Mission Services
Key Services
Goodwill serving Summit, Portage, Medina, Ashland and Richland Counties is a leader in workforce development and vocational programs - helping individuals prepare for, find and retain employment. To customize a specific program, contact the Mission Services team at 800-989-8428 or at missionservices@goodwillakron.org.
Goodwill is accredited by the Commission of Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) in the area of Community Employment Services: Job Development.
Career/Job Seeker
- Career exploration & advising
- Resume & interview preparation
- Skill identification
- Virtual services
Individualized
- Assessments & adjustments
- Career counseling
- Job coaching, placement & retention
- Work experience
- Youth programs
Help Request Form
Career/Job Seeker Services
Looking for assistance in finding a career path? Goodwill offers advising and evaluation services to help determine interests, abilities, transferable skills and local labor market information. In addition, receive assistance with resume and interview preparation as well as completion of applications.
In addition, check out these additional resources for help.
Individualized Services
Need more intensive services? Goodwill facilitates and provides job training and other community-based programs for individuals with disabilities, at-risk youth and others facing challenges to finding employment. A variety of assessments, adjustments and evaluations can determine an individual’s vocational training potential and help develop realistic employment goals. In addition, individuals can have the opportunity to experience different jobs, refine their skills and adjust behaviors in various work environments to help identify the appropriate type of future community employment. This training may even occur at Goodwill within its Retail and Business Services (light assembly and industrial sewing) operations. To ensure a successful transition to long-term employment and minimize loss of productivity to the employer, job coaching services are available as needed.
Goodwill works with several different referral sources who will help you select which service(s) may be the most beneficial for you. Once a referral is received, Goodwill will strive to contact you within one week to set up the start of your service(s). Any wait times for services will be discussed with you at that time. Services are generally scheduled Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m and 4:30 p.m. or adjusted based on service needs.
Assessments & Adjustments
The opportunity to experience different jobs to help determine the appropriate type of employment for any individual’s needs. Assessments can be performed at Goodwill as well as on-site at an employer’s location. Work adjustments help individuals refine their skills in a variety of work environments to make the transition into a new job easier.
Career Counseling
Provides assistance is developing realistic potential career paths based upon abilities, interests, work experience and vocational training potential. Also, provides guidance in developing a short- or long-term plan to progress upon the chosen career path.
Job Placement & Retention
Provides assistance with resume preparation, completion of applications, assistance with interviewing skills and assists in determining if a community job will be appropriate for an individual. Provides follow-up services to monitor an individual’s performance and to ensure job retention. Follow-up occurs at 14, 30, 60 and 90 days after the individual is working independently.
Job Coaching Services
Provides training opportunities for individuals to ensure the successful transition to long-term employment. Services take place during your scheduled shift, which may include evenings and weekends. May provide job shadowing services, which allow individuals to observe an actual job to ensure it fits with vocational goals. In addition, provides individualized training on the safe use of public transportation.
Work Experience
Prepares individuals for community employment through vocational training within Goodwill’s Retail and Business Services (light assembly and industrial sewing) operations. Each participant is assigned a case manager and mentor as well as earns a commensurate wage while working in an integrated setting along with Goodwill’s employees.
Youth Programs
Goodwill partners with area agencies to provide youth, either living in foster care or who are at-risk due to family or academic problems, opportunities to participate in self-sufficiency and employment programs to better ensure success in life. Two key programs include Youth Employment Opportunities to Work (YEOW) and Youth Pre-Employment Transition Services.