety of new topics will be coming soon!

Classes meet Monday through Thursday Mornings 11:00am until 12:00pm during the first week of the month at Kennedy Library.

Registration for classes begins on the third Wednesday of the prior month. Register at the Information/Reference Desk at Kennedy Library, or call 732-463-1633 ext 6.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spring 2009 schedule for computer training: Mondays: Word Processing (Microsoft Word) Tuesdays: Getting to Know Your Computer Wednesdays: Basic Internet Searching Thursdays: An Introduction to Email

 

Or learn on your own! Learn office computer skills for free with the self-teaching computer courses, the Video Professor. Using the "What-You-See-Is- What-You-Do" style of teaching, Video Professor does not involve manuals to read or classes to attend. All courses are available on any public computers in the Westergard and Kennedy libraries.

Courses offered are FrontPage, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Publisher. Each course is available at the beginner, intermediate and advanced level. We recommend that you bring your own headphones to listen to the instruction.

 

 

Small Business Workshops

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Library offers free small business workshops hosted by representatives from SCORE, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and small business owners.

 

Spring 2009 schedule for Small Business Workshops: Business Plans: A Roadmap to Success Wednesday, February 18, 7:00-8:30pm Financing and Business Accounting Basics Tuesday, March 24, 7:00-8:30pm E-Commerce: Using the Internet for Profit Monday, May 4, 7:00pm Secrets of Marketing for Small Business Wednesday, May 20, 7:00-8:30pm

 

 

Career Speakers Series

 

This series will feature lectures from different presenters on a variety of different career topics, including job search strategies, interview tactics, and preparing a resume and cover letter.

 

Upcoming Schedule Job Search in Tough Economic Times Wednesday, July 8 at 7:00pm Kennedy Library, Meeting Room

 

Filing for Unemployment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For information regarding filing for unemployment online or by telelphone, visit the Department of Labor and Workforce Development web site at http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/ui/fileui/file_index.html

 

Volunteer Opportunities

• VolunteerMatch -- In a sluggish economy, volunteer work is a great way to stay active. Visit VolunteerMatch to discover opportunities in your community.