The Web

Looking for a job is a full time job!

This page contains suggested links on general resources that may assist you and some example of sources for information on topics like resume and cover letter writing and preparing for interviews.

There is also a section on Internet-based employment services that identifies general career sites allowing you to search for current openings and, in many cases, to post your own resume. Many of these services include criminal justice positions in their general listings, but you will also want to look at the CJ specific listing found on the CJ Career Opportunities page.

General Resources

Visit the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook online and police and detectives, probation officers and correctional treatment specialists (including parole officers), social and human service workers, and paralegals and legal assistants.

EDUchoices.org, which is designed to help you shop and compare the degree programs and career education you need to start a new profession, provides helpful articles on a variety of careers, including criminal justice degrees.

A few "one-stop" sites are good places to get a quick overview of all the Internet has to offer job hunters. It is hard to beat the material at the Princeton Review's Career site where you can learn how to spruce up your resume, handle phone interviews, and how to dress for success. But, since one site can't really provide everything, you should also check Career Magazine, which has everything from advice to job listings and College Grad Job Hunter, which includes interviewing tips, links to resume templates, and other job preparation aids. If your still looking for other general resources, check out Quintessential Careers, which has the goal of providing job-seekers with the best resources on the web.

Resume & Cover Letter Writing

Career Placement Centers on college campuses typically provide assistance to their students and alumni on topics like resume writing. You may find some of the resume writing software programs to be easy to use and helpful. Check your college bookstore or local software shop.

Some web sites to look at include:

• Resumepro.com - Gilbert Resumes, a premier resume service, directed by the former president of the National Resume Writers' Association.

• CvTips.com is a job search info centre. Resume, CV, Cover Letter and Interview guide. Here you can find CV Examples and information on how to write a CV.

• Create a resume quickly at PongoResume

• The Princeton Review's Career Assistance page (click on "Your Resume")

• At the Career Lab you'll find the Cover Letter Library to be especially helpful

• Yahoo Careers includes an easy-to-use resume builder

• You'll find a detailed resume builder at JobBankUSA

Interviewing

• Interviews for police officer positions are rather unique among job interviews. Rather than a traditional one-on-one interview or a phone interview (although some departments use either of those), interviews for law enforcement are often before a panel of department officers. The "grilling" conducted at the oral boards in difficult to prepare for and there is not much information on the web or other places to get advice. Your best bet is to ask current officers in the department about the process.

For information on the more traditional interview, check these web sites:

• Job-Interview Information on all aspects of an interview, from tips on what to wear to what is the best time of day for an interview. Also has a Mock Job Interview.

Interned-based employment services

Listed below are some of the more popular Interned-based employment services. Keep in mind that these sites are for all career areas (see the CJ Career Opportunities page for some CJ-specific job listing sites). At most of the sites you can narrow your search to particular geographic areas and can ask to be notified when jobs meeting your criteria are posted. Just because these are general career sites does not mean you will not find criminal justice related positions. Sometimes, however, you will have to be creative when deciding what career area you look under (e.g., "human services," "government," "public safety," etc.).

America's Job Bank Sign up to receive emails about jobs that meet your criteria - Good section on human services positions like probation officers and other careers in corrections

Career Builder This is what the Internet is all about. Fill in the career information you're looking for then let Career Builder's search engine find jobs meeting your criteria.

CareerCity An interesting site that includes links to virtual job fairs in many cities across the country.

Career Shop The "personal job shopper" browses databases and emails you new job listings.

Careers in Government Since this site is specifically devoted to public sector employment, it should be a primary source for many criminal justice positions.

Cop Career  A website providing free Law Enforcement career information (Nationally) for those seeking Law Enforcement Careers, those seeking lateral transfers, or those seeking careers in private industry when they retire. Also it serves as a great free resource for Police Agencies looking to promote their job openings.

JobDirect Specifically designed to help college students and recent graduates find internships, part-time jobs and "real jobs."

Yahoo Careers Good search capabilities by job term, job title, job type, etc.

If none of these services quite meets your needs, go to Career Resource Center, which is web's directory of career directories. If you can't find what you need there it probably isn't on the Internet yet.