Employment Services
STEP 1: Plan & Organize
Find job search resources for planning and organizing your career path in the US.
Plan & Organize for Employment
Need help finding a job? Below are resources, divided into 5 sections, that will help you plan for, apply for, interview for, and start a new job.
Part 1: Plan for Employment
Part 2: Job Sectors & Careers
Find the type of job that fits with your style and preferences.
Part 3: Résumé
Part 4: Your Cover Letter
Part 5: Gather References
Find people who are ready to support you in your job search.
Part 1: Plan & Organize
Now that you are qualified to work in the US, you need to make a plan before you even begin your job search. Find resources here to get organized by selecting the tab below you’d like to review.
Plan for Employment: Work Preferences
What are your work preferences? Ask yourself these questions to help determine the type of job that fits you best.
Working with people
or
Working with machines
Working with people
or
Working with machines
Working with people
or
Working with machines
Working with people
or
Working with machines
Working with people
or
Working with machines
Working with people
or
Working with machines
Working with people
or
Working with machines
Working with people
or
Working with machines
Working with people
or
Working with machines
Working with people
or
Working with machines
Working with people
or
Working with machines
Working with people
or
Working with machines
Working with people
or
Working with machines
Plan for Employment: Work Values
What type of work environment and job attributes do you value?
ADVENTURE
A risk-taking job.
AUTHORITY
Use your position to control others.
COMPETITION
Compete with others.
CREATIVITY & SELF-EXPRESSION
Use your imagination to find new ways to do or say something.
FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULE
You choose your own hours.
HELPING OTHERS
Provide direct services to persons with problems.
HIGH SALARY
A job where many workers earn a large amount of money.
INDEPENDENCE
You decide for yourself what work to do.
INFLUENCING OTHERS
You influence the decisions of others.
INTELLECTUAL STIMULATION
A job which requires thought and reasoning.
LEADERSHIP
You manage or supervise the activities of others.
OUTSIDE WORK
Working out-of-doors.
PERSUADING
You personally convince others to take certain actions.
PHYSICAL WORK
Requires substantial physical, labor-intensive activity.
PRESTIGE
A job which gives you status and respect in a community.
PUBLIC ATTENTION
You attract immediate notice because of appearance or activity.
PUBLIC CONTACT
You have daily dealings with the public.
RECOGNITION
You gain public notice.
RESEARCH WORK
You search for and discover new facts and develop ways to apply them.
ROUTINE WORK
You follow established procedures requiring little change.
SEASONAL WORK
You are employed only at certain times of the year.
TRAVEL
A job in which you travel.
VARIETY
Your duties change frequently.
WORK WITH CHILDREN
You teach or otherwise care for children.
WORK WITH HANDS
You use your hands or hand tools.
WORK WITH MACHINES OR EQUIPMENT
You use machines or equipment.
WORK WITH NUMBERS
You use mathematics or statistics.
Plan for Employment: Transferable Skills
There are two types of skills every person has: Hard Skills and Soft Skills.
The lists below were written by Jessica L. Mendes for ZipRecruiter.com.
Hard Skills
Hard Skills are skills that you’ve learned through training or education, including degrees and certificates that you’ve received and languages you’ve learned beyond your native language.
Below are some examples of Hard Skills:
- A degree or certificate in a particular field or industry
- Applied science
- Computer programming
- Driving a vehicle
- Editing
- Engineering
- Foreign language skills (speaking, reading, writing)
- Machine operation (computers, phone systems, forklifts, hydraulic presses, etc.)
- Math
- Medical procedures
- Research
- Software usage
- Typing (and typing speed)
- Writing
Soft Skills
Soft Skills generally include personality traits that are less measurable than hard skills — how you communicate with others, your character, time management, and other traits.
Below are some examples of Soft Skills:
- Active listening
- Adaptability
- Communication
- Conflict resolution
- Customer service
- Decision making
- Leadership
- Patience
- Perseverance
- Persuasiveness
- Problem solving
- Teamwork
- Time management
- Work ethic
Plan for Employment: Website Resources
Use these websites to learn more about Transferable Skills.
Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills (and How to Use Them on Your Resume)
Posted on Jobscan September 30, 2020
There are two types of skills recruiters look for on resumes: hard skills and soft skills. When used correctly, they work together to form a powerhouse resume that provides the hiring manager a comprehensive understanding of the job seeker’s capabilities.
What are Transferable Skills?
Posted on SkillsYouNeed.com
Transferable skills are skills and abilities that are relevant and helpful across different areas of life: socially, professionally and at school. They are ‘portable skills’.
People usually think about their transferable skills when applying for a job or when thinking about a career change. Employers often look for people who can demonstrate a good set of transferable skills.
Plan for Employment: Job Sectors & Careers
Visit these websites to explore the types of jobs and careers that fit your skills.
Destination Occupation
What is Destination Occupation?
Destination Occupation (D.O.) is an online community of career exploration videos showcasing local Maine companies and careers. We feature Maine employers in a company profile and individual job profiles. Most of the jobs featured are in high demand around the state. One job may be featured at a business in a town far away from you, but don’t worry! The jobs we pick can be found all around Maine and by many different employers!
O*Net OnLine
Build your future with O*NET OnLine.
O*NET OnLine has detailed descriptions of the world of work for use by job seekers, workforce development and HR professionals, students, researchers, and more!
The O*NET Program is the nation’s primary source of occupational information. Valid data are essential to understanding the rapidly changing nature of work and how it impacts the workforce and U.S. economy. From this information, applications are developed to facilitate the development and maintenance of a skilled workforce.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for nearly 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas; national occupational estimates for specific industries are also available.
Employment Services Part 1: Plan For Employment
Plan for Employment — Work Preferences
What are your work preferences? Ask yourself these questions to help determine the type of job that fits you best.
Working with people
or
Working with machines
Working with people
or
Working with machines
Working with people
or
Working with machines
Working with people
or
Working with machines
Working with people
or
Working with machines
Working with people
or
Working with machines
Working with people
or
Working with machines
Working with people
or
Working with machines
Working with people
or
Working with machines
Working with people
or
Working with machines
Working with people
or
Working with machines
Working with people
or
Working with machines
Working with people
or
Working with machines
Part 1b: Plan for Employment — Work Values
What type of work environment and job attributes do you value?
ADVENTURE
A risk-taking job.
AUTHORITY
Use your position to control others.
COMPETITION
Compete with others.
CREATIVITY & SELF-EXPRESSION
Use your imagination to find new ways to do or say something.
FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULE
You choose your own hours.
HELPING OTHERS
Provide direct services to persons with problems.
HIGH SALARY
A job where many workers earn a large amount of money.
INDEPENDENCE
You decide for yourself what work to do.
INFLUENCING OTHERS
You influence the decisions of others.
INTELLECTUAL STIMULATION
A job which requires thought and reasoning.
LEADERSHIP
You manage or supervise the activities of others.
OUTSIDE WORK
Working out-of-doors.
PERSUADING
You personally convince others to take certain actions.
PHYSICAL WORK
Requires substantial physical, labor-intensive activity.
PRESTIGE
A job which gives you status and respect in a community.
PUBLIC ATTENTION
You attract immediate notice because of appearance or activity.
PUBLIC CONTACT
You have daily dealings with the public.
RECOGNITION
You gain public notice.
RESEARCH WORK
You search for and discover new facts and develop ways to apply them.
ROUTINE WORK
You follow established procedures requiring little change.
SEASONAL WORK
You are employed only at certain times of the year.
TRAVEL
A job in which you travel.
VARIETY
Your duties change frequently.
WORK WITH CHILDREN
You teach or otherwise care for children.
WORK WITH HANDS
You use your hands or hand tools.
WORK WITH MACHINES OR EQUIPMENT
You use machines or equipment.
WORK WITH NUMBERS
You use mathematics or statistics.
Part 1c: Plan for Employment — Transferable Skills
There are two types of skills every person has: Hard Skills and Soft Skills.
The lists below were written by Jessica L. Mendes for ZipRecruiter.com.
Hard Skills
Hard Skills are skills that you’ve learned through training or education, including degrees and certificates that you’ve received and languages you’ve learned beyond your native language.
Below are some examples of Hard Skills:
- A degree or certificate in a particular field or industry
- Applied science
- Computer programming
- Driving a vehicle
- Editing
- Engineering
- Foreign language skills (speaking, reading, writing)
- Machine operation (computers, phone systems, forklifts, hydraulic presses, etc.)
- Math
- Medical procedures
- Research
- Software usage
- Typing (and typing speed)
- Writing
Soft Skills
Soft Skills generally include personality traits that are less measurable than hard skills — how you communicate with others, your character, time management, and other traits.
Below are some examples of Soft Skills:
- A degree or certificate in a particular field or industry
- Applied science
- Computer programming
- Driving a vehicle
- Editing
- Engineering
- Foreign language skills (speaking, reading, writing)
- Machine operation (computers, phone systems, forklifts, hydraulic presses, etc.)
- Math
- Medical procedures
- Research
- Software usage
- Typing (and typing speed)
- Writing
Part 1d: Plan for Employment — Website Resources
Use these websites to learn more about Transferable Skills.
Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills (and How to Use Them on Your Resume)
Posted on Jobscan September 30, 2020
There are two types of skills recruiters look for on resumes: hard skills and soft skills. When used correctly, they work together to form a powerhouse resume that provides the hiring manager a comprehensive understanding of the job seeker’s capabilities.
What are Transferable Skills?
Posted on SkillsYouNeed.com
Transferable skills are skills and abilities that are relevant and helpful across different areas of life: socially, professionally and at school. They are ‘portable skills’.
People usually think about their transferable skills when applying for a job or when thinking about a career change. Employers often look for people who can demonstrate a good set of transferable skills.
Part 2: Job Sectors & Careers
Visit these websites to explore the types of jobs and careers that fit your skills.
Destination Occupation
What is Destination Occupation?
Destination Occupation (D.O.) is an online community of career exploration videos showcasing local Maine companies and careers. We feature Maine employers in a company profile and individual job profiles. Most of the jobs featured are in high demand around the state. One job may be featured at a business in a town far away from you, but don’t worry! The jobs we pick can be found all around Maine and by many different employers!
O*Net OnLine
Build your future with O*NET OnLine.
O*NET OnLine has detailed descriptions of the world of work for use by job seekers, workforce development and HR professionals, students, researchers, and more!
The O*NET Program is the nation’s primary source of occupational information. Valid data are essential to understanding the rapidly changing nature of work and how it impacts the workforce and U.S. economy. From this information, applications are developed to facilitate the development and maintenance of a skilled workforce.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for nearly 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas; national occupational estimates for specific industries are also available.
Part 3: Your Resume
Find tips to help build your resume and get it noticed by employers.
How to Get Your Resume Noticed by Employers (video)
Join career expert and award-winning author Andrew LaCivita as he teaches you how to get your resume noticed in 5 seconds guaranteed!
Resume Template (Google Doc)
Use this Google Doc resume template to get started on your job search.
Resume Objective Examples and Corresponding Career Summaries for Entry-Level Job Seekers (blog)
Once you’ve determined that including an objective will benefit your resume, here are some entry-level resume objective examples you may want to consider.
Resume Writing Tips (blog)
Once you’ve determined that including an objective will benefit your resume, here are some entry-level resume objective examples you may want to consider.
Part 4: Your Cover Letter
One of the most challenging parts of the job search is writing an effective cover letter. Here are some tips to help with the writing process.
How to Write a Cover Letter for a Job in 2022 (blog)
You need to write a cover letter, but what is a cover letter, exactly? And what’s the best way to write it? Learn how to write a cover letter with expert tips and examples.
Job Application Email Examples and Writing Tips (blog)
There are many ways to apply for a job. You may need to submit your application through an online system the company has in place.1 For some jobs, particularly retail and hospitality positions, you may still be able to apply in person and fill out an application by hand.
Top Cover Letter Examples in 2022 [For All Professions] (blog)
No matter what stage you are at in your career, a cover letter is an important document to demonstrate your experience and fit for the position you are applying. It’s a way to explain specific scenarios and call out essential skills that aren’t already covered in your resume.
Part 5: References
References are people you know or have worked with who can vouch for your skills and knowledge. Ask colleagues, supervisors, teachers, advisors, volunteer supervisors, clients, or managers to write references for you.
If none of the above are available or you have never worked, use a friend as a character or personal reference or to support your work ethic or reliability.
3 to 4 references are fine for most positions you apply for. If you are applying for a supervisory/upper management position, then it would be helpful to have 5 to 7 people write references for you.
Below are some links to help you create a list of references.
Get your references together for your job search (blog)
An employer may ask for a reference list when considering you for a job. Get the reference format and protocol right by following these expert tips.
Job Reference List Examples (Google Images)
Sometimes an employer will ask for a list of references to help verify that you have a strong work ethic and would be a good match for their open position. Find samples of these reference lists in this Google Image search.
Sample Reference List for Employment (blog)
When you need to provide references to a potential employer, the best way to do this is to create a reference page you can share with them. A reference page is a list of your references.
Employment Services
Visit the other areas of Employment Services: