Goodwill Industries offering clients skills for job opportunities

By JUSTIN DENNIS

jdennis@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Goodwill Industries is offering clients skills to seize new job opportunities in the new year.

Within the last month, the Liberty location opened a new Job Connection and Resource Center, 2747 Belmont Ave., which offers 12 desktop computers for searching employment ads, applying for jobs online, drafting resumes and more.

Denis Robinson Sr., Goodwill’s director of mission services, said with new programming this year, he expects the center to become a “pipeline for digital skill and digital knowledge.”

He said the majority of jobs require some level of digital literacy which job seekers can gain at the new center: “Anywhere from how to use a mouse or a smartphone up to having some opportunities for individuals to get some type of certification in some digital skill,” he said, including the Microsoft Office or Google software suites.

“We’re finding out there are a lot of employers who have individuals working for them in their facilities in office positions that are not able to use basic word processing or Excel or any of these other types of programs.”

Youngstown State University donated the center’s internet-connected desktops, desks and chairs. United Methodist Community Center also donated an interactive “smart” board.

The center would play a role in a new job skills training program coordinated by Goodwill and area manufacturers. The program’s recent pilot, which took six participants from a pool of 30, was a “success,” he said. Two Goodwill employees who worked in the processing area landed well-paying jobs with one of the area’s larger manufacturers after the program, he said.

“I think it impacted their lives tremendously. I think they saw an immediate change in not only their attitude but in their quality of life,” Robinson said. “These were individuals that obviously had low wages and now they’re making close to $17 an hour overnight.”

The center will be the focus for Goodwill’s job placement efforts, where clients can learn job interview skills or “soft” skills such as handshakes, speech and eye contact and supported employment.

“We’re dealing with their job skills, making sure they have good attendance, making sure they have confidence on the job — reliability is always a signature for a person,” said Robert Mitchell, Goodwill’s job placement specialist.

Goodwill’s Job Connection and Resource Center is open to all job seekers from 8 a.m to 4 p.m. Monday to Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, or by appointment by calling 330-759-7921.

“We want to get the word out we are here and open for everybody from all walks of life — not just people with disabilities or barriers to employment,” Robinson said.