A Labor Day Message to Protect Workforce Funding

For many Americans, Labor Day marks the end of summer, the start of a new school year, and one last chance to enjoy the nice weather while gathered with family and friends over the long weekend. It’s also a time to take stock of the state of our nation’s workforce and how we can collectively work to improve employment and economic outcomes for all job seekers and career advancers.

Why You Should Think About Networking in a New Way, and Put it to Good Use

This blog covers networking. What is it? Who does it? Find out the answers to these questions as well as why it is a good strategy not only for finding work but also for meeting new people and advancing your career, too. If you want to learn more, continue reading.

My Story: Damarya Williams

Damarya Williams is a young woman who was destined for greatness. That’s until she found herself in legal trouble. Like many, she was overcome with peer pressure and succumbed to some unfavorable actions. Damarya paid for her mistakes and started to focus on making things right. When she was assigned to a pre-trial intervention case worker, she heard about the LifeLaunch program at Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina (Greenville).

Get Your Child Excited About Returning to the Classroom With this Back-to-School Confidence Boost

As summer draws to a close, beach days turn into back to school shopping as a new school year approaches. The anticipation of starting another year of classroom learning can cause mixed emotions, for both children and parents. Some children may look forward to seeing friends more regularly, while others may feel more wary about saying goodbye to a summer of fun and returning to a structured learning environment. Either way, as a parent, there are many ways to help your child reignite their love for learning.

Start or Advance Your Career With Stackable Google Career Certificates: Google Business Certificates

In part 3 of our blog series on stackable credentials, we will delve deeper into the world of stackable credentials with an overview of Google’s Business certificate programs. Business stackable credentials have become prevalent as individuals seek to enhance their skills to enter or advance their careers in the industry. Google’s five business certificate programs include: Google Project Management, Google Digital Marketing & E-Commerce, Google Data Analytics, Google Business Intelligence, and Google Advanced Data Analytics. This blog will provide an overview of these five certificates and best practices for completion. Join us for part 3 of this 3-part blog series as we further explore the stackable credential world and see how they can be essential to new opportunities.

CHIPS Act Anniversary Spotlights Good Jobs and Workforce Partnerships

This week marks the first anniversary of the signing of the CHIPS and Science Act, the bipartisan legislation that invests in domestic semiconductor research, development, and manufacturing to promote America’s global competitiveness. The law also seeks to create job opportunities in high-growth industries and upskill workers to meet the demand.

Preparing and Implementing Effective Interviewing Strategies for Justice-Involved Citizens

This blog covers interview strategies that are beneficial to formerly incarcerated individuals. It can be daunting to think about ways in which to discuss highly stigmatized realities like past imprisonment, but it is not impossible. Being introspective and prepared can both help you to identify creative ways to share these hard truths in a way that won’t hurt your chances of getting hired. To learn more, keep reading.

My Story: Julian

On January 10, 2022, Julian enrolled in a program that changed his life. “Before I came to Goodwill, I hadn’t been on a good path and I hadn’t held a job. I got out of prison and didn’t have a plan,” Julian said. In March, Julian began a six-week CDL certification through a partnership with Michigan Works. Shortly following Julian’s successful completion of the CDL certification, he was offered a job position.

Tell Congress to Protect Workforce Development Funding

As Congress enters the August recess, Members have a limited window to pass critical fiscal year 2024 (FY24) appropriations bills before the September 30th deadline. However, significant disagreements between the House and Senate on funding levels are putting the future of essential programs of importance to Goodwill and the people we serve in jeopardy.

Securing a Bright Career Future: 10 Key Factors to Consider

There are many factors to consider when embarking on a new career path or job search. Considering your needs, priorities, and motivations is essential to this process. This blog will review 10 key factors to help you conduct thorough research and consider long-term career goals to make informed decisions with the goal of a bright future.

Gen Z Trends for Back-to-College Shopping at Goodwill

The countdown to back to college is on, which means there’s only a few weeks left to create the ultimate back to school wardrobe. There’s something so fun about the start of a new school year. The opportunities feel endless, there’s excitement about being in the same place with your friends again, and of course for getting you one step closer to reaching your academic and professional goals.

Senate Committee Approves Workforce Funding Bill

This week, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted to advance its Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill. The annual spending measure proposes funding levels for many of the federal workforce development programs that help support the training and employment services offered by local Goodwill organizations.