More Resume Fun: Downloading in Various Formats

Lately I've been blogging a lot about resources to help convert a paper resume to an electronic one. While doing this, I've ignored the elephant in the room-- the cutting and pasting of a text resume into an online application. To be honest, I've been a little intimidated by this topic. I was nervous to teach it to a new learner while they are just trying to learn how to downloading a pdf file. This all changed recently during a one-on-one appointment.

I was working with a woman who walked in with a paper resume, and wanted to leave with the ability to download and manipulate a new electronic one. We chose to use Google Docs because she felt like she could type her information in quickly and it would look the most like her paper resume. Since we only had an hour together, I explained to her that we had two choices--we could spend most of the time typing in her resume, or we could type in just a small portion to get her started, then spend the rest of the session learning how to download, upload, and attach it. She felt that it would be beneficial to spend more time on learning how to manipulate the resume, so that's what we did. We practiced downloading the document as a pdf and saving it to the desktop. We practiced attaching it to an email, and we also used my husband's helpful creation: Resume Practice to allow her to practice uploading her resume to an application.

Then the stumper: I wanted to beging to talk about the importance of having a basic, clean, barely formatted electronic resume for the purpose of copying and pasting into an application. I had worked with this patron before, and I thought that she would be able to follow this lesson. I decided to use the empty body of an email to demonstrate basic formatting of a resume. We used her Google Doc resume to download a text document, and then copied and pasted it into the empty body of the email. She was able to make the connection about why one needed a text resume PLUS a regular, nicely formatted one.

I was feeling rather smug after this appointment, and thought, WOW, I was really making a difference for people. I felt good about things, and continued to refine my quick tips sheets for my patrons.

This self-satisfaction didn't last long. Two days later, I was humbled again. While I had been on vacation, my patron had come back to apply for a position that was available on CareerBuilder. She had followed all the steps to upload her resume, and still, she was not able to do it. She had asked other librarians, and none were able to figure out the problem. Oddly enough, as soon as I sat down with her, I realized the issue. CareerBuilder will only accept uploaded resumes in either Word or text files--not as a pdf. Argh. Knowing that, we went back to her Google Doc resume and redownloaded it in the new format. It worked, but I learned my lesson that I need to remind everyone (including myself) to always read the fine print.

That was my lesson for the day. I'm sure many more are coming my way.

Other Online Resume Options: Using Google Docs

Even though I like to find new ways to help my patrons, I realize that some of my assumptions about their needs can be incorrect. Lately, when I've attempted to "wow" my users with an online resume builder application, a look of nervous horror crosses their faces. After the third time this happened, I began to realize why:

Most days, my patrons walk in the door with a paper copy of their resume. All they want to do is walk out the door with an electronic copy saved somewhere in cyberspace. They are not really interested in going through the trouble of using drop down menus, clicking the mouse, or doing anything that my perfect little resume wizard has provided for them. To fuss with the multiple steps of a wizard is much more complicated than opening a clean document and just starting to type.

Ironically, although it was probably created with the new computer user in mind, using an online resume builder is actually much easier for someone who is already comfortable using the computer. A perfect example would be someone who knows his way around the internet, but is not very proficient at setting up proper resume formatting. For most of my patrons, this exactly the opposite of how they feel. In my recent experience, I have realized that it is easier and more familiar to use a plain Google Doc than it is to use a wizard, a template, or anything else. And I have come to accept this because in every one-on-one that I have taught recently, I have shown people the two options, and they have overwhelmingly chosen the plain Google doc (See basic desktop below).

This is actually just as well for me because the difference between setting up a Google account versus setting up an Illinois workNet account is like night and day. Setting a new user up with a Google account is one of the easiest things one can do-- except for the security code on the bottom which seems to throw everyone off. Setting up accounts with the other services require staring at a badly designed collage of confusing empty fields. I always have to explain,"No, you don't have to put in your social security number," or "No, just skip that field-it's really confusing." With Google, when assisting a new user, I can pretty much guarantee that he will be able to get back into his account after the patron is no longer with me. In two days, he will be able to use my quick tips sheet, and edit his resume as needed. Google Docs is not perfect- and as we all know, the formatting gets wonky every so often, but for the most part it's clean and it works. And the document is downloadable in almost any format one would need. And saved easily for future use. (Below is an example of the new template gallery that is also available).

Using Google Docs (and/or their new templates) has actually been conterintuitive for me. I have tried so hard to find easy ways for people to create a resume, and I just didn't want to succumb to Google. But after working with patrons, I've realized that this method is actually the closest thing to typing up a resume on a typewriter or word processor. The best part is that I can then easily show them how to download and use their resume in various formats.

Looking for Potential Employers: Can Reference U.S.A. Help?

OK, I have to admit that I am late in deciding that ReferenceUSA database is a good resource for our patrons. I've tried to like it for quite a while, but I just found the interface too confusing for beginning (and sometimes, advanced) users.

All is better now!

As of July 14th, RefUSA updated their interface, and the result is a much more usable resource. By using the Custom search option, I was able to generate "real" data. Not overly complicated data, instead; lists of people, phone numbers, and addresses that could really help my patrons explore business close to their homes.

I had tried to do this many times before with the Illinois workNet Potential Employer tool (For more information about Illinois workNet, click here). It uses the North American Industry Classification System codes to pointpoint specific types of employers. The data is provided by InfoUSA (which is the larger umbrella group of ReferenceUSA) After attempting to assist many patrons with this type of search, I've noticed two big concerns when using Illinois worknet:

• The Illinois workNet Potential Employer tool offers no keyword searching. For a patron who is beginning to be comfortable using the internet, keyword searching is representative of her comfort zone. Having to choose extremely BROAD categories from the NAICS makes many patrons feel like they just don't "get it." Figuring out which initial category to begin with can also be very "hit or miss." What category does someone choose if he wants a job working in a warehouse? Hint, it's actually under "Transportation, Distribution and Logistics," but trying to figure that by one's self can be a bit intimidating.


• The other concern is that the result set is too large to be helpful. One of the problems is that one can only limit the search radius to 10 miles or more. Not helpful. This is especially an issue if someone is using public transit. Try searching for a potential teaching job with this radius--even if I limit it to "Primary School Teacher" and only "Religious Organizations," I still get a result set of 3317 schools--without any additional limiting tools.

So, back to ReferenceUSA What makes this such a great resource is that it has the two things that the Illinois Worknet Potential Employer lack--keyword searching, and great geographical refine options. For the beginning user, I would suggest sticking to using the Keyword/SIC/NAICS option + a geographical refine by City, State. Once the user types in the keyword, the search engine then offers various options to limit it even more. After the options have been chosen and the geographical refine is complete, the user only needs to click the "View Results" button to get a list of real data. Wow. It works. (But only for those of you who have access to the database through your library system).

I'm going to have to try this in real life today, and I'll update if needed. I think, however, that ReferenceUSA just proved their worth. So far, nice work.

UPDATE:

This worked out really well for a patron today. The only issue was that the results set cannot be emailed to him--it must be downloaded. Unfortunately, the downloads were not available in pdf format, so this makes things a little bit more restrictive.

Indeed I do...

When it comes to recommending job websites for patrons, I find that simple is often the best option. Hands-down, the job search website, Indeed, is just that--simple, clean, and easy to explain. Many of us have used this resource ourselves, or have helped others with it due to its google-like interface and powerful search tools. Unlike other online job searching sites, Indeed is an aggregator--That means that job postings do not have to be submitted to the website manually. Instead, the search engine crawls the web and pulls in job postings from across the internet. Additionally, the intuitive design of the results page allows for easy linking to the company's website, as well as to career information. For this reason, when working with someone who is just learning to navigate his way around the web, Indeed is a terrific tool and a one-stop-shop.

Basic User Navigation:

The main search screen is simple, and consists of the two search boxes "what" and "where." If someone would like to broaden the search, she could leave one of the boxes blank. When the search results are loaded on the next screen, the layout is still easy to follow. By using the refine options on the left side of the screen, the user can easily limit the search based on salary, job title, location, other options. When she is satisfied, she can review the results easily. An example of a result is below:

Nursing Assistant Saint Joseph Hospital - Chicago, IL
duties to assist the nursing staff in meeting patient... Diploma or equivalent. * Certification as a nursing assistant required after January 2008 OR One semester... From Resurrection Health Care - 19 hours ago - save job - more
block - email -


View all Saint Joseph Hospital jobs
Salary Search: Nursing Assistant salaries in Chicago, IL
More information about Saint Joseph Hospital
Related forums: Nursing Assistant - St. Joseph Hospital - Chicago, Illinois
Permanent link to this job

Notice how much information is actually packed into this summary? The user can obviously see the "what," "where," and "when" of the job, but she can also dig a bit deeper. She can choose to view more jobs at the same hospital, she can research salaries, read forum posts and more. All of this without creating a profile or login.

And then there's "more."

If she clicks on "more," some of the same choices are offered, as well as options to "Research the Company on Google" and to use social websites like Facebook to use the power of networking. See example below:

View all Saint Joseph Hospital jobs
Salary Search: Nursing Assistant salaries in Chicago, IL
More information about Saint Joseph Hospital
Related forums: Nursing Assistant - St. Joseph Hospital - Chicago, Illinois
Research company on Google
Find my contacts: Facebook - LinkedIn
Map of Chicago, IL
Permanent link to this job



More advanced users can use the Advanced Job Search to refine the search again. I especially like to choose the option "with none of these words" to eliminate some repeated or incorrect searches.




Deciding to create a profile:

Like I mentioned before, Indeed can be used without creating a profile, but if the user would like, it is easy to set up. Doing so allows for the user to save jobs and searches, set up job alerts, and post on the job forum.

Things to Watch out For:

Unfortunately, there is no perfect solution to helping people find a job. With this particular website, the "devil is in the details"-- meaning that users have to be smart about choosing their search terms. Using the keyword "teacher" lends itself to a more clear-cut job search than other search terms might. For example, compare the difference in results when one chooses to look for a job as a "secretary" or "administrative assistant." Not only are the results different, but the sheer number of postings is different as well. At the time of this search, "secretary, Chicago" only resulted in 277 results whereas "administrative assistant, Chicago" resulted in over 900 results. The lesson here is that beginning searchers might need some help in focusing and expanding their job search.


An additional concern is that while Indeed is a great place to find jobs, it can be frustrating for the beginning searcher to apply for a posting. This is because once the user clicks on the result, it takes them to the website it was originally posted. This means that she might also have to create a new username or profile for that website as well. Additionally, some of these original postings could be dubious posts or even a scam. As always, it's best to search diligently and use one's gut instincts about a post or website.

Although there are a few concerns, this is still hands-down, my favorite website to use when assisting patrons with basic searches.

Elevate America in Chicago: Free Computer Training

I was just reading the other day that Microsoft is supporting Elevate America in Chicago. According to Illinois workNet (which is a great, yet somewhat complicated resource):

This program, beginning now through October 30, 2009, is a major public-private partnership between Microsoft and the State of Illinois to provide up to 51,000 vouchers to Illinoisans for free online technology training. The program provides an opportunity for individuals at all skill levels to enhance information technology skills needed to compete for the jobs of today and tomorrow. Whether an individual has basic computer skills, is proficient with Microsoft Office software or is a Technical Professional they can take advantage of online courses to help them learn new skills and information to meet their goals.

Wow. I think that's an amazing opportunity for a lot of people. So how can people use these free resources? According to the rather confusing information page, one of the easiest ways for people to participate is for them to be already enrolled at a Workforce Center. If they are not enrolled at the center yet, the following sites in Chicago offer walk-ins and will issue vouchers for the training. Training can then be completed at a personal computer that have the following system requirements, or at a public resource room (Please take note of any special requirements).

What I'm trying to make sense of right now is exactly what sort of training is being offered. If I had headphones right now, I'd be able to watch the video and listen to the explaination, but I don't, so instead I'm attempting to review the letter from the Office of Governor Pat Quinn. It states:

Online courses available using Elevate America vouchers include intermediate level Microsoft Office 2003 and Microsoft Office 2007 training, and advanced-level training for technical professionals.

From August through October, eligible Illinoisans can apply for a voucher through one of the following workforce networks:

• Illinois workNet Centers, including Mayor Daley’s WorkNet System
• Digital Inclusion Community Technology Centers, including the Illinois and City of Chicago Digital
Excellence Network and affiliated non-profit agencies
• High School Career and Technical Education programs approved by the Illinois State Board of
Education
• Illinois Community College Career and Technical Education Network
• Illinois Community College Board Adult Education Network

Additionally, as I attempt to review this factsheet, I see that there is also basic computer training that doesn't require a voucher. For additional information, here is a CBS article from June 18th.