Job Seeking Resources Fill the Ferndale Public Library

The job hunt can be a frustrating process to say the least.

Hours spent crafting the perfect resume and cover letter seem like a waste when they don't elicit the slightest response from a prospective employer. Being under-qualified is bad enough, but being over-qualified can also feel like an automatic rejection. And finding the perfect job to apply for nearly always comes with stiff competition—many employers today receive hundreds of applications for a single vacancy.

The pressure to stay financially afloat while, at the same time, seeking employment, only adds another burden to an already tiresome cycle. Facing those conditions, it can be hard to even stay motivated.

Yet if there's a silver lining in such a tumultuous time, it's the abundance of free resources currently available for job seekers. At the Ferndale Public Library, there's something for everyone. Whether someone is starting out fresh from school, switching careers, or looking for new work after being laid off, the library has enough occupational reference sources to cover any type of job search. From regular ol' books to online databases to in-library services, the library can be a valuable asset to anyone in need.

“We have a section of books on finding jobs,” said reference librarian Darlene Hellerberg, “and a lot of books on how to write cover letters and resumes.”

Additional titles available at the FPL include guides on starting a business, interview skills, and finding the right job based on one's personality.

Hellerberg said she mostly recommends the online database Learning Express Library to jobseekers that come into the library.

“It has all kinds of stuff,” she said. “There are tutorials on computer programs like Microsoft Office, resume and cover letter help, GED prep, and even occupational practice tests.”

The Learning Express Library also features skill-building sets for adults, computer and Internet basics, eBooks, and resources for Spanish speakers.

“It's free to use with a library card,” Hellerberg said. And users can access the Learning Express Library from any computer with an Internet connection.

“You can also come into the library and use it if you don't have a card," she said.

Browsing the Michigan eLibrary (or MeL, as it's known by those in the know,) is another good place to look for assistance. From there, anyone with a valid state of Michigan identification card can access the Job and Career Accelerator. The online database features information on finding the right career, preparing applications, interview skills, and actual job postings.

Inside the actual, non-virtual library, cardholders can take advantage of free Internet access, word-processing programs, faxing (at $1 a page), and printing ($.10 a page.)

Reference librarians are also available to help in person. “I'm constantly showing people how to email their resume as attachments,” Hellerberg said.

“We're happy to help, but it depends on how busy we are,” she said. “At the very least, I can point someone in the right direction.”

The Ferndale Public Library is open Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; and Saturday, noon-5 p.m. The library is closed Sunday.