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: ‘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?