On Labor Day, and Every Day, Goodwill Thinks About How to Put People to Work

Many associate Labor Day with the end of summer, a three-day weekend and the start of a new school year. Families and friends gather for barbecues and one last outing to the pool until next year. Rarely do folks sit around on Labor Day and actually celebrate America’s workers, think of ways to get more people in the workforce or consider how to lessen the unemployment rate.

Unless, that is, you work for Goodwill.

We think about those things each and every day. Our employees put our mission into action and provide employment, job training and other community-based programs for people with disabilities, those who lack education or job experience, and others facing employment challenges. If you’re one of the 5.4 percent of the population who are unemployed or in the 30 percent not working or actively looking for a job, you undoubtedly think about your struggles daily.

I’ve had to stock shelves when working in retail, clean up after people when working in food service and chase after kids as a camp counselor. I’ve clerked for judges, practiced law and lobbied for clients that I didn’t always agree with. After a lot of trial and error and taking time to decide what I’m truly passionate about, I’ve been in a job that I love for the past decade, advocating for issues I believe in.

The best job advice I received was to network and not be afraid to ask questions. Try different experiences, ask people for informational interviews and put yourself out there! What’s the best piece of advice that you’ve been given?

If you are lucky enough to have a job and would like to show your support for Goodwill and the people we serve, you can celebrate this Labor Day by entering our #BestJobAdvice contest. At Goodwill, we’re celebrating the launch of our new career navigation site GoodProspects with a contest that asks you to share your top employment tips on Twitter using the hashtag #BestJobAdvice. Tweet your advice by September 7 for your chance to win a Microsoft Surface 3 tablet or one of two FitBit Surges.

For more details, watch our contest announcement.