Saving for a rainy day is conventional wisdom that is too often ignored. In these times of uncertainty, having funds to tide a family over during a period of joblessness is more important than ever. With the right strategies, you can begin to put money aside before the storm clouds start to appear.
Category: The Goodwill Blog
Grow Your Career in a Green Job
Companies today are thinking more seriously about their impact on the planet, making new environmental commitments that will require new workers. Proctor & Gamble made a commitment to power all of their factories with renewable energy within the next ten years, and Walmart pledged to sell $1 billion of fresh produce sourced from 1,000 small- and medium-sized farmers, just to name a few. As the economy becomes greener, you can position yourself to make your career greener, too.
Give Thanks to Volunteers During National Volunteer Month
April is National Volunteer Month, when we celebrate the work that volunteers do year-round. During National Volunteer Week (April 10-16), organizations across the country will recognize their volunteers for helping them achieve their mission. As Goodwill Industries International's national volunteer specialist, I often hear stories about the dedicated volunteers giving their time at Goodwills in the U.S. and Canada. However, one program has allowed one financial institution's employees to turn their skills into a life changing volunteer opportunity: Good Assets, a financial education program funded by the Charles Schwab Foundation.
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Eight Ways to Network Yourself to a New Career
According to professional job hunters, only 10-20 percent of jobs get published on job boards or in classified ads. The remaining 80 percent remain unpublished — making these job opportunities accessible only through networking. People in your network can give you job leads, offer advice about a particular career path, and introduce you to others who can help you in your job search. To help the people we serve achieve their potential and find new jobs and careers, Goodwill® offers “do’s” and “don’ts” of networking to help you make new connections and advance your career.
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Get Organized This Spring with Help From Goodwill
Spring is right around the corner. As I come out of my winter hibernation, I find myself experiencing the following symptoms: * The urge to clean my space * The need to clear the clutter * The desire to repurpose the stuff I no longer use Do you experience one or more of these symptoms? Fear not — you, just like me, simply have a case of the spring cleaning bug! Gladly, Goodwill® has two new partners that have joined the Donate Movement to help us declutter our lives and help those in need in our community.
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Tax Time Tips to File Your Return and Get the Greatest Refund
It’s that time of year again – March is upon us and the IRS April 18 deadline to file your tax return is only five weeks away. It's time to gather up all your documents, complete your paperwork and make the most of your tax refund this year. Goodwill offers some timely tips to make the filing process easier and ensure you get all the money back you deserve this tax season.
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Take Action Today to Thwart Threats to Job Training
Congress averted a potential March 4 government shutdown by approving a temporary spending measure. This Continuing Resolution will keep federal programs funded through March 18, 2011, and cut current spending by $4 billion. While temporarily averting a shutdown, the threat to job training programs remains at 'Code Red.'
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Bring the Joy of Reading to Your Community
On March 2, Americans gear up to celebrate the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss and the National Education Association’s Read Across America Day. This day encourages communities to celebrate one of my favorite things: reading. Being unable to read makes many aspects of life difficult, from ordering on a menu to completing applications for jobs. Many Goodwill® agencies provide resources to help individuals increase their reading proficiency.
Balance Career, Family and Finances as a Single Mother
Balancing a career, family and finances is one of the biggest challenges facing single mothers today. According to the Women's Economic Security Campaign, the unemployment rate for women who maintain families was 11.3 percent in 2010—the highest rate in the past 25 years. As single mothers look to find jobs and support their families, Goodwill can offer a range of services to help families achieve economic self-sufficiency.
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Plan Unveiled in House to Cut Job Training Funding by $2 Billion
On February 11, 2011, the House Appropriations Committee unveiled a proposal to cut spending by $100 billion including more than $3.8 billion from the U.S. Deparment of Labors job training programs. If accepted by both the House and Senate, the cuts would be likely to take effect immediately. Click here to take action to support job training programs!
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Financial Aid: How to Pay For Your College Education
February is National Financial Aid Awareness Month and Goodwill® wants to make sure every student benefits from the many financial aid rewards, scholarships, and free services available to save on education.
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Career Advancement Starts With Your Education
It’s no surprise that higher levels of education correlate to better jobs and better pay. What’s a little less known are the growing number of educational options available for non-traditional students (e.g. adult learners). Whether you want to earn a GED or obtain an advanced degree, educational institutes and companies across the country offer the means to advance your education and career prospects.
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