As President Barack Obama was again sworn into office this past weekend, the nation’s unemployment rate sat where it was four years ago, at his first inauguration: 7.8 percent. However, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), when combined with the underemployed, people working part-time, but who want full-time positions, and those too discouraged to job hunt this past month, the rate is 14.4 percent, Sometimes, the hardest part about landing a new job is simply finding a job that fits your experience and skillset. With more than 12 million Americans unemployed, finding a job can seem like a daunting task.
According to the BLS, there are still roughly 3.7 million open jobs waiting to be filled. If you are among those struggling to find a job, here are a few services that can help you find an open position, and even prepare you for your interviews.
Local Workforce Boards
Nearly all state unemployment agencies require that you look for work while you collect unemployment, but many people do not fully utilize the other services that the state can provide when looking for a job, said Amy Ruth of Jacksonville-based staffing firm, Incepture.
States like Florida are broken up into more than a dozen districts, each of which has partnerships with local employers and programs to help match jobseekers with an appropriate job. Often, employers who have partnered with a workforce board are only allowed to list open positions with the state, so if you’re not using your local workforce board you may be missing dozens of potential positions.
Resume Services
Though it’s one of the only documents you typically send when you apply for a job, many people underestimate the importance of the resume. Resumes are especially important when applying online, since many companies use filters to search for specific keywords in a resume and discard any without those important words or phrases.
Using a resume writing service will create a resume that will accurately reflect your skills and stand out to a hiring manager. Before you select a resume service, make sure to sit down with the company to verify that they can produce a resume that represents you as a potential employee.
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