Job fair at library offers wealth of resources

Skyler Hammons |, Tahlequah Daily Press, Okla.
·2 min read

Apr. 18—Premier USA hosted a job fair at the Tahlequah Public Library, where many local residents look for resources to help jumpstart their careers.

Hayleigh Williams, Premier USA account manager, manned the booth at the fair. Williams said her primary focus is to help candidates find jobs that fit their skill sets.

"We kind of look at ourselves as little matchmakers in the job world," Williams said.

Williams said the group mainly focuses on Muskogee, but is trying to branch out to other areas. Those who attended the fair had help finding a job, in areas from lawn care to welding to payroll to accounting. Participants could fill out digital and physical applications to learn what kind of occupation they want.

"We want to make sure it is something they want to do that gives them the means to live they life they want to support their families," Williams said.

This was the first job fair at the Tahlequah Public Library, but Williams said they want to hold more.

TPL Branch Manager Jeremy Jones said the library has several other resources available for job seekers.

"The library is increasingly an important role in being a community hub to connect people, and to have someone using our spaceis something we're designed to do," Jones said.

Jones said one of the main resources the library offers is JobNow, an online database by Brain Fuse. The program offers tailored resumé-building tools and live interview coaching. The library hosts resources such as tutors, or for example, an upcoming live interview workshop with a communications professor in the fall. For those needing extra education before applying for a job, Jones recommends checking out UniversalClasses, which has several college level classes that can be taken for free with a library card.

Cathy Monholland, TPL literacy coordinator, said many jobs require applications be submitted through an online format, so the library provides unlimited computer use to library card holders and some access to those on a guest pass.

"We do have some books that advertise how to interview for a job," Monholland said. "They might give you very big web address where you can go to look for a job, like Indeed. We don't have a lot of those, but we do have some in our collection."

Many people look for jobs through newspaper ads, so the library has physical copies from various news outlets. Monholland said library staffers help patrons brainstorm resumé ideas, but also offer referrals to potential employers like the Cherokee Nation or United Keetoowah Band.

For those who may struggle with technology or reading, Monholland said she and others can help with the application or resumé process.

"Anything I can do to help people, I'm up for," Monholland said.