Category: The Goodwill Blog

The 113th Congress comes to a close this week and lawmakers are probably just as happy as the American public to put the last two years behind them and start anew. A recent Gallup poll reported that Congressional approval ratings are just one point higher than last year at 15 percent. Under this Congress we’ve seen a government shutdown and the invocation of the nuclear option (a Senate procedure allowing a rule or precedent to be overridden). However, there were some moments worth celebrating, particularly during the second session of the Congress this year.

READ MORE from What Has the 113th Congress Accomplished This Year?

What if I told you that a career in hospitality could lead to you traveling the world? If you consider yourself to be adaptable and hardworking, and genuinely enjoy helping others, then you could be a winning smile—and a certification or two—away from working in hotel and resort staff, tour management, cruise ships, dining and more. These career pathways are just some of the options in the field.

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Michelle Lesniak, season 11 winner of popular TV show Project Runway, is using her high fashion skills to help raise money for Goodwill Industries of Columbia Willamette (Portland). The designer has created a coat from a collection of donated clothing. Her one-of-a-kind design is currently being auctioned on shopgoodwill.com. The relationship with Lesniak began when Portland Goodwill’s Copywriter

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I worked for twenty years in my family’s restaurant in Haiti, where I am born. After the earthquake in 2010, I and my two children were part of the humanitarian sponsorship program instituted by the Canadian government. Upon my arrival, I was warmly welcomed, but I then had to wait for months for my work

READ MORE from My Story: Guerline Guerrier

From shoes to sweaters to school supplies, we all know that Goodwill® has just about anything you could ever dream of. But sometimes, that gorgeous pair of heels staring at you from the shelf needs a little help to bounce back to the glamor of their glory days. Today, let’s check out some of the ways that others have fixed up their Goodwill finds for the holiday season!

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Negotiations over the $1.1 trillion spending bill for FY 2015 continue despite snags over everything from trucking regulations and pension funding to terrorism insurance and the Dodd-Frank law that tightened financial regulations in the wake of the financial meltdown that helped trigger the Great Recession.

READ MORE from Congress Lurches to the Finish Line with FY 2015 Budget Baton

Apart from the interview, one of the more stressful times in our job is asking your boss for a raise. Preparing ahead of time and making a plan will help ease the stress. Here are three things you should know when asking for a raise.

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On November 20, the Mobile County Recycling Center opened its doors to the public in Alabama. This project will provide residents with an attractive facility at which they can drop off their recyclable material. Goodwill Easter Seals of the Gulf Coast (Mobile) will operate and manage the facility with between four to eight staff and many volunteers.

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I was on welfare for a long time, but had always hoped to return to work. I began looking but had no success due to my age and prolonged inactivity. It was through my agent at Emploi-Québec that I heard about Goodwill Renaissance Montreal in Quebec.

READ MORE from My Story: Diane Duquette

Perhaps one of the most wonderful things about the holiday season, no matter which occasion you celebrate, is that every family has its own unique practices, each adding to the enjoyment of the year. This year, consider starting a new tradition to amplify the spirit of the season!

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As the 113th Congress lurches to a post-election close, known as a lame duck session, some positive results might be in the making amid the budget drama and some notable failures.

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More and more every year, our lives extend into the virtual world. Two-thirds of Americans have a profile on at least one social network, and up to 40 percent of Americans use Facebook on a daily basis. Fair or not, the things that you and your friends might find funny, or that personal hobby that’s the center of your digital world, can stand between you and the job you really want. Here are some ways to clean up your profile and make yourself more attractive to employers.

READ MORE from Polish Your Online Image to Improve Your Job Prospects