Karen Stubblefield's Success Story

After 25 years in Food Service Management, my current position of 5 years that I had hoped I would retire from was phased out. There I was just like over 37,000 other people in Rockingham County jobless. I was jobless but not hopeless. My search began. Weekly you could find me utilizing all the resources available to me in the Goodwill Reidsville Community Resource Center including free Internet access, phone, fax and copy services..

Hopeful and not without help, Dot Dunlap, the receptionist at the Reidsville Community Resource Center asked me to attend some classes. I did. I enrolled in the Advanced Computer Class, the Employability Skills Class, and the Money Smart Class. I successfully completed them all. While using the Network Room I submitted my resume that was written for me while I attended the Employability Skills Class. I was able to obtain a part-time job, continued to use the services at Goodwill.

One day while I was in the network room Ms. Dot told me she was getting promoted and would be working at the Eden Community Resource Center. She asked “why don’t you apply for the receptionist position here in Reidsville.” I replied, “it’s really not my line of work, but maybe my skills will be transferable.” Dot politely encouraged “you will never know until you try.” I applied, was called for an interview, and got the job!

Now I’m the receptionist at the Reidsville Community Resource Center, and I’m able to assist people who are where I was. I know how it feels to be out of work and seeking employment. Just as all the employees at the center helped me successfully integrate into the labor market, I now can assist others. I put people to work!

Sherly Sylvester’s Success Story

The North Elm Career Center in Greensboro has been a positive and encouraging influence in my life. The Career Center offered many different workshops for everyday use in the work place. One of my favorite workshops, which I enjoyed, was the “Sell Yourself in 30 Seconds.” By attending this workshop, I was able to use keywords relating to the position I was applying for.

The employees were also very knowledgable in their area of expertise, and so I felt comfortable asking questions that were job related. I was also very thankful to have so many available resources at my finger tips. The Goodwill Career Center is the place to be and I absolutely love the work they do!

Darrell Womble's Success Story

One day while leaving the Goodwill retail store in Reidsville, something told me to check out the Goodwill Reidsville Community Resource Center building next door just to see what they had to offer. Upon entering the Center, Ms. Dot Dunlap greeted me and explained the job training services to me. I listened, then told her I was currently employed and left. Who knew in two months, I would be unemployed. So while I was trying to decide my next move, I remembered the Center. This time when I came into the Center, I told Ms. Dot I was unemployed. Her reply was “don’t worry, I’ve been there before and it’s going to be OK.”

She told me about the classes that were offered and some classes also offered at Rockingham Community College, a Goodwill partner. One of the classes offered, called Employability Skills class, caught my attention because I could learn to create a new resume as well as gain interviewing tips - so I signed up. Well I took the class, then sent my resume to a couple of employers and waited. While I waited, I continued to search for jobs in the Center’s Network Room where I could access the Internet and print and fax for free.

Then one day while searching www.TriadGoodwill.org, I saw that the Center was looking to hire a Community Resource Coordinator. I applied and was lucky enough to secure the job.

Now in my first three months as Coordinator at the Reidsville Community Resource Center as well as the new Center recently opened in Eden, this job has been as rewarding and fulfilling as I knew it would be. I enjoy meeting people and serving my community by offering valuable resources that I know will help them, because they helped me.