The Connecticut Department of Labor’s Career Express Bus rolled into the Memorial Library parking lot June 16 to assist job hunters who came with resumes, cover letters, and hope for help in finding employment in the current recession.

The converted tour bus houses two rows of computer stations where job seekers can edit resumes, utilize job searches, and participate in workshops. Today, the bus brought two state employees looking to give a leg up to those in need. By noon, the bus had already helped 30 individuals. Its services are free.

“Our function is to provide an introduction to the CTWorks career centers,” said Certified Professional Resume Writer and bus aide Karen Quesnel.

The centers are local destinations for individuals to perform job searches, attend employment workshops, and improve resumes. Specific workshops include interviewing techniques and strategies, Internet job search skills, stress and time management, resume writing, job applications, career fair strategy, and job searching for individuals over the age of 40.

There are 20 CTWorks centers in the state, including locations in New Haven, Hamden, and Meriden.

The Career Express Bus also invited people to bring resumes and cover letters for review. One common gaffe seen by Quesnel was squandering the top of a resume.

“I see resumes with the objective and then the work history,” Quesnel said. “A job seeker needs effective use of the top third of the resume, including a list of skill sets, so that employees get a quick snapshot of who they are.”

Another common misstep Quesnel often sees is a resume that is too broad.

“It’s the one-size-fits-all resume,” Quesnel said. “It’s very generic. You really need a targeted resume - targeted to the job. Show the applicable skills.”

Quesnel added that if a job seeker is applying for an array of positions, then that person will need either multiple resumes or to simply take the time to alter their resume for each position.

Lastly, Quesnel said that another resume malady was mistakes. “It’s really critical that more than one set of eyes look at a resume,” she said. “It’s easy to spot misspelling and formatting mistakes. And spell check does not pick up everything.”

As for cover letters, Quesnel reiterated focus and ignoring inhibitions to write modestly.

“A cover letter is to get someone to read the resume, so it must also be targeted,” the professional resume writer said. “But don’t miss the opportunity to market yourself. People tend to be modest. They don’t want to brag, but they’re missing the opportunity to highlight their strengths.”

While the majority of the search for jobs has undoubtedly moved to the Internet, Quesnel opined that physical interaction is still extremely pertinent. “Get out there and talk to people,” she said. “The majority of positions found are still through networking - people hearing about opportunities through someone else or by referral.”

“The Internet is still important,” Quesnel added, “but get out there and talk.”

The career services bus was in North Haven by request of the Memorial Library. More often then not, Quesnel said, her bus services the unemployed rather than the underemployed. “Almost everyone who I saw today was not working,” she said.

In terms of patterns of unemployment, Quesnel said that the recession has affected all vocations and ages. “The job searchers run the gamut across all professions,” she said. “I’ve seen teachers, people with MBAs, people with tech schooling, people with no high school, couples that both lost jobs, recent college grads.”

“It’s tough right now,” Quesnel added. “Make sure you have an effective and targeted resume.”

Quesnel suggested that recent college graduates focus their resume on course projects and internships. Quesnel added that more so now than ever, employers are placing an increased importance upon college internships.

Effective use of relationship building at college internships, as well as any job, also serves as a potential springboard to employment. “Make connections with your colleagues,” Quesnel said. “It isn’t who you know, but who knows you.”

Quesnel also stressed the importance of following up with any job applications. “If you can contact someone by phone, do so,” she said. “Get in touch with someone so that they are aware that you have applied.”

“In some cases, companies may not contact you back if they have not been contacted by you,” Quesnel added.

In today’s economy, companies are receiving an overwhelming amount of applications for every position, and Quesnel said not to take it personally when companies do not respond. “Don’t expect to be contacted back,” Quesnel said. “I haven’t heard yet of companies that let people know they’re not interested – the volume of applications is too great.”

Quesnel expected her afternoon to be as busy as the morning. In return for her professional advice, all Quesnel asks is that job seekers register with the CT Department of Labor.

“Use the Department of Labor,” she said. “There are a lot of free workshops.”

Many citizens from around the area took the first step toward better job-seeking ways by boarding the Career Express bus.

Waiting patiently in the library parking lot, Kathryn Donat of Hamden said that she was hoping to gain experience in using the Internet to locate employment opportunities. Donat has been unemployed for three months, having previously worked a number of factory jobs in the area. Joining Donat in line was electrician James Taylor of North Haven, who was hoping to move up to better employment in his field.

Dyann Vissicchio of North Haven was thankful of the assistance she acquired from the Career Services Bus. Vissicchio, formerly an IT project manager, has been unemployed for three weeks after her former employer relocated to New Jersey. She said that the state workers on the bus offered her sample cover letters and suggestions to better her resume.

Marsha Davis of East Haven also received valuable advice from the Career Services Bus.

“They said that I had too many job references on my resume,” Davis said, “and that I needed more action words.”

Davis has been unemployed for three months after losing her job in credit collections. She said that the CT Department of Labor has helped her out a lot in her job search.

“I don’t think that everybody who is unemployed knows that the Department of Labor has workshops,” Davis said of the CTWorks centers’ workshops. “There are so many, it’s unbelievable.”

“I’ve gone to a couple workshops and learned so much,” Davis continued. “I was given a lot of information and help. When the job market opens back up, hopefully these skills will help.”