I am writing to publicly thank the Waterville Public Library’s Business and Career Center for its help during a recent period of unemployment. After being out of work for six months with no luck in my job search, my wife suggested checking out the new job seeking assistance at the library. I needed the push to try something different.

I met first with Tammy Rabideau, the business and career librarian, who described the job seekers workshops facilitated by Jean Dempster, regional manager for Women, Work, and Community of Kennebec and Somerset counties.

Rabideau also suggested the job search counseling from Dana Hamilton, employment support specialist at Kennebec Valley Community Action Program. These services are offered regularly at the library, and the schedule of events can be found at the library’s website.

I attended the job seeking workshop and learned about reworking my chronological resume into a skills-based resume that better describes my abilities and experience. Dempster and Hamilton reviewed my revised resume and offered tips to further improve it.

I also got a huge impetus of confidence and energy just from thinking about myself in new ways and from getting out of the house to attend the events. All of this made me ready to apply for and get a job at the United Way of Mid-Maine.

Beyond my own situation, I am aware and appreciative of Rabideau’s networking among the various job assistance agencies and the business community. Our area has long needed a clearinghouse to match business and career assistance opportunities with the needs of job seekers. Rabideau and the library’s Business and Career Center have stepped up to the challenge. I, for one, am a grateful and satisfied customer.

Peter Lyford

Waterville