Spanish

Patron of Hispanic descent needing job or career support.

• 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 bilingual career opportunities?
  What have you found so far about companies that recruit bilingual employees?
  -Paraphrase or summarize to be sure you understand the request:
  In other words, you'd like to use your college degree in a bilingual position.
  It sounds like you're looking for websites designed for Hispanic job seekers.
  If I understand you correctly, you'd like to research employers that promote diversity.
  -Use clarifying questions to generate a choice between options:
  Are you looking for a local position, or are you considering relocating?
  Are you interested in a bilingual position exclusively?
  -Anticipate potential problems in communicating.
  -Be sensitive to cultural differences in the use of body language, personal space and formality of interaction.
  -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 stay with online resources, or would you like books to take home, also?
  -Evaluate your patron's learning style, and determine limitations on format or reading level.
  Would resources in Spanish be helpful?
  Would you prefer a video about interviewing?
  -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 multicultural employment opportunities/websites for Hispanic jobseekers/
  writing resumes and cover letters?
  -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 Spanish Resources to find job opportunities, career development tools, and education information specific to individuals of Hispanic descent.

Use Assessments for career tests, personality-type assessments, and tools for self-discovery.

Use Business Information for patrons thinking of starting a business. Includes tips for starting a business, a link to the Small Business Administration, and self-assessment tools.

Use Colleges/Universities to locate colleges locally, within NYS, United States and abroad.

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 Internships do locate internship opportunities and to learn how to make the most of the experience.

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:

Bangs, David H. Como arrancar tu propio negocio: lo que debes hacer en el lanzamiento de tu empresa para tener exito (1998) (Start up guide. Spanish.)

De Bretteville, Alexis. El puesto es suyo!: todas las claves para triunfar en una entrevista de trabajo (2001)

Graber, Steven. The everything get-a-job book: from resume writing, to interviewing, to finding tons of job openings (2000)

Ingles esencial: nivel avanzado (1998) 8 sound cassettes (480 min.) and 1 book

Ingles esencial: nivel basico-intermedio (1998) 8 sound cassettes (480 min.) and 1 book

Kenig, Graciela. Best careers for bilingual Latinos: market your fluency in Spanish to get ahead on the job (1999)

Para el trabajo y la escuela (1 videocassette, 60 min) 1 sound cassette, 1 workbook and 1 booklet (1999)

Visit Resources Available at the Library for categorized listing of available career materials.

Sue Hermans
Central Reference Library Services Coordinator
Poughkeepsie Public Library District