Employer research is a vital part of the job search process. Successful job hunters are often those who do the most research in finding information on their field, occupations and especially in researching potential employers—the companies or organizations and contacts for whom they would like to work.

The Calgary Public Library has a large collection of both general and specific company and organization directories. Our Reference USA: Canadian Businesses database is hands down our most popular source for lists of potential employers.

Reference USA: Canadian Businesses is a comprehensive database of Canadian businesses, both large and small, organizations and more. The database can be searched by industry, keyword, location (province, city and even postal code), and results can be narrowed down by business size and financial data.

Once you've completed your search, you can easily create your own contact list in spreadsheet format containing the company or organization listings and any of the details (address, company size, contact names) to save to your flash or hard drive.

Calgary Public Library members can access Reference USA: Canadian Businesses with their library card number on any computer from our website:

1. Click on the E-Library link at the top of our homepage
2. Click on the Business, Directories, Investment & Careers link
3. Click Reference USA: Canadian Businesses (near the bottom of the page)
4. Once you are logged in to our site with your library card and PIN numbers, choose the Canadian Businesses link to get started.

If you need some help using the database, please visit any library location, call us at 403-260-2782 or contact us by email at busn@calgarypubliclibrary.com or by logging onto InfoChat on the left hand side of this page. The Reference USA video tutorial is helpful:

Barbara Moses, Ph.D, an international speaker, work/life expert, and best-selling author, recently wrote a fascinating article on career reinvention.

Singing A New Tune: Revamping Your Career Path
Globe & Mail, August 19, 2011

A self-styled "mother of reinvention," singer Madonna has constantly changed her wardrobe, performance style and music to stay ahead of the curve. But look a little closer and she is still an entertainer selling sex.

From Spice Girls singer to fashion designer, Victoria Beckham is another famously touted career re-inventor. But actually she has been a clothes horse from the time she was young, and simply used her celebrity status and interest in fashion to turn what was always a hobby into a business.

Neither of these so-called career re-inventors really reinvented herself. Rather, in their different ways, they both renewed themselves by building on things that were already part of who they are. Madonna repackaged herself again and again, while Ms. Beckham reoriented her skills to capitalize on a passion.

Both celebrities offer a lesson for those who have strong desires to reinvent themselves. It's a desire that rears itself especially at this time of the year when workers return from vacation and are confronted with the same old assignments, petty office politics and feelings that they are working too hard for too little. They imagine more glamorous lives with greater appreciation, recognition and money, a better boss and more interesting work. In essence, they want to transform their lives into something completely new and shiny.

But that is not do-able. Instead, they should think more like Madonna and Ms. Beckham, who provide models not for reinvention, but for successful career renewal. (Click here for her full article)

Find Dr. Moses' books, including the popular What Next? Find the Work That's Right For You, at the Calgary Public Library

So You Want to Be a Counselor?, by Barbara Nefer

This book is a comprehensive guide for anyone considering a career in professional mental health counseling. It covers every step of the journey, from choosing a school and program to earning state licensure to the ongoing responsibilities of a counseling practice.

Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 3.0, by Jay Conrad Levinson

This new Third Edition features the latest job-hunting strategies for the Information Age. You'll discover key techniques to reach hiring managers at the employers you want to work for most. New chapters integrate using social media and social networking tools like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and ZoomInfo in your job search.

The Medic's Guide to Work and Electives Around the World, by Mark Wilson

This is a motivational and practical guide to making the most of your time abroad, whether as a student taking a medical elective, or a medical professional looking for a longer term change in scene.

Cleaning Up for a Living, by Don Aslett

A comprehensive guide to everything you need to know about the building services contractor business. Written in a down-to-earth, lively style that makes even the most technical subject easy to grasp and understand.

McGraw-Hill's LSAT, by Curvebreakers

The LSAT guide created by top students at Harvard Law School to help you achieve your dream score! Members of Curvebreakers have been where you are--preparing for the LSAT, hoping to get a score that leads to admission to one's first choice of law school--so they know what it takes for success.

International Student Handbook 2012: [for students seeking to study in the U.S.]

This book is the only book exclusively for foreign students! It has information on 2,900 colleges, including each school’s “international profile.” This guide covers financial aid, Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) requirements, housing availability, and special services for international students.

Step-By-Step Resumes, by Evelyn U. Salvador

A guide to building a resume includes a collection of thousands of resume keywords to make one's resume stand out in electronic databases and a section on integrating a resume into one's social-networking strategy.

Guerrilla Marketing for a Bulletproof Career, by Jay Conrad Levinson

This book is an honest, practical, and hard-hitting guide for career success in perpetually uncertain times.

Cracking the GED, by Geoff Martz

If you need to know it, it’s in this book!

Cracking the LSAT, by Adam Robinson

Cracking the LSAT with DVD, 2012 Edition includes everything you need to know to master the Arguments, Logic Games, Reading Comprehension, and Writing sections of the exam.

I love reading blogs from other Canadian libraries and career organizations , as they often offer great new ideas or approaches in regards to job search. Such is the case with Toronto Public Library, which has a robust career and employment focus. This post focused on a popular and current subject, internship, and is well worth the read (with thanks to Miss Spencer):

WANTED Interns: Is It Worth The Experience Of Not Getting Paid?

For those wanting to learn more about the process in Alberta, the Government of Alberta has good overview of internships, including links to handbooks:

What Are Internships?: Government of Alberta

The also have a listing of profiles of internship programs that are offered regularly in the Government of Alberta:

Internship Program Descriptions

This month’s Library book review is from local career consultant Joy Cohen. Joy recently presented a LinkedIn seminar at the Central Library, where she talked about one of her favourite book series: Knock ‘em Dead.

Knock ‘em Dead Secrets & Strategies for Success in an Uncertain World is a satisfying read that offers practical advice that I have found to be personally instrumental on my own career path, as well as a helpful tool with my clients. Interestingly, I’d been a huge fan of his Knock ‘em Dead series, so I networked with the author through LinkedIn and he sent me an autographed copy!

Martin Yate emphasizes a straight forward, no nonsense, step by step approach to job search and career management advice suitable for new graduates and seasoned workers. I really enjoy his writing and have found that his enthusiasm is contagious and he possesses a flair for constructing creative, well written resumes and cover letters that get positive attention. He does, however, bluntly claim that this book will provide everything you need to take control of your life, which I found to be rather broad and subjective.

Three of the most important key concepts in Yate’s book emphasizes include:

1. Self-Responsibility

Successful career management and job search takes time, daily work and planning. If you’re stuck, then get practical help from a Career Coach to help keep you on track and motivated.

2. Producing Effective Resumes

Target and focus your resume and cover letter to each job posting. Yate discusses this in detail and his solution is TJD: Target Job Deconstruction for reconstructing a resume that employers will want to read. Generic resumes and “to whom it may concern” cover letters are extremely ineffective and usually do not result in many job interviews. Effective, relevant, worthwhile resumes contain key words and phrases that entice the reader to call the candidate.

3. Network, Network, Network!

It’s all about relationships. “The success of your job search depends on getting into conversation with people in a position to hire you, as quickly and as often as possible,” stresses Yate. This book contains little gems on how to bypass gatekeepers and make contact with decision makers. Quite simply, if you are not networking and following up with employers, i.e., finding names and contact information of people who can help you get resume requests and job interviews, then learn how to do so. Etiquette is also critical and will distinguish you in either a positive or negative way from other candidates. For instance, if you think that a thank you letter, card or email after an interview is a waste of time, think again. Lastly, if you have been attending job interviews and have not received job offers, then ask for feedback about your interview performance and make necessary changes.

Joy Cohen BPA-HS, RSW Career Consultant/Résumé Writer

Web: http://everydayjoycohen.ca/Tel: (403) 244-8771 Toll Free Canada and US: 1-888-534-5405

This past January, the Calgary Public Library started up our very successful Strategic Networking program. Held every Thursday evening from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. on the Third Floor of the Central Library, the Strategic Networking program joins our other popular Career Coaching program to make Thursday evenings at the Central Library a welcoming, high-energy gathering place for job seekers and those looking to expand their career and employment options.

The drop-in networking sessions are facilitated by our fantastic group of volunteers who have varied and extensive experience in the field of Human Resources in Calgary. The facilitators share networking tips and set up practice activities. Participants share networking ideas and successes and have the opportunity to practice their own networking skills. The session also provides the opportunity for some real networking with participants connecting with one another.

One of our volunteers, Debbie Mastel, explains why she believes the Strategic Networking program has been such a success:

"The Calgary Public Library's Strategic Networking program attracts a diverse group of participants from a wide variety of industries and all at different stages in their careers. Not only do participants get pointers on networking skills, they get to try them out at every session. Participants who have positions often continue to attend the sessions to share their successes, gain more practice in networking and continue to grow their network."

Whether you are currently looking for a new job or career or just realizing you need to improve your ability to network, consider joining us Thursday evenings at the Central Library for our Strategic Networking and Career Coaching programs.

Where: Third Floor, Central Library

When: Thursday evenings

Strategic Networking 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Career Coaching 6:00 to 7:45 p.m. (one-on-one help with resumes, interviews and general career advice)

No registration is required for either program.

New! The Calgary Public Library is excited to share reviews of its print and electronic career resources. These reviews are written by local career practitioners and will give you the inside scoop on some of the Library's best resources for job search and career planning. The following book is available through the Library's website as an eBook: see below for instructions.

Social Networking For Career Success 2011: A Choice Works Book Review

If you are looking for a user-friendly, systematic narrative on how to leverage online tools to grow your professional network, generate job search momentum, manage your online identity or craft your personal brand, then this book is well worth your time. Miriam Salpeter provides refreshingly clear and focused guidance for job seekers. With Social Networking for Career Success 2011, you can begin to explore the value of incorporating social media into both active and passive stages of work search. This is an excellent resource designed to educate and inform. It avoids tacky self-promotion and succeeds in meeting the dynamic needs of recent graduates, experienced professionals, career explorers, small business owners, consultants and those considering encore careers.

Packed full of relevant sources for readers to explore in depth, this book also offers time saving tips gained from the practical experiences of the author. Expect to find how-to segments to begin using Linked In, Twitter, Facebook, Blogging and Social Bookmarking, strategies for crafting your Personal Brand, methods to manage your online identity and introductions to many other online tools. Challenging the belief that social media is merely the latest way to damage your professional credibility and get yourself fired, Salpeter causes readers to rethink career possibilities and evaluate their own attitudes toward social media’s transformation of our society. I consider this book a must-have, big-picture gem for those interested in capturing the best of what the online world has to offer.

By: Samantha Schellenberg, Alberta Employment & Immigration Career Development Workshop Facilitator, Designer and Presenter. Director, ChoiceWorks Rehabilitation Solutions Ltd.

Note: This book is one of many career books available as electronic books (eBooks) from one of the Library's subscription databases called Learning Express. You can download these books for free onto your home computer. Click here to learn how to access these publications.

Given that the consensus still seems to be that thank you cards are a vital after a job interview, Calgary Public Library customers often ask staff for books or magazine articles that can offer guidance on how to write such letters. Books such as Hire Me, Inc: Interviews The Get Offers and The Advice of a Headhunter offer strategies for writing meaningful letters when "going for the close" in trying to secure a job. They also discuss whether email or hand written notes are the best options in trying to make your letter stand out from the crowd.

A recent article in the Globe and Mail had a nice summary of the four main elements you should include in your thank you letter. The author, a career coach, stresses that such letters should be much more than notes to say "Thank you for the opportunity to meet you."

Staying on the Radar After The Job Interview

One of the Calgary Public Library's volunteer career coaches recently watched and recommended a webinar on LinkedIn. The following is a text summary of the webinar, including the much debated topic of whether or not to use a photograph on your LinkedIn profile:

Six Things NOT to do When Using LinkedIn

One of the most critical elements of finding the right recruiter is to find one who specializes in your industry.Why? Because recruiters are networking for you, so it's in your best interest to stick to those who are well versed in your area of expertise and have valuable contacts in your industry.

According to Service Alberta, there are currently 237 recruiters in the City. So how do you narrow down your search? The Association of Canadian Search, Employment and Staffing Services is one site that allows you to search by industry area. Although it's not a comprehensive list, it can kickstart your efforts to identify specialists in your area.

Job Seekers: Finding a Staffing Company

The Calgary Public Library aslo has two print directories that list recruiters across Canada. The Directory of Executive and Professional Recruiters and the Directory of Canadian Recruiters are both available for reference (in library) use on the Central Library's Third Floor. The latter book was also written to provide a full understanding of the process, including what you need to do to make the recruiting experience successful.

You may also search the complete list of recruiters by using the Service Alberta site:

Search for A Business in Alberta

You can search by license type from the pull down menu, and you will get a listing of all employment agencies that are legally entitled to work in Alberta. The Alberta government has also a guide to using employment agencies that answers some frequently asked questions:

Using Recruitment or Employment Agencies