employment service offices throughout the Nation. AJB is accessible at: http://www.ajb.dni.us Professional societies, trade associations, labor unions, business firms, and educational institutions. These organizations provide a variety of free or inexpensive career material. Many of these are in an additional information section of the Handbook. For information on occupations not covered in the Handbook, consult directories in your library's reference section for the names of potential sources. You may start with The Guide to American Directories or The Directory of Directories. Another useful resource is The Encyclopedia of Associations, an annual publication listing trade associations, professional societies, labor unions, and fraternal and patriotic organizations. The National Technical Information Service Audiovisual Center, a central source for audiovisual material produced by the U.S. Government, sells material on jobs and careers. For a catalog, contact: NTIS Audiovisual Center, Springfield, VA 22161. Phone: (800) 5536847. Internet: http://www.ntis.gov/nac Federal Government. Information on employment with the Federal Government is available from the Office of Personnel Management. Consult your telephone directory under U.S. Government for a local number or call (912) 757-3100; TDD (912) 744-2299. ☛ Internet: http://www.usajobs.opm.gov Organizations for specific groups. The organizations listed below provide information on career planning, training, or job opportunities prepared for specific groups. Consult directories in your library's reference center or a career guidance office for information on additional organizations associated with specific groups. Disabled workers: Counseling, training, and placement services for those with disabilities is available from: The National Business and Disability Council, 201 I.U. Willets Rd., Blind workers: Information on the free national reference and referral service for the blind can be obtained by contacting: National Federation of the Blind, Job Opportunities for the Blind (JOB), 1800 Johnson St., Baltimore, MD 21230. Phone: (410) 659-9314. Internet: http://www.nfb.org Older workers: National Association of Older Workers Employment Services, c/o National Council on the Aging, 409 3rd St. SW., Suite 200, Washington, DC 20024. Phone: (202) 479-1200. National Caucus and Center on Black Aged, Inc., 1424 K St. NW., Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005. Phone: (202) 637-8400. Internet: http://www.ncba-blackaged.org Asociación Nacional pro Personas Mayores (National Association for Hispanic Elderly), 234 East Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91101. Phone: (626) 564-1988. Veterans: Contact the nearest regional office of the U.S. Department of Labor Veterans' Employment and Training Service or: Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS), 200 Constitution Ave. NW., Room S-1315, Washington, DC 20210. Phone: (202) 2199116. Internet: http://www.dol.gov/dol/vets Women: Department of Labor, Women's Bureau Clearinghouse, 200 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20210. Phone: (800) 827-5335. Internet: http://www.dol.gov/dol/wb Wider Opportunities for Women, 815 15th St. NW., Suite 916, Washington, DC 20005. Phone: (202) 638-3143. Internet: http://www.wowonline.org Federal laws, executive orders, and selected Federal grant programs bar discrimination in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, and handicap. Information on how to file a charge of discrimination is available from U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission offices around the country. Their addresses and telephone numbers are listed in telephone directories under U.S. Government, EEOC. Internet: http://www.eeoc.gov Education and training information Colleges, schools, and training institutes readily reply to requests for information about their programs. When contacting these institutions, you may want to keep in mind the following items: • Admission requirements • Courses offered Certificates or degrees awarded • Cost Available financial aid • Placement rate of graduates Check with professional and trade associations for lists of schools that offer career preparation in a field in which you are interested. High school guidance offices and libraries usually have copies of the directories listed below, as well as college catalogs that can provide more information on specific institutions. Helpful resources include the Directory of Private Career Schools and Colleges of Technology, put out by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology. Be sure to use the latest edition because these directories and catalogs are revised periodically. Information about home or correspondence study programs appears in the Directory of Accredited Institutions. Send requests for the Directory and a list of other publications to: Distance Education and Training Council, 1601 18th St. NW., Washington, DC 20009. Phone: (202) 234-5100. Internet: http://www.detc.org Information about apprenticeships is available from local labor unions, school guidance counselors, and State employment offices or from: Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW., Room N-4649, Washington, DC 20210. Phone: (202) 219-5921. Internet: http://www.doleta.gov/ individ/apprent.htm Completing an internship is an excellent way for students and others to learn about an occupation and to make valuable contacts. Many employers offer internships that provide shortterm or part-time job experience that can lead to a permanent position. Contact your school's career guidance center or employers directly regarding internship opportunities. Financial aid information Information about financial aid is available from a variety of sources. Contact your high school guidance counselor and college financial aid officer for information concerning qualifications and applications for scholarships, fellowships, grants, loans, and work-study programs. Every State administers financial aid programs; contact State Departments of Education for information. Banks and credit unions will provide information about student loans. You also may want to consult the directories and guides available in guidance offices and public libraries for sources of student financial aid. The Federal Government provides grants, loans, workstudy programs, and other benefits to students. Information about programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education is presented in The Student Guide to Federal Financial Aid Programs, updated annually. To receive a copy, write to: Federal Student Aid Information Center, c/o Federal Student Aid Programs, P.O. Box 84, Washington, DC 20044-0084. Phone: (800) 4333243. Internet: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/Students The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers loan, scholarship, and faculty loan repayment programs. Phone: (301) 443-4776. Internet: http://www.hrsa.dhhs.gov/bhpr/dsa/dsa.htm Copies of The Student Guide, a guide to financial aid, are available from the U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid Information Center. Phone: (800) 433-3243. Internet: http://www.ed.gov/prog_info/sfa/studentguide College is Possible-a resource guide prepared by the Coalition of America's Colleges and Universities and the U.S. Department of Education-lists books, pamphlets, and Internet sites to help students prepare for, choose, and pay for college. It includes information on scholarships and is available in English and Spanish. Phone: (800) 433-3243. Internet: http://www.collegeispossible.org The Armed Forces have several educational assistance programs. These include the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), the new G.I. bill, and tuition assistance. Information can be obtained from military recruiting centers, located in most cities. Internet: http://www.defenselink.mil/other_info/careers.html State and local information The Handbook provides information for the Nation as a whole. State or local area information is available from: State employment security agencies. These agencies develop detailed information about local labor markets, such as current and projected employment by occupation and industry, characteristics of the work force, and changes in State and local area economic activity. Listed below are addresses and telephone numbers of the directors of research and analysis in these agencies and, in most cases, Internet addresses of these agencies. Most States have career information delivery systems (CIDS). Look for these systems in secondary schools, postsecondary institutions, libraries, job training sites, vocational rehabilitation centers, and employment service offices. The public can use the systems' computers, printed material, microfiche, and toll-free hotlines to obtain information on occupations, educational opportunities, student financial aid, apprenticeships, and military careers. Ask counselors for specific locations. State occupational projections are also available on the Internet: http://www.dws.state.ut.us/bls Alabama Chief, Labor Market Information, Alabama Department of Industrial Relations, 649 Monroe St., Room 422, Montgomery, AL 36130. Phone: (334) 242-8800. Internet: http://www.dir.state.al.us/lmi Alaska Chief, Research and Analysis, Alaska Department of Labor, P.O. Box 25501, Arizona Research Administrator, Arizona Department of Economic Security, P.O. Box 6123, Site Code 733A, Phoenix, AZ 85005. Phone: (602) 542-3871. Internet: http://www.de.state.az.us/links/economic/webpage/page6.html Arkansas Labor Market Information Director, Arkansas Employment Security Department, P.O. Box 2981, Little Rock, AR 72203-2981. Phone: (501)6823159. Internet: http://www.state.ar.us/esd California Chief, Labor Market Information Division, California Employment Development Department, P.O. Box 826880, MIC 57, Sacramento, CA 942800001. Phone: (916) 262-2160. Internet: http://www.calmis.cahwnet.gov Colorado Director, Labor Market Information, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, 1515 Arapahoe St., Tower 2, Suite 400, Denver, CO 802022117. Phone: (303) 620-4977. Internet: http://lmi.cdle.state.co.us Connecticut Director, Office of Research and Information, Connecticut Labor Department, 200 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield, CT 06109-1114. Phone: (860) 263-6255. Internet: http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/lmi/index.htm Delaware Labor Market Information Director, Delaware Department of Labor, 4425 District of Columbia Chief of Labor Market Information, District of Columbia Department of Employment Services, 500 C St. NW., Room 201, Washington, DC 20001. Phone: (202) 724-7214. College career planning and placement offices. College placement offices help their students and alumni find jobs. They set up appointments and allow recruiters to use their facilities for interviews. Placement offices usually have a list of part-time, temporary, and summer jobs offered on campus. They may also have lists of jobs for regional, nonprofit, and government organizations. Students can receive career counseling and testing and job search advice. At career resource libraries they may attend workshops on such topics as job search strategy, resume writing, letter writing, and effective interviewing; critique drafts of resumes and watch videotapes of mock interviews; explore files of resumes and references; and attend job fairs conducted by the placement office. Classified ads. The "Help Wanted" ads in newspapers list numerous jobs. You should realize, however, that many other job openings are not listed, and that the classified ads sometimes do not give all of the important information. They may offer little or no description of the job, working conditions, or pay. Some ads do not identify the employer. They may simply give a post office box to mail your resume to, making follow-up inquiries very difficult. Some ads offer out-of-town jobs; others advertise employment agencies rather than actual employment opportunities. When using classified ads, keep the following in mind: Do not rely solely on the classifieds to find a job; follow other leads as well. Answer ads promptly, because openings may be filled quickly, even before the ad stops appearing in the paper. Read the ads every day, particularly the Sunday edition, which usually includes the most listings. Beware of "no experience necessary" ads. These ads often signal low wages, poor working conditions, or commission work. Keep a record of all ads to which you have responded, including the specific skills, educational background, and personal qualifications required for the position. Internet networks and resources. The Internet, which is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, provides a variety of information, including job listings and job search resources and techniques. However, no single network or resource will contain all of the information available on employment or career opportunities, so be prepared to search for what you need. Remember that job listings may be posted by field or discipline, so begin your search using keywords. When searching employment databases on the Internet, it is sometimes possible to send your resume to an employer by e-mail or to post it on-line. Some sources allow you to send e-mail free of charge, but be careful that you are not going to incur any additional charges for postings or updates. State employment service offices. The State employment service, sometimes called Job Service, operates in coordination with the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment Service. Local offices, found nationwide, help jobseekers find jobs and help employers find qualified workers at no cost to either. To find the office nearest you, look in the State government telephone listings under "Job Service" or "Employment." Job matching and referral. At the State employment service office, an interviewer will determine if you are "job ready" or if you need help from counseling and testing services to assess your occupational aptitudes and interests and to help you choose and prepare for a career. After you are "job ready," you may examine available job listings and select openings that interest you. A staff member can then describe the job openings in detail and arrange for interviews with prospective employers. America's Job Bank, run by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration, provides: Information on preparing your resume and using the Internet for your job search; trends in the U.S. job market; State occupational projections; and a list of approximately 1 million job openings. The list contains a wide range of mostly full-time private sector |