Join Goodwill In Supporting Those Who Served

Diverse group of six workers wearing safety vests posing in front of a loading dock.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, one of the most costly battles in American history. Over 50,000 Union and Confederate troops were killed, wounded or missing after the massive three-day battle that marked the turning point of the Civil War. Veterans of that war had little in the way of services to help them regain their lives and find jobs after the war ended. Fortunately, things are different for today’s veterans. Goodwill provides an array of services to help America’s fighting men and women find work after leaving the military.

My Story: Hong Nguyen

Young woman with long dark hair, looking slightly to the side, against a beige wall.

As a young adult, Hong stayed at home a lot and felt she was lacking direction in life. After connecting with Goodwill in Seattle, she became involved in the Green Corps Program where she learned how to maintain trails and took classes in workplace and life readiness. Today she feels she has a purpose and is headed to a career where she can support her family.

Four Generations, One Workforce: Tips for Working Together

Diverse group of six workers wearing safety vests posing in front of a loading dock.

Angela from Roanoke, VA, asks, “I’m one of the youngest people in my office. Almost everyone else is at least 20 years older than me and has been at this company forever. I feel like they don’t GET me and like we’re speaking different languages sometimes. How can I make this better?”

Decorating with Doilies: Three DIY Projects

Diverse group of six workers wearing safety vests posing in front of a loading dock.

I’ve been eyeing crochet doilies at my local Goodwill for many months now, knowing that there must be something easy that can be done to give them a place in my home without them feeling too “granny.” Finally, a couple of projects came to mind and seemed to fit the bill.

Senate Panel Holds Hearing on Improving Workers’ Skills

Diverse group of six workers wearing safety vests posing in front of a loading dock.

It has been 15 years since Congress enacted the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), the nation’s primary job training law. Back then, the U.S. had a budget surplus and the unemployment rate was 4.4 percent. Today, the nation is slowly recovering from the worst recession experienced in a generation and unemployment is stubbornly declining from the peak it reached during that time. Needless to say, the law is long overdue for an update. The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing today to consider how WIA could be improved to better develop a skilled workforce for a competitive economy.

Five Steps to Getting Organized at Work

Diverse group of six workers wearing safety vests posing in front of a loading dock.

Josh from Battle Creek, MI, asks, “I’m the least organized person ever! I have hard time keeping track of what I’m supposed to do, and I’m afraid I’m going to forget something. How can you help?”

My Story: Sebastian Pires

Man with dark hair and black glasses, wearing a gray polo, looking to the right; beige wall and a goodwill logo.

Sebastian, who has Asperger syndrome, had been unemployed for five years and living with his parents before coming to Goodwill. The program helped him get comfortable meeting new people and entering new situations — to the point where he was able to find a job in December 2012. He now works in a commissary stocking shelves and is happy because of the independence and freedom he’s gained.

Skip the Tie: Celebrate Father's Day with Unique Goodwill Finds

Triptych of thrift-store finds: vintage beige computer, oversized handheld flashlight, and an orange graphic tee.

It’s nearly Father’s Day and you know what that means–time to buy dad a new tie! Or is it? Trust me, your local Goodwill store is sure to have a huge selection of ties to pick from. I’ve never stepped foot in a thrift store that didn’t. Some ties are printed with themes that are so hilarious they should really be framed. But don’t be fooled into thinking that’s all you can find for dad there. It’s also full of great gifts for dad that he’ll actually use!

Skip the Tie: Celebrate Father’s Day with Unique Goodwill Finds

Diverse group of six workers wearing safety vests posing in front of a loading dock.

It’s nearly Father’s Day and you know what that means–time to buy dad a new tie! Or is it? Trust me, your local Goodwill store is sure to have a huge selection of ties to pick from. I’ve never stepped foot in a thrift store that didn’t. Some ties are printed with themes that are so hilarious they should really be framed. But don’t be fooled into thinking that’s all you can find for dad there. It’s also full of great gifts for dad that he’ll actually use!

Congress' Mid-Year Review Reveals Room for Improvement

Two glossy square icons: blue thumbs-up and red thumbs-down.

Twice a year, I sit down with my team and we discuss goals, strengths and areas for improvement as part of our company’s performance review process. It is the season for mid-year reviews and Congress should have theirs. As voters, we “hire” these elected officials for the job and as all good supervisors we should be providing feedback often.

Congress’ Mid-Year Review Reveals Room for Improvement

Diverse group of six workers wearing safety vests posing in front of a loading dock.

Twice a year, I sit down with my team and we discuss goals, strengths and areas for improvement as part of our company’s performance review process. It is the season for mid-year reviews and Congress should have theirs. As voters, we “hire” these elected officials for the job and as all good supervisors we should be providing feedback often.

Does GPA Matter in Finding a Job?

Diverse group of six workers wearing safety vests posing in front of a loading dock.

Deliah from San Antonio, TX, asks, “Does my school GPA really matter? It seems like most companies just want to see that you received a degree, not what your actual grades were.”