Julia's Success

Julia's Success Story

Julia’s part-time job was no longer meeting the needs of her growing family. Something had to change. One day, her friend told her about the free career services that are available at Goodwill. The very next day, Julia reached out to Taryn, a Goodwill Opportunity Center Manager.

“I had earned an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree, and a master’s degree, and I had experience as a grant writer, a marketing manager, and a fitness instructor,” said Julia. “I had all of this education and experience, but I couldn’t figure out how to best portray my varied work experience to employers.”

Taryn listened closely to Julia’s story, helped her organize her education and work history, and created a personalized plan. She provided a professional resume template, coached Julia on how to tailor her applications, and helped her identify transferable skills that she hadn’t yet considered.

“It made a huge difference having Taryn on my side during my job search,” said Julia. “Navigating this process on my own had been discouraging. She encouraged me to apply for jobs I hadn’t discovered and even coached me on interviewing skills.”

Julia’s job search was finally complete when she accepted a job as a Healthy Living and Wellness Public Health Educator at the Hamilton County Health Department. She is now using her education and diverse experience to make a meaningful impact on our community.

“If you are struggling in your job search process, seek help from Goodwill,” said Julia. “They will support your search.”

To take advantage of Goodwill’s free career services, fill out the form at www.goodwillchatt.org/missionservices, visit https://www.goodwillchatt.org/OC to find an Opportunity Center, or call us at (423) 629-2501 ext. 7601.

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Darren and Jodi's Success

By Michelle Turner • January 16, 2026

When Darren and Jodi made the decision to leave their longtime Florida home to help care for Jodi’s aging parents in Chattanooga, they never imagined how challenging the transition would be. They started their new adventure by buying a house in Chattanooga. Darren turned in his notice at his job at the United Way in Fort Myers, and Jodi resigned from her role as an Executive Vice President at a wealth management company. “We thought we would have no problem finding new jobs. We're both experienced in so many things,” said Jodi. Despite their impressive resumes and years of experience, weeks turned into months of job searching. The stress was mounting. Jodi shared her concerns with her friend in Florida, who reminded her that Goodwill offers free career assistance. Darren and Jodi visited the Goodwill Opportunity Center in East Brainerd. When they arrived, Opportunity Center Manager, Taryn, discussed their situation with them. She helped them update their resumes and connected them with resources and job leads tailored to their skills. Soon after, Darren accepted a job as Operations Manager at the United Way of Greater Chattanooga, and Jodi accepted a job as a Client Business Advisor with Unum. “I really enjoyed having the opportunity to help the Phillips family,” said Taryn, Goodwill Opportunity Center Manager. “At Goodwill, we know that career transitions can be overwhelming, especially when relocating to a new city. Our goal is to provide personalized support, whether it’s resume assistance, job leads, or confidence-building, free of charge, so that each person we help can move forward with hope and opportunity.” “I am positive that all of the guidance we received at the Goodwill Opportunity Center is what made the difference,” said Jodi. “Now we tell people we know who are job hunting to go to Goodwill.”