The Goodwill blog’s career and financial advice posts have all moved to GoodProspects®, but you can still get great advice on your job search, learn about career fields and connect with virtual career mentors. Here are some recent articles published this month—read each piece, share your thoughts, and join GoodProspects to take advantage of everything at Goodwill’s online career navigation portal!
Tag: Older Workers
My Story: Randy Bakker
I was born with hydrocephalus, a condition that caused pressure on my optic nerve, and I have been visually impaired most of my life. As a young man in the late 1970s, I enrolled in a work training program at Goodwill Industries of Central Iowa (Des Moines). I was hired as a dishwasher at the Iowa State Capitol, where I worked for 14 years. I later worked for the Iowa Department for the Blind for two years. But then I did not work for a period of about 10 years.
My Story: Martha Lugo
Martha Lugo is a graduate of Goodwill of San Antonio’s (TX) Good Career Academy. Prior to joining the program she was a Class B truck driver, but lacked the confidence to obtain a Class A license. Below she shares the experience, which led her to Goodwill and on a path toward home ownership.
Older Workers No Longer ‘Set for Life,’ Documentary Demonstrates
What do you think of when you hear the words ‘the American dream’? For most of ourselves and the people we serve at Goodwill®, the definition would include being able to hold a job that provides long-term support and security for ourselves and our families. For older workers profiled in the documentary Set for Life, the definition of the American dream shifted drastically due to periods of unexpected unemployment they experienced during the Great Recession.
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This Week, Tell Congress to Support Older Workers
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, workers who are 55 and older will make up one-quarter of the civilian workforce by 2020. This stark figure demonstrates that older workers will continue to need support. You can show your support for older workers by telling Congress to support S. 192, the Older Americans Act Reauthorization of 2015. S. 192 reauthorizes the Older Americans Act and key services and programs for America’s seniors including the Senior Community Service and Employment Program (SCSEP). The Goodwill agencies that serve older adults 55 and older through SCSEP served 8361 new participants since 2006 and have placed 2444 to employment with full benefits. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, workers who are 55 and older will make up one-quarter of the civilian workforce by 2020. This stark figure demonstrates that older workers will continue to need support.
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Congress is Back in Session and Already Behind in Assignments
Congress returned from their annual summer break in August and found themselves already behind in their homework. Awaiting completion are the FY 2016 appropriations bills, though Congress will likely need a short term continuing resolution to complete that assignment. Also due is a vote on the Iran agreement, the debt ceiling, highway bill reauthorization and funding, and finding bridge funding for the SSDI program whose trust fund runs dry in a year.
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Not Losing is the New Winning
Perhaps it can only be true in Washington, DC, that not losing is considered winning. In the face of mounting debt, a stubbornly high deficit, and an economy still struggling to grow fast enough to add enough jobs, Congress is keeping a tight grip on spending.
Support Our Seniors During Older Americans Month
The very first Older Americans Month took place in May 1963. While the poverty rate for seniors declined from the abysmal high point of 65 percent, it still hovered around an unacceptable 30 percent. Today the senior poverty rate stands just above 10 percent, about the same as other age groups. Social Security, one of
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Four Strategic Career Development Tips for Women
It’s the start of the new year and you’re looking for some inspiration. Could your career development plan use help to gain momentum? Women who report being successful and satisfied in their careers often engage in proactive planning. Here are some tips for strategic career development for women.
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Urge “Yes” Vote When the Senate Considers the Older Americans Act
The Senate will soon bring up S. 192, the Older Americans Act (OAA), for a vote. If you have already contacted your senators we thank you. You’ve helped to move this key legislation for America’s lowest income seniors. If not, Goodwill® supports this bipartisan legislation and we urge you to take just a couple of minutes to ask your senators to support S. 192.
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