Jobs and Job Hunting

How to File for Unemployment Benefits

• Apply online with the CA Employment Development Department
• Apply by telephone, mail or fax

Where to Find Jobs

• CalJOBS : Job openings in California
• Fresno Jobs : Local jobs by company and category
• CentralValleyJobs.com : Focuses on Fresno County and North San Joaquin Valley
• JobBank USA : Nationwide job postings
• SnagAJob.com : “the #1 source for hourly and part-time jobs”
• CareerBuilder.com : Nationwide newspaper ads
• Indeed : Searches job sites, newspapers, associations and company career pages
• ForFarmers.com : Agricultural positions around the US and world
• USA Jobs : It's your one-stop source for Federal jobs and employment information
• Jobs/Employment webpages of major Fresno employers

How to Apply for Jobs Online

An email account is necessary for many job applications. Some free web-based email providers include:

• Yahoo! Mail
• Gmail
• Hotmail - available through Microsoft Windows Live
• Aol Mail

Information you need for applying for a job:

• Names and addresses of former employers & your job descriptions
• A resume and sometimes a cover letter

How to Write Resumes, Cover Letters, and Prepare for Interviews

• JobNow: Get live online coaching, resume assistance, and interview practice. Library card required for home use. Inside the library - Outside the library
• Job & Career Accelerator from Learning Express: Create professional resumes and cover letters, practice interviewing skills, and track your job search progress in one place. Library card required for home use.
• Resume Tips from CalJobs
• Cover Letter Tips from CalJobs
• Interview Tips from CalJobs
  
• Resume and Cover Letter courses from Learning Express. Library card required for home use.
• Library Resume and Interview Skills Training Programs : resume evaluation classes to assist job seekers
• Find books on Resumes, Cover Letters, & Interviews

How to Get Practice Taking Job Tests

• Learning Express Practice Tests offers 300 online practice tests for civil service and other job tests. Tests are scored immediately, and you may repeat the same test several times. Library card required for home use.
• Library Jobs & Career Collections contain many test practice books to check out. Ask your librarian.

How to Improve Math, Language, Computer and Keyboarding skills

• Try the online math and language practice tests and courses from Learning Express. Library card required for home use.
• Update or learn new computer skills with online self-paced interactive tutorials on the most popular applications and operating systems such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Windows and more from Learning Express. Library card required for home use.
• Improve your keyboarding speed and accuracy with Mavis Beacon, a touch typing program available on most computers in the Lab at the Central Library. A library card is required for use of the public computers.
• Ask your librarian for books on these topics.

Where to Locate More Job Search Assistance

• Workforce Connection : Public computers to assist with job searching
• Central Valley Professionals : Fresno EDD office in Manchester Center offers monthly week-long trainings to unemployed professionals. Call 559-230-3628 for eligibility and schedule.

How to Explore or Change Careers

• JobNow: Get live online job and career coaching. Library card required for home use. Inside the library - Outside the library
• Job & Career Accelerator from Learning Express: Match your skills and interests with information on over 1,000 different occupations. Library card required for home use.
• Career Insider : A comprehensive career resource featuring company profiles, information on occupations & industries, job openings, message boards, video, blogs and research tools. Library card required for home use.
• KeirseyTemperaments Sorter : 70 questions to Assess individual career and personality interests
• LiveCareer : "LiveCareer identifies your career interests and then tells you what jobs are out there for you. Uncover the tasks, experience, education and training needed for your next career move." 100 question test. There are some advertising offers mixed in with the results. Look for the "No Thanks" button to skip through them. (You only need to fill out personal information before you start the test.)
• ONet : Helps job seekers to pick the job to match the skills they already have or find out what skills are required for their dream job.

• Occupational Outlook Handbook : Provides information on education needed, earnings, job prospects, and working conditions for hundreds of occupations.
• Salary Search : Find what current jobs are paying.