As part of its mission to “Put People to Work,” Goodwill Industries of Northern Arizona cultivates partnerships with employers throughout our region. Our goal is not only to help job seekers find employment, but to assist local businesses and organizations by providing them with customized talent solutions that add value to their bottom line.
Our range of services include:
- Recruitment
- Pre-screening
- Hiring Fairs
- Essential “soft skills” training
- Workforce readiness workshops
- Labor marketing information
A wonderful example of the services we provide was our recent work on behalf of Harbor Freight Tools.
Harbor Freight Tools, known for their slogan “Quality tools at ridiculously low prices,” is opening a new store in Flagstaff at 3498 E. Route 66. The company sells power, air and hand tools, automotive parts, generators, lawn and garden supplies and pretty much anything else related to building and outdoor equipment in a retail setting at discounted prices. Harbor Freight Tools started as a family business over 30 years ago and now has more than 600 stores nationwide.
Our Business Services division arranged for a two-day hiring fair to be held at the east side Goodwill, at the Flagstaff Mall, and reached out to the public through social media, text message announcements and online to attract prospective employees.
More than 100 job seekers completed applications during the fair and 92 interviews were conducted at Goodwill by Store Manager Martin Raymond and his two assistants.
The upshot? Harbor Freight hired one half of the people they interviewed at Goodwill – a total of 46 individuals. The positions they were hired for include: retail clerks (starting pay of $9/hour); assistant head cashiers (starting pay of $9.50/hour) and supervisors (starting pay of $11/hour).
In addition to hosting the hiring fair, Goodwill also provided classroom space for Harbor Freight Tools for its “onboarding” of new hires; essentially, a type of orientation that gives incoming employees the knowledge, skills and behaviors needed to become effective members of Harbor Freight.
It is these types of services, conducted in Goodwill “Good Neighbor Centers” throughout Northern Arizona, that are making the connection between people hungry for work and the businesses that will benefit from their talent and enthusiasm.
Programs, events and services provided by our Business Services division are at no cost to businesses or job seekers. A generous grant from the JPMorgan Chase Philanthropy Foundation enabled Goodwill to hire a director of community and business engagement, whose focus is to connect low- to moderate-income job seekers with employers at no cost for middle-skills jobs.
When you donate goods or funds to Goodwill, or shop at one of our retail or outlet locations, you are helping to pay for the recruitment services that just helped 46 people find a job at Harbor Freight Tools, and other valuable services that benefit job seekers and local employers.
By Christina Caldwell
Christina Caldwell is the director of community and business engagement at Goodwill. To learn more about Goodwill’s Business Services, please email her at Christina.Caldwell@goodwillna.org or call 928-526-9188, ext. 221.