Career Scoop: Do You Really Need a College Degree?

AJ Helms, Career Counselor

I have clients ask me this all the time…. do I really need a college education to succeed? The short answer is YES. Not that you won’t succeed without one, but in a struggling economy and a tight job market what better way to make yourself stand out from the pack? There are a lot of variables to think about when considering college. How will I find the time? How will I pay for it? I don’t have four years to devote to school, is there a shorter program?

Not everyone is a traditional student so why would you look for a traditional college? Many people are discovering the advantages of career colleges. Career colleges offer many one-year and two-year programs to get you on your feet and moving in the right direction fast. One of the fastest growing fields is Healthcare, and career colleges are offering courses right now in your area such as Medical Assisting, Medical Office Administration, and Medical Billing and Coding, just to name a few. A Certified Nursing Assistant is another in-demand position and most of the programs only take 4-6 weeks!

Career colleges tend to be more flexible and understanding of the needs of the student as well. It’s easy to get lost in the crowd of a big university, but if you need that little extra of one on one attention, smaller class size, or even tutoring career colleges are there. There are financial aid officers to help you with all of your financial needs from tuition to books and supplies.

So what are you waiting for? Go make yourself stand out! A college degree is not as hard to come by as you might think. Go speak to an Admissions Representative today from the career college of your choice to see what they have to offer. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Learn about the training programs at Goodwill Career Solutions that will help you stand out in the job market.

 

 

D Movement: The Final Days of Project Organize

By NaTisha Moultry, Community Relations Manager

Enter Project Organize by September 30!

As we approach the final days of the Project Organize contest, I started thinking about the reason we created the contest. Most people have a hectic schedule with work, kids and social activities. Getting organized can be overwhelming at times and some people may feel like it is an impossible task. I wanted a fun way to encourage people to clear the clutter in their homes, offices or garage while offering them an incentive for doing so. I was actually at home cleaning my own closets and I wished that I had some help getting things organized. I also thought about how wonderful it would be to have someone else clean after everything was neatly put away. And that was how the idea of working with a professional organizer and cleaning crew was born.

Project Organize offers great prizes; a three-room makeover by Complete Organizing Solutions, a five hour cleaning by Angel Maids, as much as five hundred dollars worth of products from the Container Store and a one-hundred dollar Goodwill gift card.

I encourage all families, whether you win Project Organize or not, to create your own campaign to clear the clutter in your home. Encourage the kids to donate clothing they can no longer wear or toys they no longer play with. Go through the kitchen cabinets, closets and the garage. Donate any usable items that your family no longer needs to Goodwill. Not only are you creating a clutter-free environment in your home, you are also helping Goodwill fulfill our mission of providing employment and training opportunities to people in the community.

If you could clear the clutter in three rooms in your home, what would they be?

Career Scoop: Attitude is Everything

Kate Kiefling, Career Solutions Trainer

The orientation for our new Opportunities for Ex-Offenders class series here at Goodwill Career Solutions is titled “Attitude Is Everything.” Many job seekers come to the class with wonderful positive attitudes. They clearly have done some soul searching and take responsibility of their past. They are willing to do whatever it takes to find a better future, including sitting through yet another potentially boring class. They have learned about what kinds of events can trigger destructive thoughts and attitudes. They are leaders willing to help others over some attitude hurdles. They see the big picture and are already on their way to employment success!

Then again, it is heartbreaking when job seekers honestly share opinions about themselves “I have made too many mistakes in life” or “Nobody will hire me because of my criminal record.”

When these kinds of destructive messages play in our heads repeating negative self-images to ourselves over and over again, throughout the day, week, month or year, they sadly may become self-fulfilling prophecies. If these are our thoughts, how likely are we to have a positive attitude toward the job search process?

In the class, we invite job seekers to compose new, positive and hopefully healing self-images for themselves. Some of the most popular ones are:

• Although I am an ex-offender, somebody will hire me!
• I may need to work harder to get a job, but once I get one, I am willing to prove myself!
• I am not my past, I look to the future!
• I have learned from my mistakes.
• I am willing to learn new skills and attitudes.
• I am willing to make a positive change.
• I am worthy of a good job.
• I am able to handle rejection, bounce back, and continue my job search.
• It is their loss. They are missing out on a great worker!

We can sometimes be our own worst enemy. Our thoughts about the world of work, about the job search process and especially about ourselves will have an effect.

Now, can you afford the luxury of a negative thought?

Visit goodwillcareersolutions.org for more information on Goodwill Career Solutions programs.

Mission Possible: Goodwill Values

David Lifsey, President and CEO

In our Goodwill Employee Handbook there is a section about the company’s Core Values. The second point expresses our promise to treat people with dignity and courtesy “at all times.” We don’t specify which people. We mean everyone, and we mean all the time.

Rules serve many purposes, but chief among them is the desire to ensure that all employees are treated with dignity and courtesy. Dignity comes into play as we strive to apply our rules consistently, no matter what an employee’s background, job title or time with Goodwill. Even when rules are broken, our policies make sure the individual who violated policy is treated with dignity.

Courtesy has to do with how we apply those rules. Our list of rules includes trying to reach resolutions that are respectful and courteous, allowing for different viewpoints to be expressed and heard. I like working in a respectful place. I like the fact that we treat each other with dignity and respect and with an eye toward courtesy. I think our Goodwill can serve as a fine example for other businesses.

What core values are important to you in the workplace? How do you practice these values every day?

Bridal Blog: Gaylord Opryland Hosts Goodwill Gala Shoot

By NaTisha Moultry, Community Relations Manager

Great talent and a beautiful location for our Goodwill photo shoot equals one fabulous Look Book. On January 28th, the Goodwill team and Goodwill employee models all met at the Gaylord Opryland Resort to create our 2011 Look Book. We had been planning this photo shoot for months. Model fittings and meetings with hair and makeup artists were just the beginning of the process that ended with selecting the perfect gown, hair and makeup for each model. Then came creating a comprehensive shoot schedule that included the time, location of the shoot, and outfit for each model, along with making flower arrangements and matching accessories to compliment each look.

We want to thank the marketing and wedding teams at Gaylord Opryland Resort for allowing us to use their beautiful newly remodeled facility. We really appreciate everything they did to help make the photo shoot a success. Gaylord Opryland Resort is the perfect location for a beautiful wedding or even special proposal. They have so many locations. Also, we want to thank Street Tuxedo for providing tuxedos for the photo shoot. Linda from Nicholson’s Cleaners was gracious to assist us by cleaning the wedding gowns modeled in the photo shoot. Thanks to all of the Goodwill employee models who agreed to participate and were so easy to work with.

All of the gowns featured in the Look Book will be available for sale at the Goodwill Wedding Gala which will be held on March 19th from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. I have personally prepared the wedding gowns for the sale and we have some beautiful designer gowns. Gowns by Alfred Angelo, Maggie Sottero, Casablanca, Allure, Forever Yours, Watters Brides and Mary’s, just to name a few. No wedding gown will be priced for more than $400 and that is a huge bargain because some of the original prices exceeded $4,000. So please take time to check out the 2011 Wedding Gala Look Book to see some of the beautiful gowns that will be available at the sale.

Mission Possible: Ripple Effects

David Lifsey, President and CEO

Our Goodwill has come to view ripples, and the circles that follow as a drop falls into the water, as something of a company mascot, not as exciting as a bear or tiger, perhaps, but meaningful for us nevertheless.  The significance is the spreading impact of a single event, and for us, that event is a job.

Each day we have the privilege of working with people who may have believed a job was beyond their reach.  Sometimes their reasoning was elusive, at other times the impact of joblessness was all too familiar.  And, for whatever reason they were without work, the symptoms and outcomes were very similar, and very distressing.  It may have been utility bills that were unpaid, rent that was in arrears, food that was in short supply, children who didn’t have all they needed in the way of clothes, school supplies or toys.  Even more devastating have been the instances we have witnessed in which a family was destroyed by a parent’s leaving the home and, the heartbreak when children were removed from a home.

However, a job becomes the pebble dropped into the water of a life, and the ripples begin to spread.  Having money to spend after receiving a paycheck for work, provides an individual with a sense of liberation, of self determination, and self respect that cannot come from being economically dependent on others, whether it’s family, charity or through government services.

Thanks to the generous donations of used, but still useable clothing and household goods by the people in the areas we serve, Goodwill has the privilege of seeing the ripples form around a job and spread to benefit individuals, families and communities.  Every day that goes by we see the value of a job and resulting economic independence in the lives of our employees and clients.  And every day, we are grateful to our donors, shoppers, employers and employees who make our work possible.

Have you calculated your impact?

GW Boutique: 12 Days of Online Goodwill Holiday Shopping!

By Gail Champion, OnlineGoodwill.com Manager

Item of the Day - 32' LED HDTV!

The countdown is on. You officially have just a wee bit more than two weeks to buy online and have the perfect gift ready to go under the tree!

How to find that fab gift is as easy at onlinegoodwill.com. We have over 1000 items listed, ranging from jewelry, art, tools, antiques, books, collectibles, electronics and more!

Throughout the next 12 days we will feature a daily gift item for those special people on your holiday list.

Onlinegoodwill.com works much like ebay, with most auctions beginning at the low price of $5.

Best of all, just like our stores, the money generated goes to help fund our mission of providing employment and training opportunities for people who have disabilities and others who have trouble finding and keeping jobs. So far this year we have assisted almost 10,000 Tennesseans at our 16 Career Solutions centers.

So what could be better than finding fab deals with ease, convenience and 24/7 access, AND making a positive impact on your community?

Sounds like the perfect present to me.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to see the 12 days of onlinegoodwill.com! It all begins Monday, December 6! Happy Holidays!

D Movement: ‘Tis the season for giving… but you have given all year long

Jennifer Kalifa, Donations Manager

I’ve been a part of Goodwill for almost 18 years and, let me tell you, it’s been exciting! I have seen the company grow and what’s been especially important to me is how many lives we’ve changed. It’s because of you, our donors, and I want to thank each and every one of you. You do so much to help so many and should be proud of yourself for what you do with every item you donate.

There are many ways your donations change lives. Because you give, you’ve provided jobs for 100 employees in the donations department and 1,400 others who work in our processing centers, our retail stores, our transportation department, our corporate employees and everyone else associated with our Goodwill. That’s a lot of lives that have been changed because of your generosity.

Your donations also provide fun and affordable shopping experiences for the people who rely on Goodwill for their clothes, furnishings, household items, and overall great ‘finds’. If you’ve not stopped in one of our stores, I’ll tell you, you’re missing out on great deals!

I like to think of Goodwill as one of the original recyclers. We take the items you don’t need any longer and return them to the retail side of our business so they can find a second life with someone else. That means less in the landfills.

But more than that, I like the culture at Goodwill. I like that we’re a self-sustaining company and I like it that the more donations we receive, the more money we have to provide more people job training and skills. Everything extra truly means more jobs and opportunities.

I love going into our stores and seeing people I hired many years ago who still enjoy their jobs. I think Goodwill offers unlimited opportunities and each employee truly has the opportunity to be the best, regardless of their barrier.

Our name, Goodwill, says it all. A lot of times I think it’s important for people to look back to see how far we’ve come. We don’t waste people’s money and are truly resourceful. The more money we make, the more money we can put into programs. Not many companies can say they’re financially stable and that’s comforting for me. We’re little ‘ole Goodwill and we keep growing, helping and proving we’re here to help. I hope everyone has an awesome holiday season!

We are thankful for you all year long. Tell us, how could we make your donation experience better?

Being Green, Doing Good

By Mary Stockett, Manager of Continuous Improvement

Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee diverts many products to salvage and recycling opportunities that would have ended up in the landfill. Among these products are textile, shoes, purses, belts, hats, backpacks, toys and stuffed animals, household goods, books, paper, cardboard, electrical appliances, electronics, cell phones, ink jet and toner cartridges, steel, aluminum and copper.

Within these broad categories are hundreds of items, which are sorted for shipment to salvage and recycling vendors. We divert approximately 20 million pounds of salvage or recycling grade products annually.

Environmental Metrics – Every year our goal is to divert from the landfill at a higher percentage more items than we did in the previous year before. Each month we calculate our percentage of diverted weight against the percentage of land filled weight in a “Going Green Aftermarket Calculator.” By entering our total pounds of salvage/recycle products versus our total pounds of waste disposal we can calculate our diversion percentage rate for the month. This gives us the knowledge we need to examine how much closer we are getting to reducing our waste stream.

Each month we strive to increase the percentage of our diversion rate. We continue to increase our diversions to salvage/recycling. As our diversion rate increases, our contribution to the landfill decreases. This is a good thing for our organization and for our community.

In addition, we calculate our waste cost as a percentage of our total retail sales. Doing this allows us to check how we are doing compared to other Goodwill Industries across the country.

The most current data available shows the trash cost averages as a percentage of retail sales is 1.8% as reported in the ASR GII 2008. That tells us we are doing a better than average job keeping our trash cost down. In comparison to the average of 1.8%, our annual rate for 2008 was 1.17%, for 2009 had dropped to 0.99% and is currently at 0.85%.

Measuring is the first step in our waste reduction strategy. Finding new opportunities for recycling is an ongoing process. Finding new opportunities increases the bottom line, creates green jobs and contributes to our environmental responsibility.

In addition to donating to Goodwill, what other tips and practices do you use to recycle and divert items from landfills?

D Movement: Need a reason to clear out the clutter…

Karl Houston, Senior Director of Marketing & Community Relations

The fall fashion magazines are on the newsstands, enticing you to shop for new sweaters and slacks, shoes and stocking fillers. Now that we’re heading towards Thanksgiving and Christmas, the ads will keep coming and you’ll be tempted, very tempted, to stock your closets.  But chances are your closets are already bulging and you know it’s time to do a fall clearance at home.

Spend a little time clearing the clutter to make room for all those new items that you’ll be giving or getting as gifts this holiday.  Where to give your gently-used items is a much easier decision than which outfit to splurge on for the company party. Give it to Goodwill.  Better yet, shop for that outfit at any of our stores. Goodwill is one of the hippest shopping spots with many items that are barely used and prices that are easy on the holiday-stretched wallet.  We offer gift cards as well.

So, as you plan your holiday shopping keeping this in mind.  When you donate to Goodwill, or shop at one of our 31 stores, you support an organization that helps individuals with disabilities and disadvantages find jobs and regain their self-esteem. Thanks to you, more than 87 cents of every dollar goes to our program services.  Free services.  That’s a great gift to give.

For more information on where or what to donate, visit us at giveit2goodwill.org.  As always, thank you for thinking of Goodwill because our business is changing lives.  And if you’d like to share a story with us, please comment here.