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Job Search Resources
A variety of resources are available to help you locate potential jobs. The resources included in this section are the more commonly used and popular ones among job seekers. Try using as many as you can!
The state Vocational Rehabilitation Division, Commission for the Blind, Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation, Developmental Disabilities Division, and private rehabilitation agencies provide job placement assistance to eligible clients. A counselor or a job developer makes contacts and connections with employers on your behalf or may provide you with referrals. If you're not currently a client of an agency and would like more information about state agency services, visit the following applicable web sites:
State Vocational Rehabilitation: Oregon State Vocational Rehabilitation Division Washington State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Vocational Rehabilitation Division - State Listings
State Commission for the Blind: Oregon Commission for the Blind Washington State Department of Services for the Blind Commission for the Blind - State Listings
Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation: Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Services - State Listings
Developmental Disabilities Division: Oregon Developmental Disability Services Washington State Developmental Disability Division
One-Stop Centers are available in local communities nationwide to assist select populations, including people with disabilities, with their job preparation, job search, and employment-related needs. Participating agencies, including Vocational Rehabilitation, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and other service agencies are together under one roof to provide easy access and coordination of services to individuals. One-Stop Centers can assist you with your job searching, resume preparation, interview preparation, and any other needs you may have. The Centers receive job opening information from employers and maintain job posting announcements and resources that you can access. To locate your nearest One-Stop Center, call the toll-free help line at 1-877-872-5627 or 1-877-887-5627 (TTY). You can also locate your nearest One-Stop Center at the following web site:
Organizations serving people with disabilities may provide job resources and referral information. Contact individual organizations in your community for information. To find organizations or agencies serving people with disabilities in your area, visit the following web site:
Disability Resources (By State)
Classified job ads in newspapers are a good resource for finding job openings. Some companies, however, refrain from advertising in newspapers because of the high volume of applications received. As jobs advertised in the newspaper might fill quickly, try to get a head start by buying or subscribing to an early edition of the newspaper. Sometimes evening editions, if available, publish news and ads before the next morning's editions are delivered to people's doors. And Sunday editions can be purchased on Saturday at most grocery and quick-stop markets. The key is to apply as quickly as possible before jobs fill. In addition to looking at current newspaper job ads, also look at job ads in older newspapers available at the library - or save classified job ad sections of your newspaper. It's possible jobs previously advertised didn't get filled, or the person hired didn't work out. It doesn't hurt to call a company to check if the position might still be available. And finally, try using online newspaper classified ads! Many newspapers across the country are now posting classified job ads online. The following web sites will link you to newspapers available online in every state:
Online Classified Ads:
Newspaper Classified Ads Online (Washington State and Nationwide Links) The Hamilton Spectator (Online newspapers listed by state)
If you're interested in working for a particular company, you can submit a cover letter and resume to the company to keep on file should an opening for a position you're interested in become available. This is called the "cold call" approach. Large companies may scan and enter your resume onto a database that sorts resumes by key words and category for department administrators to access and review. It's important to still frequently check the employer's job opening list and resubmit a resume and application when a position you're interested in is posted. Companies only hold resumes for a limited period of time, and companies can easily overlook a person's resume tucked away in a file!
Are you currently attending college? Or did you previously attend college? If yes, two- and four-year colleges and universities may provide general job placement and graduate placement services to students currently attending and alumni. In addition to posting job openings, job placement offices may also provide job support assistance, such as providing help preparing resumes and other job-related services. Visit or call your college's Job Placement Office to learn about available services and see how the Job Placement Office may be of help to you!
Are you looking for a job locally or in another city? Internet job banks may help direct you to the right location, company, and job! There are hundreds of job banks on the Internet, and you'll find some of the more popular ones listed in the Online Job Search Links section that follows in this guide. Employers post job opening announcements with online job banks, and the job postings are available for job seekers to view for free. Many job bank services enable you to search for jobs by state, city, or occupational title. And many offer free resume banks so you can post your resume for employers to see. If this is of interest to you, be sure to visit the Online Job Search Links section coming up next on the Career Contents Page!
Many online job banks offer a free or fee-based resume posting service. This means you can send your resume electronically to the site's resume bank where it can be viewed by prospective employers. If you use a resume posting service, the following tips are suggested.
Tips When Posting a Resume:
Frequently Used Sites for Posting Resumes: These are just a few samples of well-established sites frequently visited by employers
searching for potential employees. For a more extensive list, be sure to
see the Online Job Search Links section of this guide.
Find Help in Locating Resume Databases: A list of resume databases with information to guide you in selecting ones appropriate and useful to your job search is available at:
Career networking is simply the process of making and building contacts with people working in the field, often to share and exchange career-related information. Networking is one of the best ways to locate job information and make possible job connections. If you're seeking a job in a specific field, try to meet and connect with as many people as possible in that field. Career-related conferences, organizations, seminars, workshops, professional events, and trade shows are good avenues for meeting and connecting with others. You might consider arranging informational interviews with employees in the field. Other networking methods might include exchanging e-mails, letters, phone calls and faxes. And don't forget to keep in touch with former teachers and faculty in your major. They may have helpful job leads as well. If you're looking for a job that's more general in nature (not career-specific), you'll discover family, friends, neighbors, school personnel, and acquaintances are excellent networking contacts. Whenever you meet and talk with people, the key is to let as many people know as possible you're available and interested in finding a job. Hopefully you'll get possible job referrals, leads, and information that will assist in your job search. Other excellent networking avenues include school and community career fairs, school counselors, and college alumni placement offices. To make the most of your networking efforts, the following tips are suggested.
Networking Tips:
"During a recent conversation with Bob Roberts, he suggested I contact 4. Send a thank you note.
Sending a brief note to thank the person for
Be sure you don't overlook family and friends as potential resources for locating jobs! You'd be surprised to learn how often job seekers locate jobs through parents, relatives, and friends. Does your parent or neighbor work at a company and have an inside connection? Or have inside information about an upcoming job opening? Does a friend know of an upcoming vacancy at his or her company? You'd be surprised to discover how often family and friends help in making job connections. Be sure to let everyone know you're looking for employment, and ask people to let you know if they come across any potential job leads. You never know what exciting opportunity might turn up!
Many people successfully land great jobs by starting out as a volunteer! Perhaps while still in school, a student volunteers to gain work experience and "test the waters." Then much to the student's surprise, he or she gets offered a job! Entering a company, organization, or institution through the "back door" as a volunteer, intern, or cooperative work experience student can work wonders in getting a job -- if luck is on your side and a job vacancy happens to come along. It helps tremendously if people at a company have the opportunity to get to know you and see your work and performance first hand. When it comes to hiring, they'll be more apt to stick with the familiar person they've had a chance to get to know and observe. If you have the opportunity to volunteer for an employer, or work for an employer as an intern or cooperative education student, you are highly encouraged to do it! You just might find yourself in the right place at the right time -- and with the right people. And you'll have work experience to add to your resume!
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