Job Seeker's Toolkit

This career and employment toolkit is designed to support job-seekers and those who assist job-seekers with resources on job searches, resume writing, application and interview preparation, vocational training, and more.

reviewing a resume for a job with printout and computer keyboard

Table of Contents

Planning & Research

Looking for a Job

Preparing Your Application

Interview Preparation

Benefits, Permits, & Licenses

Additional Resources

Planning & Research

Register for an Email Address

  • Two popular providers of web-based email accounts are Google Gmail, and Yahoo.
    • For help registering for a web-based e-mail account, read the Gmail and Yahoo registration help documents (PDF) from Enoch Pratt Free Library
    • Gmail and Yahoo ask new registrants for a cellphone number, so if you do not have a cellphone that can receive text messages, please select another email service.
  • Two email providers that do not require a phone number to register are ProtonMail and Mail.com. 
  • Note: If you will be using this email account to contact employers, consider selecting a professional-sounding email address. This commonly means using some combination of your first and/or last names.

Develop Your Computer Skills

The Pratt Library offers extensive, free computer training resources. These offerings range from group training classes, to online training resources, to individualized appointments with our Digital Navigators. Available training includes basic computer skills as well as introductions to common programs such as Microsoft Office, Gmail, and more.

Computer Training

Research a Career

Use these resources to research a career before you submit an application and to evaluate a position after you have received a job offer:

  • The Occupational Outlook Handbook from the Bureau of Labor Statistics contains information about specific careers. Entries describe what the work in a particular field is like, what compensation and benefits can be expected, and what qualifications are required. The “Job Outlook” section of each job entry shows projections about the number of jobs in that field in the years to come.
  • O*Net, produced by the U.S. Department of Labor, describes what a job or career is “really like” by exploring the common features of different careers. 
  • MyNextMove.org, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, can be accessed either by a keyword search, browsing known industries, or answering survey questions. The site is also available in Spanish.
  • Career One-Stop, also sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, can be used to research a career, look at detailed, state-specific occupation and industry profiles, use self-assessment tools, and learn more about salaries & benefits, education & training, and resumes & applications.

Research a Potential Employer

  • Visit the company’s website. Review the annual report, strategic plan, or financial disclosure documents about the company prior to an interview.
  • Use Business Source Premier or Regional Business News to find information about the company.
  • Look for the company’s listing with the Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland.
  • Use Mergent Online to find company information including financial details, affiliate companies, executives, and competitors. Select D&B 20 Million Plus Private Company Search to search for private companies.
  • Private companies are more difficult to research. Visit the Business, Science and Technology Department at the Enoch Pratt Free Library, Maryland’s State Library Resource Center, to access Hoover’s Handbook of Private Companies 2020.

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Looking for a Job

Find a Job Opening Online

  • America's Job Exchange focuses on diversity. Includes:  veterans job exchange, disability job exchange, diversity job exchange.
  • Baltimore Craigslist Postings are broken up into categories.  Job search can be limited by different categories, including part-time, telecommute, contract, internship, or non-profit.
  • Baltimore Sun Classified Ads through Career Builder. Baltimore City jobs are included, and the Web site can also be searched for jobs nationwide.
  • Career Builder is an online job marketplace affiliated with 90 newspapers, including the Baltimore Sun. Registered users can also post résumés and set up job alerts.
  • Career One-Stop includes a nationwide job-search tool.
  • Idealist   connects "idealists with opportunities for action"   Includes NGOs (Non-governmental Organizations), non-profits, educational institutions.
  • Indeed collects job listings from many different websites of all kinds, presenting you with a wide range of vacancies from multiple sources.
  • LinkedIn  is good for networking and learning from colleagues in your field.
  • LinkUp is a job search engine that focuses on job postings on company websites.
  • Maryland Workforce Exchange lists jobs in the State of Maryland, and includes quick links to areas of the workforce with a high profile or demand, such as green jobs, jobs in cyber security, and jobs at BWI Marshall Airport. 
  • Monster is a large site listing multiple vacancies. Sign up to upload resumes & apply for jobs. 
  • SnagAJob lists part-time and full-time hourly jobs and is a great place to look for customer service work, and if you want to start work immediately.
  • Jobing is a site connecting job seekers in the Greater Baltimore area with local employers.

Finding University, Federal, & Medical Jobs

Many of Maryland’s largest employers are Educational, Medical or Government agencies.

Educational Institutions

Federal Government Jobs

Explore vacancies listed by major Federal employers in Maryland:

State Government Jobs

Medical Employment

Explore vacancies listed by major Medical Employers in Maryland:

Private Employers

Look for a career with one of the major private-sector employers in Maryland:

Employment for Teens

Information about work permits for minors ages 14-17 in Maryland is available from the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

Employment for Formerly Incarcerated People

Project ENCORE

For formerly incarcerated people local to Baltimore City, Pratt Library's Project ENCORE (P-ENCORE) is a restorative justice program which aims to dismantle institutional barriers and social reintegration challenges that lead to recidivism. There are three parts to P-ENCORE: Workforce Development, Digital Equity, and the Reconnection Center.

Learn More

Sample Resumes for Criminal Background

Federal Bonding Program

The Federal Bonding Program provides fidelity bonding for the first six months of employment for hard-to-place job applicants. Eligible employees receive their bond letter from a local bonding services coordinator at a One-Stop Career Center. The Bonding Services Coordinator for the State of Maryland can be reached at:

Bonding Services Coordinator1100 North Eutaw Street, Room 616Baltimore, Maryland  21201410-767-2018410-333-5162 fax

Information sheets from the Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation, Maryland Re-entry Initiative:

Record Expungement

See if you qualify for expungement:

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Preparing Your Application

Completing an Online Application

You can practice entering an online job application with this Stratford Library Practice Employment Application.

Note: Write down and remember usernames and passwords for job sites and email, and remember the answers to security questions. Without this information, you will not be able to recover passwords to access email or profiles on employment websites.

Note: Allow enough time to complete an online application as some programs may not allow you to save and re-start applications. Be prepared to be directed to a follow-up evaluation or assessment after submitting an application.

Writing a Resume

Writing a Cover Letter

A cover letter should:
  • Be written specifically for each application.
  • Amplify and reinforce (but not repeat) the sections of your resume that are relevant to the vacancy for which you are applying.
  • Positively connect your previous experience to the open position.
  • Explain why you are the best candidate for the position.
Resources

Interview Preparation

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Benefits, Permits, & Licenses

Vocational Training

The Maryland Department of Labor Licensing and Regulation  maintains a list of approved occupational training programs and providers. Qualifying individuals registered through a One Stop Center can get funding through the Workforce Investment Act to enroll in one of these programs:

  • Allied Health Professionals
  • Tourism/Hospitality/Culinary Arts
  • Information Technology
  • Design & Applied Arts/Communications
  • Business Management & Admin. Services
  • Law Enforcement/Legal Studies
  • Trades
  • Cosmetology/Barber
  • Engineering & Related Technologies
  • Commercial Vehicle Operation
  • Child Development / Education
  • Other Types
  • Adult Education and Literacy Training
Vocational Exams and Tests

Test Study Guides, available at the Enoch Pratt Free Library/State Library Resource Center, are available to be checked out through inter-library loan.

Maryland Unemployment Benefits

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Weekly Certification

After you complete your Maryland Workforce Exchange (MWE) registration, check your MWE inbox frequently for information about weekly tasks or actions that you are required to complete. Failure to complete these activities may result in a delay or denial of your UI benefits.

Department of Labor, Licensing, & Regulations

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Additional Resources

Job and Career Information Center

The Job and Career Information Center at the Pratt Central Library offers free classes and clinics, job seeker resources, individual support, and more.

Job and Career Center

Workforce Development Agencies

  • The Governor’s Workforce Investment Board sets workforce-related policy statewide. 
  • County/Regional Workforce Investment Boards direct workforce-related activities in Maryland’s counties and regions. Find the Workforce Investment Board near you.
  • One Stop Career Centers are a statewide network that provides employment, education, and training services to both individuals and employers, all in one place. 
  • Maryland Workforce Exchange is specifically designed for job seekers, students, case managers, employers, training providers, workforce professionals, and others seeking benefits and services. The system provides fast access to a complete set of employment tools in one website.

For Further Assistance

If you would like more assistance with your job search, contact us by phone at (410) 396-5317, visit us at the Central Library, or mail your question to:

Enoch Pratt Free Library
State Library Resource Center
400 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

Interested in working for the library? Check the Careers page for current listings.

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