Career Success for Individuals with Disabilities

Having a disability doesn’t mean that you can’t also have a successful, fulfilling career. Programs, including accommodation and rehabilitation, exist to help you get back on the job or make the most of the job you have. Learn more about how to determine which career fits you and how you can succeed in it.

My Story: Nadia Patterson

When Nadia Patterson moved from New York to North Carolina with her children, she had limited job prospects. Goodwill Industries of the Southern PIedmont (Charlotte, NC) helped her get back on track by earning her GED, pursuing secondary education and landing a job in her dream field as a pharmacy technician.

Your Favorite Music Genre: Now Playing at Goodwill

When getting to know someone new, it’s inevitable that one of you will eventually ask, “What kind of music do you like?” The question is never whether or not the other person likes music, but specifically which kind it is that they prefer. I don’t think I’ve ever encountered someone who wasn’t taken by some specific tempo or tune because there are just so many genres that reach out to every type of person who inhabits this vast earth. Music is a magnetic force that can help a person to heal, to grow, and to feel more inspired or less alone. Which kinds speak to you?

Urge Congress to Support the Second Chance Reauthorization Act

I visited the Hudson County Jail in northern New Jersey. Twenty years later, I can still vividly remember the rhythmic sound of sturdy locks opening, followed by heavy doors slamming shut, and then the locks swinging back home. It was a deafening and consistent reminder to the residents of that institution that they were “inmates” who were very, very bad.

Sneaking Summer Into Your Workspace

Alas, the days of summer vacation are in the past for most of us, so we pass up the pool in favor of a paycheck every Monday through Friday. But that doesn’t mean your summer style must be compromised! Unless you’re lucky enough to work outside and enjoy this glorious season before it’s gone, you may need to consciously include it in your 9-5 life.

Bipartisan Innovation at Risk of Being a Missed Opportunity

Last year, Congress voted overwhelmingly to pass the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The moment represented a bipartisan beacon of hope on Capitol Hill. Goodwill Industries International was pleased with the overall outcome in this new Act which provides opportunities for community based organizations, like Goodwill, to do more to help people build their skills and connect with career opportunities.

Advancing Your Career with Digital Badges

All evidence indicates that a degree or professional certificate is the way forward for career and financial stability. The game is changing, though, with digital badges gaining importance in the credentialing world. Read more to see what digital badges are, how they work and how to get them.

Take the Homework Out of Preparing for a New School Year

You know that expression “A Sunday well spent brings a week of content”? One could just as easily swap out “Sunday” for “August” and “week” for “school year” and it would still be true. With the right preparation, the back to school season can be a seamless transition from vacation to vocation with minimal tears.

Procrastination: Congress Style

Congress left town this week for the month of August. When they return after Labor Day they might just turn around and leave again. Why? Because all the tough calls they couldn’t make before August will still be here when they get back and with even less time to get it all it done.

Four Ways to Try on a Job before Committing

It’s normal to not know what to do and change your mind a lot when it comes to careers, especially after graduating from high school. That is why trying on jobs before committing is such an excellent idea. Here are some different ways to do it.

My Story: Shawnteal Turner

I was the one hanging out with the gang members on the street corners doing whatever, not really accomplishing anything with my life, you know… not even paying attention to what I was really doing. A friend of mine kicked me in the butt and was like, “You need to get a job, and Goodwill is having a job fair so come on, let’s go.” I went to a job fair at Goodwill Seattle (WA), and then I met Allison Gerttula. She told me about Goodwill’s Youth Green Corps and I was like great, sign me up, and that’s how I got started.

DIY Projects for Kids of All Ages

Before I became a mom, I heard a whole slew of gripes from other parents. The one that kept recurring more often than any others was “Kids are expensive!” Creativity becomes imperative for those on a budget who don’t want their little ones to go without the games and goodies that make childhood special, so […]