Category: The Goodwill Blog

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

Many qualified workers find themselves competing for a small number of jobs as the economy continues its slow recovery. In the wake of the recession, how will you stand out amongst the crowd of people applying for your job of choice? Demonstrating your soft skills – your positive attitude, flexibility and ability to interact with other people – can help give you an edge when looking for a job.

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Before I came to Goodwill, I spent some time in the military and, after ETS, fell into an addiction to alcohol. I got with Goodwill Industries of Lower South Carolina and my life changed for the positive after taking a maintenance training program. I take care of the corporate building in Charleston and my future seems to be getting brighter and brighter. Once, it was all about me, but now I try to give back what I received. It makes me feel good.

READ MORE from My Story: Bernard Weiters

The back-to-school and holiday shopping seasons are quickly approaching, meaning there's never been a better time to consider job opportunities in the retail field. The industry has something to offer job seekers of all backgrounds, whether you're looking for a long-term career, seeking some supplemental income or pursuing your first-ever job. Retail employment is expected to grow 11 percent through 2014, with ample opportunities becoming available as existing retail workers leave the field for other professions.

READ MORE from What Is a Retail Job, and Is It Right For You?

I have been with Arizona Goodwill for about five years. I have been in six different foster care homes. I was moved from my real parents when I was about nine years old because my parents weren’t real nice to me because I had a disability. I had ADHD, and it was hard for them to take care of me because I was hyper and not controlled at that time. When I was older and in high school, I had better people and better teachers. I did a project program when I first started at Goodwill Industries of Northern Arizona called GoodWorks. It involved three weeks of training at the baler station, greeter station and hanging station, and custodian training – I hated cleaning bathrooms!

READ MORE from My Story: Jesse McGirl

In today’s challenging job market, looking for work can take a hit on more than your morale. Keeping up with your bills and basic living expenses without a steady stream of income can lead you to feel overwhelmed and uncertain about how to make ends meet. Fortunately, whether you’ve lost your job or are having a hard time getting your foot in door for the first time, there are steps you can take to manage your finances without incurring large amounts of debt and stress.

READ MORE from How to Budget While Looking for a Job