Employment & Training Opportunities
Giving Back to the Community We Serve
We offer job training, and employment services designed to help people with barriers to employment fulfill their employment goals. Barriers to employment can be, but not limited to; a disability, no employment history/experience, no high school diploma, single parents, seniors, ex-offenders, language barriers, and youth.
Our Goodwill serves 17 counties in Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia; Tennessee: Sullivan, Washington, Hawkins, Greene, Hancock, Unicoi, Carter, and Johnson. Virginia: Scott, Wise, Washington, Russell, Smyth, Dickenson, Tazewell, Buchanan, and Lee.
We have five Workforce Development Staff located throughout the service area for easier access to services. We are located in Kingsport-TN, Johnson City-TN, Richlands-VA, Abingdon-VA, and Chilhowie-VA.
Goodwill Industries of Tenneva Area, Inc. serves any person with a barrier to employment. Barriers include a disability and/or disadvantage (such as criminal justice involvement, lack of education, no work experience, etc.)
Job Placement (TN/VA)
These services require a referral from the Tennessee Department of Human Services, Vocational Rehabilitation, or the Virginia DARS. Services are offered through a partnership between Goodwill Industries of Tenneva Area, Inc. and Vocational Rehabilitation.
Hours: Monday – Friday | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Job Placement services are focused on making an individual job-ready by identifying skills, needs, and interests to become competitively employed.
Individuals are provided with the following:
- Job readiness training; resume development, interview preparation, application assistance, and how to dress for work and/or interview, and assist in identifying barriers preventing them from becoming employed or maintaining employment.
- Job search assistance; job leads, connections with employers, identifying their network.
- Assistance with accommodations as/when needed.
- 90 days of retention services.
Supported Employment (VA only)
These services require a referral from the Tennessee Department of Human Services, Vocational Rehabilitation, or the Virginia DARS. Services are offered through a partnership between Goodwill Industries of Tenneva Area, Inc. and Vocational Rehabilitation.
Hours: Monday – Friday | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
The Supported Employment program is a cooperative effort between DARS and Goodwill Industries of Tenneva Area, Inc. Its goal is to assist individuals in obtaining and maintaining employment while receiving the necessary job coaching and support needed in order to be successful in a competitive work environment.
Once an individual obtains employment, retention supports are provided to ensure success. Goodwill staff are in contact with the individuals and employer a minimum of twice per month or on an as-needed basis. Additional job coaching is available if requested by the individual and/or employer.
Individuals are provided with the following:
- Job Readiness Training
- Job Search Assistance
- Assistance with accommodations as/when needed
- Retention services to maintain employment
Employee Development (TN/VA)
These services require a referral from the Tennessee Department of Human Services, Vocational Rehabilitation, or the Virginia DARS. Services are offered through a partnership between Goodwill Industries of Tenneva Area, Inc. and Vocational Rehabilitation.
Hours: Monday – Friday | 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Individuals are provided with a structured, planned, and supervised work experience at a Goodwill location in the areas of production, recycling, and retail. The program is designed to build confidence, work tolerance, social skills, and job skills to obtain and maintain competitive employment.
Training length is 10 days to 300 hours depending on referral information.
Individuals are provided with the following:
- Paid work experience in the following areas;
- Employment support; job coaching, accommodations
- Individual planning to identify strengths, interests, and needs for employment
Long-Term Employment Support Services (TN/VA)
These services require a referral from the Tennessee Department of Human Services, Vocational Rehabilitation, or the Virginia DARS. Services are offered through a partnership between Goodwill Industries of Tenneva Area, Inc. and Vocational Rehabilitation.
Hours: Monday – Friday | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Individuals are provided with continued job coaching and support in their places of employment.
Work-Based Learning (TN/VA)
Hours: Monday – Friday | 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Work-based learning is fully supported by Goodwill Industries of Tenneva Area, Inc. and is available at our Processing Center in Kingsport, TN and at our Retail Stores. This is a cooperative with local high schools and requires participation with faculty and students. A client must be enrolled in school to participate. Training and instruction are provided to special needs students to enable them to successfully transition from school to work after graduation. Students receive training in a variety of tasks and settings.
Erin Starnes, CESP | ACRE Certified
Director of Client Services
Robin Haga, M.Ed., CESP | ACRE Certified
Employment Support Specialist