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Top Resources For Job Seekers In Philadelphia

With unemployment rates still reaching double digits in some counties in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, looking for work has become an enormous challenge. Times are tough, and keeping a positive attitude as you begin your job search in the city may be easier said than done. Optimize your chances for getting your foot in the door by expanding your search habits. To start you on your way, here are the top resources for job seekers in Philadelphia.
Jack Mulcahy Resume Services
3102 Shawnee Green
Ambler, PA 19002
(215) 840-9032
www.resumesbyjack.com

A resume can make or break your job search. As the first actual contact you'll have with a prospective employer, it's crucial to put your best foot forward. In this competitive job market, Jack Mulcahy thinks a professionally-written resume is an investment in your future. As a professional writer and certified resume writer, Mulcahy crafts effective cover letters, resumes and thank you letters that present personal branding statements and create strong first impressions.

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Urban Affairs Coalition Keyspot
1207 Chestnut St.
4th Floor Computer Lab
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 851-1784
www.uac.org

When an unexpected layoff puts a huge dent in your checkbook, monetary misery may make paying for job services a real hardship. For those job seekers in need of free resources, head over to one of Keyspot's more than 70 public neighborhood centers. Each center provides free Internet access and computer classes that will help you search for jobs and develop a professional resume. In fact, the Urban Affairs Coalition has a lengthy list of available job opportunities right within the organization. It also offers a host of resources to hook you up with apprenticeship opportunities, government jobs and youth employment.

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Jevs Human Services
1845 Walnut St., 7th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 854-1874
www.jevs.org

Originally founded to offer a broad spectrum of services specifically to the Jewish community, Jevs now provides career scaffolding to all. Through its Career Strategies program, the organization provides one-on-one career consulting, skill assessment, job interview and resume preparation, computer training and job placement assistance, all at a nominal fee. A "Career Solution for 55+" program is also available free of charge for those looking to learn new skills and procure jobs. Here, mature adults can take advantage of free workshops, computer labs, job readiness training and placement.

The Bettinger Company
42 S 15th St., Suite 1210
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 564-3367
www.bettingerco.com

Temp work may be the way to go while you're searching for the job of your dreams. Founded in 1955, The Bettinger Company is a family-owned temporary employment business with three locations in the Philadelphia area. It offers free computer training and matches you up with long and short-term work projects that fit your schedule. You can fill out an application, look at job listings and submit your resume all online.

Pennsylvania State Civil Service Commission
JobGateway
235 W Chelten Ave.
Philadelphia, PA
(267) 339-0333
www.portal.state.pa.us

Of course, no job search would be complete without checking out the employment offerings at the Pennsylvania State Civil Service Commission. The commission has a complete list of all the open state and local government employment opportunities right on the web. There is also a link to JobGateway, a project that makes more than 200,000 statewide jobs accessible to the unemployed. If you prefer not to sign up online, you can visit one of a handful of JobGateway offices in the metropolitan area.

Susan DeFeo has been a professional writer since 1997. She served as a community events columnist for New Jersey's "Cape May County Herald" for more than a decade. A writer for numerous online publications, Susan has covered health, fitness, beauty and travel, all subjects that are near and dear to her as a married mother of seven children. Her work can be found at Examiner.com

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