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Patron is one of the following: Member of an Ethnic
Group/Woman/ Person with a Disability/Older American.
- Be friendly and approachable.
-Help
your patron feel comfortable by smiling, making eye contact, and offering
assistance.
- Understand your patron's
question.
-Use
open questions, which can't be answered with 'yes' or 'no':
What would you like to know about researching employers?
What have you found so far about financing a small business?
-Paraphrase or summarize to be sure you understand the request:
In
other words, you're looking for education opportunities for minority
students.
It sounds like you're looking for employers who favor diversity.
If I understand you correctly, you'd like to post your resume online.
-Use clarifying questions to generate a choice between options:
Do you need tips for finding a job using the Internet?
Are you looking for tools to help you choose a career?
-Anticipate potential problems in communicating.
-Be aware of non-verbal cues and body language.
-Listen for cues to adjust or refine your understanding of the request.
- Respect your patron's
privacy.
-Lessen distractions or move to a quiet area for the interview.
-Maintain objectivity and avoid premature assumptions.
-Give your patron the time and attention he/she needs.
- Plan and execute your
search strategy.
-Understand the level and amount of information needed.
Would you like to use books and other materials in addition to
online resources?
-Evaluate your patron's learning style, and determine limitations
on format or reading level.
Would you prefer a video about interviewing?
Would a resource you can use at home be helpful?
-Ask if your patron has used the source before, and provide instruction
on its use.
Have you used a computer before to find information?
-Distinguish between advice and information; do not advise on, interpret
or apply a decision to a patron's personal situation.
- Follow up to determine
whether your patron is satisfied with the search results.
-Ask if the question has been answered completely.
Did you find the information you needed about starting a small
business/posting your resume online/researching companies that hire
seniors?
-Check to see that the answer is understood.
-Encourage your patron to return to you for help, if needed.
Additional help is available
on this website:
Use Disabled, Non-English
Speakers, Seniors and Spanish
Resources to address special needs of these patron groups.
Use Assessments for
career tests, personality-type assessments, and tools for self-discovery.
Use Explore Careers
to find a career to match an individual's interests, and learn what
training is required. Includes Career Zone and Occupational Outlook
Handbook.
Use Interviewing for
information on preparation and technique, and virtual interviewing practice.
Use Networking to identify
strategies for making and using contacts in job-hunting and career transitions.
Use Research Employers
for company information and tips for researching companies online.
Use Resume
Help to create excellent resumes and cover letters.
Use Transferable
Skills to define transferable skills and learn how they can be used
in the job search.
Library Resources:
Exceptional
interviewing tips: a view from the inside (videorecording) (2001)
Byham,
William. Landing
the job you want: how to have the best job interview of your life
(1999)
Graber,
Steven. The
everything get-a-job book: from resume writing, to interviewing, to
finding tons of job openings (2000)
Kerr,
Cherie. Networking
skills that will get you the job you want (1999)
**Stevenson,
Ollie. Career
success is color-blind: overcoming prejudice and eliminating barriers
in the workplace (2000)
Whitcomb,
Susan Britton. eResumes:everything
you need to know about using electronic resumes to tap into today's
job market (2002)
Visit Resources
Available at the Library for categorized listing of available career
materials.
Sue Hermans
Central Reference Library Services Coordinator
Poughkeepsie Public Library District
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