AIDS LIBRARY RESOURCES for JOB HUNTING
These are some job-hunting books we have in the AIDS Library’s reference collection:
- Gallery of Best Cover Letters: A Collection of Quality Cover Letters by Professional Resume Writers
- Networking and Interviewing for Jobs (from “Putting the Bars Behind” You series
- Job Hunting Tips for People with Hot and Not-So-Hot Backgrounds: 150 Smart Tips That Can Change Your Life
- Resume, Application, and Letter Tips for People with Hot and Not-So-Hot Backgrounds: 185 Tips for Landing the Perfect Job
- The Job-Loss Recovery Guide
These books are designated “REFERENCE,” which means they can’t leave the library, but folks can use the books on site, or make photocopies of pages or sections that they find particularly useful.
We also have a computer program called Resume Pro. Users can enter in their personal information, job history, etc., and the program shapes it into a professional-looking resume, which they can edit and tailor as they chose.
If clients need help using these books or this program, make sure they know to ask for Reference Librarian, Ben Remsen (or any other library staff member, in my absence).
SEARCHING FOR JOBS ONLINE
There are many places to search for jobs online. For general job searches, one of the first websites that I show people is Indeed.com, which is a Google-like search engine that searches other commercial job listings. You can combine a search for a job title or description and with a location, and you can sort your results by full-time/part-time, desired salary, and more.
Also check out:
Inquirer / Daily News job listings
Philadelphia Craigslist job listings
Philly Weekly job listings
Philadelphia city government jobs website
Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance job bank
Snagajob.com – focusing on hourly employment
Community College of Philadelphia job site
University of Pennsylvania job site
Temple University job site
Drexel University job site
St. Joseph’s University job site
La Salle University job site
Remember, online job applicants are usually expected to have an email address. Clients who need an email can get one free from our own Critpath, as well as from Yahoo mail, Gmail, and many other commercial sites. Please feel free to send clients to the library for help with this.
JOB TRAINING IN PHILADELPHIA
Clients can access workshops and training programs through several organizations, including:
Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation
Philadelphia Job Corps (must be 16-24)
Pennsylvania CareerLink
JEVS Human Services
The Free Library of Philadelphia’s Career Services
Follow those links to find out about current programs and to get contact information.
EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS
People living with HIV returning to work may want to consult AIDS Law Project’s Returning to Work: A Helpful Guide, which explains relevant laws clearly and offers advice about such issues as:
- explaining HIV-related employment gaps in interviews
- disclosure on the job
- getting Medicaid while working
If folks feel these rights are being violated, they should use ALP’s intake page contact information to seek legal help.
For legal issues applying to all job-seekers, regardless of HIV-status, see the Community Legal Services webpage on Employment Rights, including explaining:
- Family and Medical Leave
- Unemployment Compensation
- Wage Laws
- and more
To apply for legal representation, if rights are being violated, see CLS’s intake page.
EMPLOYMENT FOR FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE
The Mayor’s Office for Reentry of Ex-Offenders has a webpage of Philadelphia organizations that do job training and/or job placement specifically for people who’ve been incarcerated.
For people dealing with employment discrimination due to criminal records, CLS has a page just on Employment with a Criminal Record, which includes info on:
- “cleaning up” a criminal record
- getting convictions pardoned
- employment rights
- and more
OTHER EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES
For people with employers who are relatively ignorant regarding HIV, but would like to help make their workplace a more comfortable place for PLWHAs, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has a website entitled Business Responds to AIDS/Labor Responds to AIDS that provides information on many workplace issues concerning HIV/AIDS.
TheBody.com has a page of links to articles on HIV and the Workplace, including an article called When Things Are Looking Up: Tips for the Job Search.
AIDS Librarian 