If you own a computer, you're in luck, but if you don't, you can easily locate one you can use for free or for a small fee at one of the following spots:
• At a computer cafe that charges low fees by the minute or hour
• At a public library-for free!
• At a copy center, like Kinko's
• At a local one-stop career center, if you qualify for services
A note about career centers: One-stop career centers were created for public use by the U.S. federal government in the 1990s. They can be found in every large city and many medium-sized towns across the nation. You can also participate in their free workshops on resumes, interviewing, and other job-related topics as well as obtain limited one-to-one support with a career counselor.
Because they are founded and maintained by government funding, you have to call first to see if you qualify for services. Don't count yourself out! I've seen everyone from secretaries to CEOs to writers and actors utilizing one-stop career centers. If you need to use a computer for research or wish to further investigate their offerings, go to the Internet address provided below.
If you were laid off from your last position, you definitely qualify to use these career centers. You may also be qualified for other reasons, such as income, family situation, veteran's status, age, disability, substance abuse history, and many more.
Keep in mind that one-stops are not only a place to use a free computer-they are also a terrific resource and source of support for just about every job seeker.
You can get in touch with one of the many thousands of one-stop career centers around the United States to see if you are qualified to use their services.
Company Web Sites
Almost every large company has a Web site (usually www.their-companyname.com). Many medium and very small (even one-person) companies also have a presence on the Web. The key is finding them.
Some companies will have Web sites with initials that stand for the name such as www.abc.com standing for "American Business Center." Instead of guessing, though, I suggest that you save time and go to a major search engine like Google (www.google.com) and enter the company name (in full) as your search term. This will bring you directly to a link you can click on to go to the company Web site.
Explore the site. Notice both the content and the "feel" of the site. Is it leaning toward a traditional type of design or toward a bold modern design? This alone may tell you a little bit about the personality of the company. What is the company message or mission? Does it have a slogan or catch phrase that reveals its philosophy? What products or services does it offer? How large is the company, and when was it founded? Who is the CEO or some of the other executive members?
Are there any names of women in those ranks? Is it very, or not at all, important to you that women be leaders of a company this size? Where does the company appear to be moving? Is it announcing any new product or service lines? What is the general feeling or attitude it seems to project regarding its customers? How about its employees?
Company Mission Statements
Steven Beasley, one of the leading researchers and lecturers on competencies in the world, counsels job candidates to "align their competencies with the mission of the company" for the best interviewing results.
Here's an actual mission statement from a leading Internet company that clearly spells out some of the competencies it expects from its employees. This mission statement was plainly written on their Web site.
It is our goal to foster an environment of creativity and cooperation, where each employee can participate in the company mission: to create, and continue to improve upon, a product that serves the community and the world as a leader in the pursuit of knowledge and information.
Remember our list of personal traits in Chapter 2? This company is telling you right here in its mission statement what it is looking for.
Having read and absorbed the mission statement, you might want to emphasize the following qualities (and others you have that seem to match their values) if you were seeking employment there:
• Creative
• Self-motivated
• Innovative
• Team oriented
• Experienced in handling interpersonal communication
• Inventive
• Experienced in problem solving