Research Guides: Careers: Resources

This guide links you to library and online resources to help you find information on careers, improve job skills, or start a business.The careers and job search section has the Occupational Outlook Handbook plus other relevant eBooks, databases, websites, and streaming videos to help you learn about career opportunities and how to get a job. Use the resources in the skills improvement & employment exams section for help with employment exams and improving job skills. For entrepreneurs go to start your own business to explore the resources available to help you.

Careers and Job Search

Websites on Career Topics

These online resources provide information on careers and offer resources to help with your job search, including preparing a resume.

Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH)
A comprehensive career resource published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). It provides detailed information on hundreds of occupations in the U.S. job market
Career and Job Search eBooks
A collection of career books from eBook Collection (EBSCOhost)
Resumes & Cover Letters eBooks (EBSCO)
eBooks on writing cover letters and creating resumes available in the database eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) .
Career Onestop
From the U.S. Department of Labor and produced by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development providing integrated workforce and career-related information to support job seekers, students, workers, career professionals, and employers in navigating the evolving employment landscape

Use These Databases to Learn About Career Opportunities

Use one of these specialized databases or credible websites to learn about careers and successful job searching techniques.

Peterson's Career Prep (Gale Presents)
Discover which careers suit you best, research potential career options, and explore the requirements and outlooks for the occupations of your interest. Access limited by IP to users located in Tennessee. Resource provided by Tennessee Electronic Library
Peterson’s Test and Career Prep (Gale Presents)
Search thousands of college and graduate schools, identify scholarships, take practice tests, create resumes, and explore careers. Resource for career assessments, resume/cover letter creation and the advice for job seekers. Includes college/career practice tests and eBooks, school and scholarship searches. NOTE: Access limited by IP to users located in Tennessee. Resource provided by Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL).
Vocations and Careers (Gale OneFile)
Magazines and trade publications for researching a vocation, job searching, and maintaining a career. General career guides and specialized industry journals. NOTE Access limited by IP to users located in Tennessee. Resource provided by Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL).

Watch Streaming Videos on Career Topics

Videos available on career exploration, career fields, job search skills, and job success skills.

Careers & Job Search (Films on Demand)
Search videos on career exploration, career fields, job search skills, and job success skills.
Closed-captioned with transcripts.

Resume Writing Tool

The TEL database Testing & Education Reference Center (TERC) has a resume writing tool – VisualCV Resume Creator – that provides

18 default templates for creating resumes
various editing options, including the ability to upload existing resumes
a cover letter editor, which includes three sample templates
a website editor so users can quickly create a website for their resume to share with potential employers
an external library of 5,000 resume examples across varied industries

Create your account in TERC to use this resume tool and then

Navigate to the College Prep menu
Choose Resume Writing from the dropdown menu
Choose VisualCV Resume Creator
Create a new resume or import from a template

Skills Improvement and Employment Exams

Technology Tutorials (Free)
Intimidated by computers? New to email or the web? Want to stay safe online or understand how your operating system works? This collection of technology tutorials can help improve your skills.

Peterson’s Test and Career Prep (Gale Presents)
Peterson's Test and Career Prep has resources for job and college success. Improve your math, English, and Microsoft Office skills or take a practice employment exam. Employment exams are available for many career fields including firefighting, law enforcement, military, nursing, and teaching. Resource is provided by the Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL) and is free for residents of Tennessee. Create your account to get started today.

Go to the Career center to practice for a career related exam, explore career options, or learn how to create a resume

Small Businesses

Here are a few resources to help as you explore the idea of starting your own business. The databases are specific to small business owners and entrepreneurs. The websites are state and national government agencies that help small businesses. These websites will connect you with other resources.

Small Business Databases

Entrepreneurship (Gale Business)
Covers all major areas of starting and operating a business. Includes a "How To" menu for the most frequently asked new business questions. NOTE: Access limited by IP to users located in Tennessee. Resource provided by Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL).
Entrepreneurship (Gale OneFile)
Journals and magazines for both business school students and entrepreneurs. Database insights, tips, strategies and success stories. NOTE: Access limited by IP to users located in Tennessee. Resource provided by Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL)

Websites for Small Businesses

Division of Workforce and Economic Development

Programs and services are available for a broad range of personal, professional, and workforce development needs of the local community and area business and industry. The division is organized into four departments: workforce development, small business development, healthcare training, and non-credit online courses.

Learn more about the programs and services of each department by visiting the Division for Workforce and Economic Development's website.

Business Enterprise Resource Office (BERO)
Information and resources to support small businesses, microenterprises and entrepreneurs.
Tennessee state government website
Small Business Administration (SBA)
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent agency of the federal government. Its mission is to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns.
US government website

Careers

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