Good news! Here is a resource you may not have tapped into for your job search. If you are an alumnus of a college or graduate school, there is a good chance that you are entitled to lifetime career services. Some schools offer services free of charge, while others charge a fee. In addition, public libraries and community colleges are also a source of career information and resources. If you are serious about your search, it is worth your time to contact them and see what they have to offer.

Here are ten ways they may be able to help you:

1. Provide Useful Career Advice
Typically community colleges and public libraries offer limited but free career counseling and self-assessment to individuals in the community. Check your local area for details and set up an appointment with someone to coach you objectively. Some times they offer appointment during convenient evening hours.

2. Critique Your Resume & Cover Letters
Having a professional review your resume and cover letters can help you polish up these important documents.

3. Develop Interview Skills
Mock interviews (videotaped practice interviews) are often offered and designed to improve your delivery.

4. Supply Job Listings
Job opportunities may be available only to students and alumni of the college.

5. Maintain a Career & Graduate School Library
Public libraries and career centers will have resources for your search. These may include handouts and books on specific career fields, self-assessment, career exploration, resumes and cover letters, interviewing, job search techniques, evaluating job offers. In addition, they may have graduate school catalogs, test information, sample essays and financing information.

6. Offer Alumni Networking Listings
Upon special request, the career center can provide a list of alumni for networking purposes. Sometimes they can break them down by career field, geographic region or even by employer name. Alumni tend to be generous with assisting other alumni.

7. Arrange Recruiting Services
Some career centers will allow you to submit resumes for employers that are coming to campus to recruit. Often companies want not only entry-level candidates, but also the experienced alumni of a targeted school. Call them and ask if they can give you a complete list of all the companies that recruit each semester; sometimes it is available on the career center’s website.

8. Provide Technology Resources
Career centers typically have a fax, copier and laser printer and computers with Internet for alumni use.

9. Post Your Resume Online
The staff at a career center staff can help you post your resume to some of the best sites and even directly to their page so that companies they deal with will be exposed to your resume. Additional job links on their website will be a good resource.

10. Inform You About Career Fairs
Sometimes colleges sponsor career fairs and other networking programs open to students, alumni and the community.

Using a career center is only one of the many tools in your arsenal for finding your next job opportunity. Remember, your local public library or campus career center may not offer all of these resources. However, you have nothing to lose by contacting them and investigating a summary of their services. A quality job means a quality job search, and your library or local career center can help you fulfill your goals.