working at goodwill?

Post Reply New Topic

I have a interview at goodwill tomorrow for a job. I was just wondering what sort of questions to expect from the interviewer and what sort of a job goodwill would give me.

You will be asked all sorts of difficult questions, such as "What can you do for our company?", "Where do you see yourself in 10 years." etc. Use Google to find as many such questions as possible and prepare yourself for the worst. Just imagine an aspie at a job interview. Not a nice sight. I honestly don't think you'll get the job, but good luck anyway.

GoodWill tends to offer low-wage, menial jobs for people who are seen as being "disabled." They tend to pay lower than the minimum wage.

For some people, working at GoodWill is better than working at nothing.

I am generally an optimist, but even I would not go in there with high hopes. I would still GO, and give it a shot, but I wouldn't cry into my pillow if I didn't get it.

I have a friend of my family who has significant brain damage due to a car accident when he was a kid. He functions a lot like an adult with Down's. And he's in a wheelchair. Anyway, he got one of those Goodwill jobs but quit after a couple days because he said they put him in a large sweaty room polishing furniture all day with other disabled people with no air conditioning. He hated it.

One of my mentors has an adult kid on the spectrum who worked there for one day, quit, refused to go back or say what the problem was.

BUT...it might be for a cashier job. Who knows?

Actually, Goodwill pays above minimum wage albeit it is menial. Goodwill in each region are independent entities, and what you heard about is one sheltered workshop in one area.

OP, what position are you applying for? They do extensive background checks, so if you have anything on public record list it (including speeding tickets).

One person I know who worked at goodwill said that the job included loading and unloading boxes and crates and cleaning crates. It was mostly physical job, but maybe this is only one type of job at goodwill.

I've worked at one for a few years now. Donation centers are separate from the stores, even if there is some overlap.
I'd avoid the store side if you're on the spectrum.

The back consists of helping customers with unloading, sorting donations, and pricing them. It is a production job, so you have a minimum number to produce in most cases. Some sites rotate you on different positions throughout the day.

I'm not a spokesperson here, but Goodwill does a lot for their communities. In my area, it focuses on disability and housing for the disabled. Each area is independent to focus on the local needs and help locally. Over 90% (95 I believe) goes back into supporting local programs. The executives aren't millionaires, but socially minded individuals.

The pay isn't great, the insurance is expensive, but the benefits (such as paid sick time) are generous. I've had no issue with accommodation requests at all.

I worked there 2 years. I worked in the back as I'm not good with people. I did a variety of things, all dealing with sorting out sellable things from the too-well-used stuff. Electronics, books, clothes, shoes, furniture and more are given thru donations. Gotta 'greet' people as they drop stuff off too. We'd compress clothes in good condition but not as good to sell into 4'x4'x6' 'bales' to be sent to Africa or wherever.

Importantly, contrary to what some have stated, I was paid ABOVE the minimum wage and given another 50 cent after 6 months.

A good job for a Aspie, I was left alone to do my daily jobs and also, as a Aspie, I did my job better than everyone there ! !

I'm glad GoodWill changed its wage policies.

About 10-15 years ago, they paid less than the minimum wage.

dude, its goodwill....they mostly hire people for menial labor that doesn't even require any real experience or qualifications. In fact I think the prefer intellectually disabled employees who don't quite get the concept of a living wage and can be exploited for cheap labor....then they pretend they are 'helping' these people live meaningful lives.

If goodwill is really about helping the disadvantaged why are their prices so high...honestly its where yuppies go to be 'frugal' and save money....for poor people its still expensive.

This allows them to pay their workers more. It may also help the self esteem to the workers to sell stuff people value enough to pay that much. The fact that they employ many disabled employees does not mean the quality of what they sell becomes inferior.

A very common way of selling clothes seems to first offer them at a high price. Then offer discounts to get rid of the less popular items. This allows the wealthy customers to get the best stuff without having to be first in line. Selling everything at a low price is bad for workers who have to deal with the customers. How would you like to be a worker dealing with a mob of people who need to be first to get what they want?

The thing is I don't think the workers actually see more pay due to the over-priced nature of their goods...I guess maybe I am wrong that they pay below minimum wage based on a couple other posts, but pretty sure most employees get the legal minimum wage probably rare that any are making significantly more than minimum wage.

Its not that they employ disabled people that makes the quality inferior...its that its over-priced whilst they champion themselves as some kind of great organization that helps the disadvantaged. I mean sure they hire people that might not otherwise find employment and that does some to 'help' some of them....but aside from that it just seems a selling scheme.

If self esteem comes from how much they are selling used/donated goods for, then that is sad.

I mean if I was donating clothes or other goods somewhere I would want them to be given to people in need, or available to them at a cost they can afford. I don't 'donate' stuff so some yuppie can save a couple bucks, also the way I see it a thrift store like that should allow for non-wealthy people to get some of the 'best' stuff....For instance a good winter jacket vs. the crappiest ones donated. Also in stores you get in line and pay for your stuff, generally speaking its frowned upon to cut in line or make a mob rather than a line...regardless of what prices things are (with the exception of that Black Friday thing where all such rules are thrown out the window). I mean its donated crap, goodwill isn't a freaking boutique.

If the merchandise is too cheap people will buy them and resell them on ebay.

Yes, the idea is to avoid "black Friday" behavior--stuff is so cheap that people will buy crowd into stores to buy it as soon as they put it on the shelves. I've heard this actually happening at thrift stores until they wised up and started raising prices.

https://www.dressforsuccess.org/get-inv ... on-drives/
Here is an organization the gives proper business attire to women.

You might also look into local organizations (rather than national ones) to see if they have programs to give good coats and other choice clothing to the needy in your community. One place to call for this sort of information might be the local senior center. There are many organizations that take donations--do some research to make sure they do what you want with your donations. If they say they use it to fund their programs, that means they sell it.

You're not going to get that much money for used clothes from the thrift store on Ebay, granted there are some people that might still buy some stuff and sell it on ebay. But also lots of people that can't really afford a lot of basics could more easily afford them.

And people aren't exactly lining up to get peoples used goods, its not like goodwill is the place to get all the new and stylish stuff that's popular...they don't even really have electronics except old outdated ones. Selling the stuff for as cheap as its worth which is less than they sell it isn't going to cause everyone to constantly mob thrift stores. Or maybe where you're from the goodwills really do have all the latest trendy clothes and electronics dirt cheap that would create a shopping craze...but not around here.

That said I don't really care what they sell their stuff for...its their choice, I just don't like that they are misleading about the fact their nothing more than a for profit business, not a great humanity organization to help the disadvantaged. A lot of people donate because they think its going to a good cause...unaware its just profit for goodwill.

You are certainly entitled to your opinions. But, in the real world, the question "what do you think?" is a trap for most Aspies. What they really mean is, "what does a normal person think," not actually what you think as an Aspie. With experience, I can give an answer that is honest and helps the person asking the question, even if it doesn't exactly answer the question. And most NTs are happy with that.

Personally, I think Goodwill and other 2nd hand stores should sell at the market price--their stock turns over in a reasonable amount of time--and pay their employees enough to buy most of what they sell. Excepting of course, those highly desirable items that occasionally show up that even the average person can't afford.

https://www.savers.com/about-us
I did a little Googling to find out where donated stuff ends up--Savers buys donated goods from 120 charities.
I donate my stuff directly to Savers--the one in my town is a very popular place and I occasionally buy stuff from them.