Heights Libraries is offering two new, free, online tools to help customers sharpen their job-search skills and find jobs, with a special emphasis on veterans and adult learners.
Provided through parent company Brainfuse, both VetNow and JobNow online services provide real-time access to live job coaches and on-demand access to a comprehensive array of online tools. These tools help users assess current skills and career aptitudes, create resumes, apply for jobs, and practice interview skills. Job seekers can communicate with live tutors using an interactive whiteboard to chat, write, draw, copy/paste text or images, and graph homework problems.
“The job market, and the job applications process itself, has changed so quickly over the past 10 years, and more and more customers were coming to us for help–we knew we needed an online resource that could supplement our one-on-one services and be used independently,” said Technology Trainer Nia Turner. “These self-paced online resources provide a lot of flexibility for people who are often too busy to attend a class or make an appointment, and who have different needs and challenges.”
Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, the new services can accommodate job seekers with a variety of specific needs, such as veterans and adult learners.
According to the Pew Research Center, only 25 percent of veterans have a civilian job lined up when they leave the military. VetNow helps connect veterans with live experts who can answer questions about VA benefits, offer help with transitioning from military to civilian careers, and provide access to many other essential community resources.
More specialized help for adult learners can be found through JobNow’s online Adult Learning Center. Users can access assistance and preparation resources for the High School Equivalency (GED) and U.S. Citizenship tests, resume assistance, Microsoft Office support, and career resources. The Learning Center also offers a writing lab, practice tests, and tutoring for specific academic skills.
Anyone with a Heights Libraries card can use VetNow and JobNow whenever they like, from anywhere with an internet connection. For more information or help accessing Brainfuse, contact the tech trainers in the Lee Road HKIC at (216) 932-3600 ext. 1221 or techexpert@heightslibrary.org.