Research Tools

Ability Links –  is a job opportunity website for persons with disabilities.

Getting Hired – is a national employment and social networking portal that uniquely connects job seekers with disabilities with employers committed to hiring them.

Equal Opportunity Publications - has led the way in diversity recruitment with a portfolio of seven national career magazines, a diversity website, an online job board, and Career Expos for women, members of minority groups, and people with disabilities. Their online job board connects employers dedicated to hiring a diversified workforce with qualified job seekers in all career backgrounds.

The National Organization on Disability Website - provides information through many avenues such as community involvement, economic participation, and access to independence resources.

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN)  - is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues.

Ability Jobs - is the largest job website for people with disabilities.

Circa Jobs - Provides job searches for individuals with disabilities, as well as resume and career advice.

disabledperson - is a job search website dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities find employment.

Individuals with Disabilities: Career Ideas Based on Your Abilities - is a guide that covers how to find a job that is a good fit, how to work through challenges and rights with employers, how to find jobs that can accommodate individuals with disabilities, and how to disclose a disability.

Disability Connect - is a nationwide job search website for individuals with disabilities.

View the Social Security Administration’s section on jobs in the Midwest for people with disabilities.

Scholarships and Financial Aid for Disabled Students - is a resource to help students with disabilities find a school to apply for scholarships and financial aid.

Resources for Business Owners with Disabilities - These resources can help prospective business owners living with a disability make their dream of owning their own business a reality.

Careers After the Military Guidebook - this guide provides resources and tips to help veterans land a civilian job.

Nursing Career Guide for Veterans and Returning Service Members - this comprehensive guide helps veterans and returning service members learn about the path to becoming nurses.

Engineering Path for Veterans Transitioning to Civilian Workforce Careers for Veterans Blog Post - Read this blog post from LinkedIn user Daniel Brock who is now an Electrical Engineer at Semiconductor Focus. He goes into detail about his journey transitioning to a civilian electrical engineer.

George Washington University School of Business has created a guide outlining service member benefits. The goal of this article is to help veterans learn more about the G.I. Bill, and Yellow Ribbon Program and to provide education to help them transition into civilian life, by getting a Healthcare Master of Business Administration(HCMBA), which leads to a secure and rewarding career.

The University of North Dakota has created a guide that provides a plethora of information on how veterans can pursue a Master of Science in Cyber Security(M.S). The program is completely online and can result in a rewarding career in cybersecurity with an average annual salary of $154k.

KinderCare has created a discount for military families to show our appreciation for those in the military, and to assist with tuition pricing. KinderCare has numerous locations to make it most convenient for those needing childcare.

Military to Civilian Resume Example for Veterans - This post is all about helping those who have served in the armed forces create competitive resumes as they seek out civilian positions.

Veterans Guide To Online College Success - The purpose of this guide is to help veterans reach their collegiate academic goals by providing resources, tips & expert advice.

CompTIA - can help military veterans transition from the military and get the tech career they deserve with industry-leading certifications, courses, and expert knowledge.

The Veterans’ Guide to Getting Hired Resources, Tips and Advice for Veterans Returning to the Workforce- With the U.S. economy also improving, more and more companies are hiring employees – good news for veterans looking for jobs. This guide is intended to help existing and future veterans find jobs and start new careers. They can read about finding a job, opportunities, and challenges within the workplace, how businesses benefit from hiring veterans, and how vocational rehabilitation prepares veterans to find work.

College Guide for Veterans and Service Members - This comprehensive guide goes into detail about attending college after serving in the military. Some of the topics covered include GI bill information, tuition assistance, FAFSA, scholarships, student loans, how to succeed in college, and mental health concerns.

Veteran & Military Debt Relief Consolidation - Debt Reduction Services can consolidate an active military member's or veteran's debt into one simple monthly payment without a loan, and help them gain financial stability with their Debt Relief Program.

Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs Website - This website goes into detail about veterans’ and their dependents’ educational benefits in the state of Illinois.

Illinois Military and Veterans Benefits Website - The website summarizes the benefits Illinois Military and Veterans receive, as well as a benefits calculator, resources, scholarship programs, and more.

Collaboration Gets Results for Military and Veteran Students To Get Academic Credits for Military Training and Education - This press release summarizes how The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, in cooperation with the Illinois Community College Board, several community colleges, the Illinois Board of Higher Education and MyCreditsTransfer, recently completed a collaborative project to grant veteran and military students appropriate academic credit for the education and training they gained in military service.

Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant Program Website - If you are a member of the Illinois National Guard, you may be eligible to receive the Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant. This grant can pay for eligible tuition and certain fees (i.e., registration, graduation, general activity, enrollment, and term fees) for undergraduate or graduate study.

Illinois Joining Forces (IJF)- Illinois Joining Forces (IJF) was launched in 2012 through an inter-governmental agreement between the Illinois Departments of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) and Military Affairs (IDMA) as a statewide, public-private network of military and veteran-serving organizations working together to improve services for Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF).

College Planning & Financial Aid Resources for Illinois Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families PDF

Buzzfile - is an advanced Company Information Database. You can filter employers by Major, State, and also list employment opportunities for veterans.

Veterans Can Use GI Bill to Learn Trade Skills - This guide can help you turn your military skills into a civilian career.

ACP - ACP helps veterans and spouses find their next careers.

Military Spouse Corporate Career Network - Military Spouse Jobs powered by MSCCN, a Spouse Ambassador Network partner, has been connecting military spouses with job opportunities for more than 10 years. Job seekers can attend online training and virtual job fairs or search for positions in the MSCCN database.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Careers and Employment - Offers help to veterans build a career and find the opportunities that are right for them.

Online Teaching Degrees - According to the BLS, fields in education are projected to grow about 6% in the next ten years. For this reason, the Center for Online Education created an online education degree guide, which includes key information for students deciding if it is the right field for them.

Best Online MBA Degrees for 2024 - Use this guide to find the best MBA programs, colleges, and highest paying careers.

Best Online Bachelors in Early Childhood Education Degrees for 2024 - is an independent resource for prospective educators seeking long-term employment in any number of education positions. Use this guide to compare the most popular online Early Childhood Education programs.

The Best Value Schools of 2024 - Whether you’re looking for the best colleges near you, the most affordable schools, or even the ones with the best amenities, this guide can help you.

How To Finance Your College Education - This website serves as a guide that allows students and their parents to explore various ways to finance a college education. With the right knowledge and proper planning, it is possible to graduate with manageable debt and, in some cases, graduate debt-free.

LendEDU.com - is a site that has information on how to pay for college, how to manage your student loans, and other resources, such as a student loan calculator, information on student loan statistics, information on current student loan interest rates, and statistics of the average cost of college.

529 Plans, Other Ways To Save For College - This guide provides tips for saving for college with a 529 plan. Here, you'll also find other helpful tips and expert advice to help you save for college.

Financial Aid Guide for College - This guide has compiled a ton of resources to help you make your way through school in a very affordable way. It provides scholarships listings, other financial aid sources, and information about ways to obtain financial aid.

The Cheapest Out-of-State Tuition Colleges for Every State in 2024 - This guide is tailored for young adults looking for a change of scenery by getting college education outside of their home state. It has a cumulative list of the schools with the cheapest tuition as well as listings of online programs.

How Much Does Online College Cost? - This guide explains how online college can be a great affordable education option. Even though the price of college tuition continues to rise, online students can save on costs like on-campus housing, transportation, and much more.

Most Affordable Online Criminal Justice Degrees - A criminal justice degree can lead to new and exciting career opportunities. This guide lists the top online criminal justice programs.

Careers For Public Service Majors - Public service professionals serve their community by educating children, promoting public health, and offering social services. This guide introduces public service degree jobs, salary data for public service careers, and specializations within public service

Best Accredited Online Vocational Trade Schools - Online trade schools offer certificate, associate, and bachelor’s degree programs in many of today’s fastest-growing professions. Use this guide to discover flexible and convenient options to gain practical skills and training for in-demand careers.

College Internships & Career Guide - The best way to learn is by doing. An internship provides the opportunity to not just apply classroom learning to the real world, but gain practical skills as well. This website provides practical help for students to find, choose, and make the most of college internships.

Online Counseling Degrees - This website answers questions you might have about admissions information, entry requirements, program length, tuition rates, format, learning environment, and any other questions you may have.

Forensic Accountant Careers & Outlook - A forensic accountant is a business professional whose career involves investigating financial crimes. This guide allows you to compare popular online forensic accounting programs and familiarize yourself with a very good career outlook.

The Complete Online Culinary School Guide- This guide answers frequently asked questions about online culinary schools and covers typical courses. The following sections highlight various majors for students attending culinary school online. The final section introduces resources for individuals researching online culinary degrees. Make sure to explore prospective schools’ websites or contact an admissions advisor for more information.

Job Boards to Find Niche Talent- JobStars is a great resource for job seekers, including job boards, lists of competitive niches, resume writing services, career coaching, networking events, and much more.

Careers to Help the Poor - Poverty affects millions of people in the U.S. and across the world. Use this guide to learn about career opportunities where you can make a difference.

Career Guide for STEM Majors- STEM candidates are currently in high demand. Use this guide to find careers in STEM such as Computer/Information Technology, Science, Engineering, and Mathematics.

U.S. Department of Labor—Bureau of Labor Statistics - is a website that serves several important purposes: Data Collection and Dissemination, Economic Indicators, Research and Analysis, Public Access and Education, Policy Support, and Business and Workforce Planning.

Payscale - allows you to gain insights and confidence to get paid right with relevant, validated salary data, and industry-leading, using their AI-powered compensation software. Payscale offers a variety of technology, data, and service offerings. You can use many free resources, but if you want to take full advantage of their software, visit their pricing page.

Dun & Bradstreet - Dun & Bradstreet helps companies large and small drive growth, manage risk, and strengthen the performance of their business.

Salary Expert - provides salary data to job seekers with their Research Salaries tool.

Salary.com - Provides the latest research, expert advice, and compensation best practices all in one place.

Explore Career Paths in Accounting - Keep the different types of accounting in mind: From forensic, government, certified public accountant, investment accountant, and more, you have lots of options. Use this guide to compare popular online accounting programs.

Teahcer.org - allows you to explore different careers in education. They have a plethora of resources to help you get started on a path to becoming an educator.

Fire Science Degree Schools - A one-stop destination for everything related to fire science and all the related statistics to keep users informed about the latest career options, degree programs, and salary in the field.

Career Bliss - is a free online career community that empowers job seekers with millions of jobs, reviews, and salaries, along with hundreds of career advice articles.

EducatorLabs - is comprised of school librarians and media/market research specialists who work as curators and conservators of the scholastic web.

Guide to Public Service -Find out what public service is and learn more about the kinds of opportunities available to those looking to make a difference. Use this guide to find information & resources for a successful career helping others.

How to Become a Police Officer - How to Become a Police Officer provides important information for prospective cops, including the comprehensive steps for becoming a police officer and the specific requirements of each state and major US city.

Go Law Enforcement - The Largest Law Enforcement Career Website where you can browse 500+ law enforcement positions.

Criminal Justice Schools - This guide provides information on how to pursue a career in Criminal Justice.

How to Become a Police Officer - How to Become a Police Officer provides important information for prospective cops, including the comprehensive steps for becoming a police officer and the specific requirements of each state and major US city.

Careers in Social Work: Guides, Jobs by Degree, and Interviews - Social workers focus on making a positive impact on others. Curious as to what responsibilities come with the title? Use this guide to learn what social work careers are available and how you can pursue this profession.

Careers in Human Resources - This comprehensive career guide takes a look at many different paths you can take within the human resources field. If you are looking for a role that is challenging, always changing, and will keep you directly on the pulse of any business, then HR is the field for you.

The Career Project - has hundreds of career guides to help you explore the possibilities. And they’ve got thousands of job profiles that give you the inside scoop on what it's really like to work in a certain occupation.

Job Search Bible - contains advice and guidance on all things related to job searching and career development, such as resume writing, cover letters, interview skills, negotiating a salary, and much more.

JobsAviator- This website allows you to search for over 3.5 million jobs in various industries.

Money Geek Cost of Living Calculator - How far will your salary go in another city? Compare the cost of living between U.S. cities and the national average with this comprehensive calculator. Determine how much more or less you need to maintain a similar standard of living. Compare housing, food, utilities, transportation, and other cost of living numbers across cities.

Winning Sports Careers The Non-Athletes Guide to Getting a Career in Sports - You don't need to be an athlete to have a career in sports. Use this guide to discover your options and what you need to win in your career in sports.

Vocational Information Center - Explore vocational and technical careers, check out the skills employers want, find a trade school, research technical topics, and take a look at the current job market.

Career Builder - Find your next job… fast! Search by skills. View salaries. One-click apply.

Careers in Food - the #1 job board for Food and Beverage Manufacturing Professionals. Find your next job here!

Casino Careers - is a website where job seekers connect with Gaming, Hospitality &Technology Employers.

Chicago Diversity - Chicago Diversity's mission is committed to bringing local talent and businesses together through innovative solutions to enhance the livelihood, diversity, and growth of communities nationwide.

The Chicago Sun Times - has a handy job finder on their website.

The Chicago Tribune - has a handy job finder on their website.

Computer Jobs - Search now and see why they are the internet's leading IT employment website across the United States.

College Grad - is the #1 Entry Level Job Site.

Cybersecurity Jobs - is the #1 platform for cybersecurity talent and employers to connect. Every month, thousands of job seekers benefit from their exclusive job posts and focused job search experience.

Dice - has the tech jobs you want at companies you admire. Build the tech career that's right for you using their job search tool.

EHS Careers - Search for hundreds of environmental, occupational health, and safety jobs.

FBI Jobs - As one of the world’s most prestigious organizations, the FBI provides you with unparalleled experiences, training, and leadership and career development opportunities. Learn more about an exciting and unique career as a special agent.

USA Jobs - is a website for individuals interested in working for the federal government.

A Guide to Government Careers Make a Difference in Public Service - With this guide, you'll learn about what government jobs offer, the types of jobs available, job search resources, how to apply and information on tuition assistance and loan forgiveness for government employees.

Illinois Work Net - On this website, you can explore resources for employers, job seekers, information on virtual job fairs, and training services.

Indeed.com - helps people get jobs.

Become - Find out how you can gain the experience necessary to break into your desired career. Whether you have a dream job in mind, you want to be your own boss, or you're looking for stability and good pay, take your first step with this guide.

Monster.com - Find the right fit with job search tool.

Parker Dewey - helps students find and apply for micro-internships.

Simply Hired - Browse this website for jobs, view local and national salary information, discover companies, and learn about the job market in a specific city.

The Art Career Project - Use this website to explore hundreds of art career profiles and learn more about what it takes to build long-term careers within today’s top creative industries.

Zip Recruiter - is one of the largest job search sites in the U.S.

Career and Employment Resources for Hispanics- Saludos.com is the #1 Ranked in Hispanic Employment. Many employers and organizations are searching for qualified bilingual, bicultural, and minority applicants especially those who have a degree or are pursuing higher education. Opportunities on this site run the gamut from manual labor to the executive suite.

LatinXJobs.com - a website designed specifically for members of the Latinx community to find jobs nationwide.

Financial Aid Guide for College - This guide has compiled a ton of resources to help you make your way through school in a very affordable way. It provides scholarships listings, other financial aid sources, and information about ways to obtain financial aid.

Understanding Student Loan Forgiveness, Cancellation, Discharge, and Repayment Plans - If you are facing mounting student loan debt, you have options. By learning about them, you attempt to free yourself completely of this debt, or, at the very least, make it easier to pay.

Taking Charge of Your Finances as a Student - Even after you land your dream job, you'll still need to spend wisely and live within your means. So college is the perfect time to learn to take control of your personal finances. Use this guide to create various action plans to do that.

How to Become a Medical Assistant - This guide will walk you through the five steps to becoming a medical assistant – choosing the proper program, figuring out how to pay for it, and getting the training required for a career in the medical assisting field.

Medical Assistant Salary & Job Listing Guide - Salary.com reports that the average Certified Medical Assistant salary in Chicago, IL is $46,043 as of July 29, 2024, but the range typically falls between $41,849 and $50,323. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, and the number of years you have spent in your profession. Make sure to also check out the job listings for Certified Medical Assistants.

CNA Buzz - provides genuine and researched content, pages, and information on CNA Classes, Exams, Practice Tests, Certification, Training, and Skills. Along with these details, it also provides valuable information on CNA Salaries and Jobs. The purpose of this guide is to help visitors who want to become a Certified Nursing Aide and make nursing their career.

39 Nursing Scholarships for All Kinds of Students - This website has a cumulative list of programs focused on how students can apply for nursing scholarships.

NCLEX-PN Practice Questions & Test Bank - As the need for nursing assistants is growing, pull up your socks for the upcoming NCLEX-PN test and review questions in the practice exams. Evaluate your answers to the question so you can excel in the main exam.

CNA Classes - In addition to having CNA classes listed across the entire country, the site has quite a few great resources. Here are some highlights:

• Guide to Pay for Nursing School
• Student Fitness and Nutrition Guide
• Nursing Student Mental Health Guide

Nursing Jobs - Governors State University has partnered with a company called Liquid Compass to provide a powerful new job search resource to our undergraduate and graduate nursing students.

NursingSchool411 - is a comprehensive guide that will provide you with essential information about nursing licensure and school options for earning a degree at the nation’s best nursing schools to start or advance your nursing career.

Nurse Journal - has a wealth of career and education resources that can help you succeed in nursing. Each career page focuses on the questions that prospective nurses have asked about the different career paths. You can also check their Nursing Scholarships and Grants page to discover the various awards open to nurses at all levels in this helpful guide.

Best Online Master’s in Nursing (MSN) Degree Programs of 2024's - purpose is to inspire others to influence society by pursuing higher education. This site has an online database of tools, references, and articles that cover topics such as accreditation, job placement, and resources that can provide financial support.

Registered Nurse- is a guide about RN schools and programs.

RN to BSN Degree Guide - According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nursing careers are growing much faster than average, with a projected growth of 16% by 2024. That's why the Center for Online Education created an online RN to BSN degree guide, which includes key information for students deciding if a career in nursing is right for them.

theeMedicalAssistants.com - is a site that helps students who want to pursue a medical assisting career. Authored by healthcare providers who have years of experience behind them, the site mainly provides information on medical assisting scholarships, career, training programs, certification, and accredited schools across the nation.

EduMed.org - connects students with the best and most affordable online degree programs in more than 70 medical and health fields. Take your first step toward a career in care by using this guide.

Nurse Recruiter - Find the perfect nursing job quickly and join a network of leading recruiters to discover high-paying nursing positions. Enjoy a streamlined job search process and access to exclusive opportunities without the wait.

GoGrad- This guide helps students with the process of choosing and applying to graduate programs. It offers information on timelines, deadlines, and other frequently asked questions.

Preparing For Graduate School - This guide is designed to help prospective graduate students tackle some of the biggest tasks they'll be faced with when preparing to pursue a graduate degree, including choosing, applying for, and financing a graduate program. That way, students will be able make the to most of their post-graduate experience, from beginning to end.

Student's Guide to Choosing a Graduate Program - To enjoy the benefits of graduate school, students must find the right programs. This guide provides information to help prospective grad students make this important choice.

Graudate Guide - includes comprehensive listings of over 1500 master's, doctoral, and professional degree programs as well as a cross-reference section of majors and information on financing graduate study.

Free GRE® Prep Resources - Kaplan has plenty of resources to help you keep raising your score—for free.

Test Prep Insight - is a website dedicated to conducting thorough, unbiased research about products, services, and industries. We recently examined the GRE to understand what it means for students.

The Discover Business-Illinois MBA Guide - provides applicants with a comprehensive list of the top schools for accredited MBA programs in-person and online, as well as resources for GMAT & GRE preparation.

Returning to Your Career A Guide to Coping with Career Transition Stress - No matter what the impetus for a career transition, the path is filled with new challenges. This guide is designed to ease the stress of transitioning out of or into the workforce.

Search Smart: How to Personalize Your Hunt for Jobs Online - From niche offerings for specific industries or career levels to sites providing access to countless positions across the globe, it's easy to feel overwhelmed when trying to narrow down all the ads to the appropriate level. In this guide, profiles of common types of professionals are provided, with questions to help job seekers - from entry-level to executive - find the website that will most help them.

The Professional’s Guide to Negotiating a Job Offer - This guide is designed to increase the chances of job-seekers getting what they want from an offer. Continue reading for negotiation strategies and information on what parts of a job offer can be negotiated and how to create an effective counteroffer.

How to Nail Your Next Interview - From before to during and after the interview, this guide brings practical tips from human resource managers and recruiters that can give job seekers an edge over the competition.

What Color Is Your Parachute: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters & Career-Changers- This is the official site for Dick Bolles, the author of the best-selling book. This site is designed to be both a supplement and a complement to his book.

WorkplaceDiversity.com - Find career opportunities with companies that value diversity and recognize the power that a diverse workforce brings to their business.

LGBTConnect.com - a website designed specifically for members of the LGBT community to find jobs nationwide.

Roomi - Roomi connects you to millions of other renters who are looking for roommates and posting rooms you can't find anywhere else.

Care.com - This website provides information on finding childcare, companion/eldercare, tutoring services, housekeepers, and pet sitters.