Employment is a core value at Goodwill; we believe that all people can reach their greatest potential through their job. Through our retail stores, we turn your donations and purchases into employment opportunities for those in our community, particularly those with barriers like criminal history, a disability or limited education.

An event that exemplifies Goodwill’s commitment and engagement to our community is the annual June Job Fair, hosted by Goodwill of Central Illinois.

It’s the largest hiring event of the year for the organization and it welcomed nearly 40 employers and 260 job seekers to Goodwill Commons, in Peoria, IL. For those looking for jobs, there was ample opportunity to find positions ranging from entry level to experienced.

“At Goodwill, we want to make sure we’re empowering people through employment,” said Brady Waltz, director of workforce innovation. “This hiring event gives us the perfect opportunity to connect the community with employers, help them start a new career, grow professionally and find their potential.”

Job seekers who attended left with a number of potential employment opportunities; some even had the option of interviewing and earning a new position on-site. Through Goodwill of Illinois’s employment services, individuals could be well prepared for the event by attending previous resume-building and interview workshops.

“We drew in a huge crowd,” said Kate Aukes, manager of mission projects. “Our team handled the coordination of over 30 employers and nearly 300 attendees, excellently! We’re looking forward to next year!”

Throughout the year, Goodwill offers a variety of employment services including job search and resume-building assistance at centers in Pekin and Peoria. Job seekers can also fine tune their skills through one of Goodwill’s people or digital skills training programs. Hiring events are hosted monthly.

To learn more about Goodwill’s employment services in central Illinois, visit goodwillpeo.org.