Creating a resume and nailing a job interview: These are two things that can make even the most confident job seeker feel some anxiety. Good news though! This is exactly what the Job and Career Education Center (JCEC) at Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh’s Main Library can help you with. We field questions all day from people at varying points in their job search—those who are just getting started on creating a resume, those who haven’t updated their resume in 15 years and aren’t sure where to start, and those who have gotten a foot in the door and need help preparing for their interview.

If you’ve never visited the JCEC before, here’s what you need to know: You can stop in anytime to get help with any part of your job search. Just starting on your resume? Let us know and we can help you get started on a computer, find books and examples for you, and proofread it for you when you’re ready. If you’d like even more in-depth help, you can sign up for a One-on-One Resume Assistance session with one of our volunteers in the JCEC or at one of several branch locations that offer this service. Give us a call at 412-622-3133 to schedule an appointment!

If you’ve already gotten an interview, congratulations! Preparation is key for this part of your job search, and we can help you here as well. You’ll want to do some serious research of the company where you’ve applied, practice your answers to frequently asked interview questions and come up with a few questions of your own to ask at the end of your interview. Again, if you’d like more in depth help with your interview preparation, you can contact us and set up a mock interview. Practicing what you might say ahead of time gives you the opportunity to come up with anecdotes and examples of your skills that you can share during your actual interview.

Finally, don’t be afraid to ask us about any other job search concerns you might have. We’re happy to help however we can, whether it’s with an appointment to help practice your interview skills or a set of eyes to look over your resume. You can also take home one (or several!) of our information guides, which provide quick tips on various subjects including resumes and interviews.

-Irene

Irene is a librarian in the Job and Career Education Center.