The Street Smart Job Seeker Video

Low-budget, yet fairly comprehensive, this two-tape set features interview clips with a career consultant, a human resources manager, and successful job seekers advising viewers how to plan and carry out a self-directed job search. Almost completely talking heads, the on-camera host delivers the majority of the narrative in a smooth and easy to follow manner. The first tape covers the psychological effects of being laid-off or losing one's job, and the pre-search activities of researching the job market, creating effective resumes, cover letters, and telephone scripts. The second tape looks at networking, discusses the "hidden job market" (where good networking helps one become aware of positions coming open soon), and offers pointers on job interviewing. While a few of the suggestions seem either overboard or unrealistic (at one point the program suggests you find an unbiased mentor to check your progress, and then lists books for you to assign your mentor to read, as well as having him or her watch this 2-hour plus video series), most of the presentation is on an even keel with the occasional lapse in jargon and buzzwords that seem to be inherent in job search videos. On top of that, the program really goes out of its way to emphasize the importance of the public library as a primary resource in researching the job market, directing viewers to several key directories, as well as staple books in the field. On balance, this is recommended. [Note: there are 25 reproducible forms included with the video, which the library may choose to use or not; the forms are not integral to the production.] (Available from: Video Comm Productions, 3103 Bee Caves Rd., Suite 235, Austin, TX 78746; (512) 328-1339.)