Mission Blog Posts – Workforce Development

It goes without saying that the Covid-19 pandemic has brought an incredible amount of change and disturbance to all of our work lives. However, another major change of the last year has been the increasing drive to prioritize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the workplace.  

A resume is the first impression. Despite changes in the workforce, especially during COVID-19, a strong resume is still the ticket into the door to help you get that dream job. It unlocks an initial interview. It introduces you in paper form to a future employer. To many, it's almost considered sacred. That's why it's important, more than ever before, to get your resume in top shape. In this competitive working world, a flawless resume, without errors or unnecessary information, can truly help you stand out. 

We were curious to see how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the toxic work environment. On the surface, it would appear that being free to work from home would reduce the stress of toxicity. After all, we wouldn’t have to face the causes of our stress in person and could, in effect, hide from the problem. Unfortunately, there is some evidence that the exact opposite occurred.

In the time prior to March of 2020, commuting to work was an expected – and accepted – part of everyday life. At that time the average one-way commute in Washington, DC was around 30 minutes. Now, many who read this would wish their one-way daily commute was only 30 minutes.

Is there anything more “normal” than celebrating the Fourth of July? It is the unofficial mid-point of summer and screams barbeques and backyard parties. And, yes, it is also when we celebrate America’s independence. That word holds a slightly different connotation in 2021.

While Goodwill stores operate in a very similar manner to most retail operations, we do have some unique jobs and processes. But at the end of the day, what makes Goodwill different from virtually any other retailer is that 91 cents out of every dollar we earn is funneled back into our mission services: providing free job training, education, and employment programs for people with disadvantages and disabilities. That is what makes us the most proud every time we open a new store.

What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth is one of the most important holidays in United States history.

We asked our team members at Goodwill to share the words of wisdom - ones that they have heard from their own Dads or have passed on to their children.

Face it, not wearing a mask will feel a bit unnatural for a time. Seeing people not wearing masks will still set off that virus alarm in some people. However, as of this writing, 60% of the US population had received at least one dose of a vaccine, and 37% were fully vaccinated. As this program proceeds, we will all feel more comfortable not wearing a mask.

If you’ve been in hold mode and are preparing to switch career paths, how has the pandemic altered that paradigm?