Job Readiness &
Resume Help
Getting back to work is one of the strongest paths to housing stability. Mainely Empowering Foundation put together this free, self-guided page to help you assess where you stand, connect with Maine employment resources, and get to a resume that gets noticed — using a trusted, free resume builder and our own step-by-step guidance.
1. Where You Stand
A few questions about your experience and what’s in your way. There are no wrong answers, and nothing here is a test. What you tell us helps us point you somewhere useful.
Before your first interview
Practical things worth having lined up. Missing a few? That’s exactly what we’re here for.
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- I have a valid ID or know how to get one
- I have an email address I check regularly
- I have a phone number where employers can reach me
- I know the last 10 years of my work history (dates, employers)
- I have (or can borrow) access to a computer and printer
- I have clothes appropriate for an interview
- I have reliable transportation or know my transit options
- I have a resume, even a rough one
Missing a few boxes? That’s exactly what we’re here for — reach out to our team and we’ll help you close the gaps.
The O*NET Interest Profiler
30 questions, about 10 minutes. No sign-up required. Your results come back as a link — it’s yours to save or share, and nothing is stored unless you do.
One tip before you start: when you finish the questions, the tool asks you to choose a Job Zone. Do that step — don’t skip to the career list.
Pick “1–2: very little to some job preparation” to see what you could do now. Then go back and pick a higher zone to see what a short training or certificate could open up.
If you skip this step you’ll get every job in the country, including ones that need a doctorate. That’s not what this is for.
Discover your work-related interests and explore career options that are a good fit for you.
The process is super easy, but take your time… the results can help guide your future!
Think about how much you’d like to do various activities if they were part of your job.
See what your answers reveal about your work interests.
Explore a list of careers matching your interest profile.
Already working with someone at Mainely Empowering Foundation? Share your results with them. We’ll go through them with you and point you toward the training, programs, and openings that fit what it shows.
¿Prefiere hacerlo en español? Esta herramienta también está disponible en español. Son 30 preguntas, unos 10 minutos. No hace falta crear una cuenta.
Descubre tus intereses relacionados con el trabajo y explora opciones profesionales que se adapten bien a ti.
El proceso es muy sencillo, pero tómate tu tiempo… ¡los resultados pueden ayudarte a guiar tu futuro!
Piensa en cuánto te gustaría realizar diversas actividades si formaran parte de tu trabajo.
Descubre qué revelan tus respuestas sobre tus intereses laborales.
Explora una lista de carreras que coincidan con tu perfil de intereses.
¿Ya está trabajando con alguien de Mainely Empowering Foundation? Comparta sus resultados con esa persona. Los revisamos juntos y le indicamos la capacitación, los programas y las oportunidades que correspondan a lo que muestran. Atendemos en español.
This site incorporates information from O*NET Web Services by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
2. Employment Resources in Maine
These are free, publicly available resources for job searching, training, and career support in Maine.
Maine JobLink — the state’s official job search and posting site.
Maine CareerCenter — free in-person and virtual career counseling, resume help, and job placement support across Cumberland and York Counties.
Maine Community College System — short-term certificate programs for in-demand fields.
211 Maine — for childcare, transportation, and other supports that make working possible.
Not sure where to start? Contact us and we’ll help match you to the right resource.
3. Build or Improve Your Resume
A strong resume doesn’t need to be fancy — it needs to be clear, honest, and easy to scan. Work through these steps in order.
Ready to build it right now?
Use OpenResume — a free tool that walks you through each section below and gives you a polished, ATS-friendly PDF at the end. No account, no login, and nothing you type is ever uploaded or saved online — it all stays in your browser.
Open the free resume builder →
Choose a simple format.
One page if possible. Reverse-chronological order (most recent job first).
Lead with contact info.
Name, phone, email, and city/state (no full street address needed).
Write a 2–3 sentence summary.
Who you are and what you’re looking for — skip generic phrases like “hard worker.”
List your work history.
Job title, employer, dates, and 2–3 bullet points of what you actually did. Use numbers where you can (e.g. “served 50+ customers daily”).
Add education and training.
Include certificates, even short ones.
List relevant skills.
Both technical (cash handling, forklift, Excel) and interpersonal (customer service, teamwork).
Proofread.
Read it out loud, or ask someone else to check it. Typos are the #1 reason resumes get skipped.
Common mistakes to avoid: unprofessional email addresses, unexplained employment gaps left blank instead of briefly noted, and exaggerating experience. If you have a gap, it’s fine to note it plainly (e.g. “Family caregiving, 2023–2024”).