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.

Job Placement (TN/VA)

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)

Individuals must be referred by the Department of Aging and Rehabilitation Services (DARS)

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 employmen

Employee Development (TN/VA)

This service requires a referral from Tennessee Vocational Rehabilitation Services or the Department of Aging and Rehabilitation Services (DARS)

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