Category: The Goodwill Blog

Maria Swartz, a single mom who never finished high school, assumed a career was out of reach until she was introduced to Goodwill Industries of Colorado Springs’ new Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training program. The course includes classroom and lab instruction, hands-on clinical training and valuable experience at Goodwill day programs serving individuals with disabilities and other special needs. Goodwill staff members help students prepare for the CNA exam and help place them with local health care providers after graduation.

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Josh, who has cerebral palsy, came to Goodwill from a difficult background. While in school, he faced challenges reading and writing, and had turned to selling drugs for a living. Determined to build his job skills, Josh joined a Goodwill youth program in West Palm Beach, FL. There, staff connected him with software he used to learn to read and with assistive devices that helped him learn to drive. "Goodwill gave me independence and a different way of thinking," he says. "But most importantly, Goodwill has given me the ability to believe in myself."

READ MORE from My Story: Joshua Butler

All Americans remember where they were on September 11, 2001. It was a sad and frightening day that left many of us feeling vulnerable and unsure of our safety as Americans. Despite the shock and the sorrow, we refused to let the attacks weaken our great nation. We emerged from that day with a renewed commitment to one another, united with a common goal to help strengthen our communities and our country. This weekend, we reflect on how the Goodwill enterprise rallied to support workers and employers in the wake of the tragedy, and how that spirit of service continues 10 years after the attacks.

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As the summer heat gives way to cooler fall temperatures, AmazingGoodwill.com resident fashion expert Bjorn Nasett offers his top seven styles trends to take wardrobes into the upcoming season. Whether you want to man up with boot-cut slacks, tailored vests and jackets or go more girly with floral print dresses and faux fur, Bjorn has tips to add this season's runway styles to your wardrobe with items you can find at your local Goodwill. Read on to learn how you can be fashion-forward for less this fall while supporting local programs that benefit your community and the planet.

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You want to land a good job, but activities like searching for open positions, résumé writing, completing job applications and interviewing require time and can be stressful. It’s easy to procrastinate when you have so much work ahead of you. Thankfully, small steps can go a long way. Make a fresh start on your job search today by putting one or more of Goodwill's suggested steps into practice.

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For many low-income job seekers trying to achieve economic stability, landing a job is only half of the battle. Monthly car payments can quickly drain already limited resources, and without a vehicle, just getting to work can be a challenge. In Michigan, growing numbers of low-income families are getting the vehicles they need to travel to work and run basic errands, thanks to Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan’s Workers on Wheels (WOW) program. The Goodwill agency has worked with a local car dealership, Jack's Auto Sales and Services, for the last 12 years to get the most value out of their vehicle donations.

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Jason Tobey, a Marine Corps veteran who completed several tours during the Gulf War, expected to easily transition into the civilian workforce after being honorably discharged from the military. He was surprised to find, however, that not all employers looked at servicemen and women from these conflicts as favorable job candidates. After returning to school, Jason became involved with Goodwill of Orange County’s microenterprise development program, which gave him the skills he needed to start his own business, Semper Fi Security. He’s now helping others with a military service record succeed, employing eight veterans with plans to hire more as business grows.

READ MORE from My Story: Jason Tobey

In our fast-paced society, many of us have become adept at juggling multiple tasks and responsibilities in our everyday lives. If you find it easy to multitask while maintaining attention to detail in your personal life, a career as an office or clerical assistant might be for you. An office or clerical worker performs general, but important, tasks depending on the needs of their employer. Individuals working in this position often handle more than one duty at a time, including writing a letter, faxing the letter, filing documents, proofreading reports, sorting mail, answering incoming calls, and scanning a document to the right file or person.

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Eric was making a good salary doing sales for Xerox when he lost his job in a round of layoffs prompted by the down economy. Without a steady source of income, he couldn't pay for his house and rental property. A friend who worked for the Goodwill in Columbus, GA, told him about the programs and services the agency offered and encouraged him to come in. After registering at the career center and applying for some jobs, Eric was hired as a restaurant services manager. He now uses Goodwill as a source for new employees and to help his current staff members do taxes and learn English.

READ MORE from My Story: Eric Mayotte

In your job search, you've likely encountered employers who have moved away from a standard fill-in-the-blanks company application form and are now asking you to submit a résumé highlighting your skills and qualifications for the job at hand. If you've never written a résumé before or are seeking a new job for the first time in decades, putting together an impressive résumé may seem confusing and overwhelming. How do you know what information to include? How do you make it look professional instead of something you quickly typed up in a few minutes? Fortunately, Goodwill® is here to help. Check out our ten pieces of advice to consider when putting together your first résumé or updating your current one.

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Before coming to Goodwill, Tonya was unemployed, homeless and had a young son who lived with his father. She was looking for an organization that could help her become a positive member of society. After linking up with Goodwill's work experience program, Tonya quickly rose in the Goodwill ranks and now works as a field supervisor for an in-home care program offering non-medical care to adults. Thanks to steady employment, she was able to purchase two vehicles and is now in the process of buying a home.

READ MORE from My Story: Tonya Edwards

Fifteen years ago today the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program was created when President Clinton signed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) into law. Since TANF was created in 1996, Goodwill Industries® has provided more than 1.5 million TANF recipients with pre- and post-employment services, including skills training, job search assistance, job retention support, and other career programs tailored to their needs.

READ MORE from Goodwill Urges TANF Reauthorization on 15th Anniversary