Goodwill Industries Monocacy Valley: Preparing for the World of Work

In Frederick and Carroll Counties, Goodwill helps people with disabilities, those who lack education or work experience and other job seekers, earn paychecks to support themselves and their families.   

The primary focus and success of Goodwill’s employment and vocational programs is our ability to prepare people for the world of work. Ultimate success on the job requires self-confidence, the ability to juggle interpersonal and professional relationships, and a true assessment of one’s abilities and interests. 

At Goodwill, we offer a fresh approach to vocational rehabilitation. A variety of services are offered, and our clients can choose the best options for them. Our workforce development experts then customize a plan for each individual, based on his or her skills and interest. The goal of Goodwill’s programs is to help clients achieve their highest employment potential in a creative, supportive and flexible environment. 

Clients participate in a variety of discovery and assessment tools within Goodwill and the community to assess their skills and interests. This process helps to identify positive features to highlight for employment by determining job readiness and establishing a personalized vocational plan. 

Goodwill’s Business Developer spends time in the community with businesses to successfully match job seekers skills to business hiring needs to result in successful job placements. 

One particularly successful match was between Golden Living Nursing Home and one of Goodwill’s Vocational program participants, William. Looking to build his resume, William started volunteering at Golden Living to learn how to wash, dry, hang and fold laundry. When the laundry services were outsourced to another company, ABM, Goodwill’s Business Developer was able to secure a great reference from Golden Living which resulted in William obtaining a paid job with ABM as a Laundry Aide. William now earns more than minimum wage, is scheduled to work M-F for 15 hours each week and reached his one year anniversary in April.   

Goodwill provides the opportunity to work toward the goals needed to achieve the maximum level of productivity and self-fulfillment in one’s personal life and employment.   

When you donate and shop at Goodwill, you make an economic investment in your community. Eighty-four percent of revenues fund programs to help workers become productive, taxpaying citizens. 

For more information about Goodwill’s Employment Programs and Services, visit www.GoodwillMV.org.