LLGI understands many have questions and concerns about their employment situation and career options during this economic uncertainty. We can help. The Goodwill Virtual Services Program operates Monday through Friday from 10:00 am – 4:30 pm. Our Career Coaches are available via telephone, email and video conferencing capabilities. In-person support may be available in certain locations.

Land of Lincoln Goodwill Career Centers provide FREE career support including how to file unemployment claims, preparation of resumes, online job searching techniques, FREE computer classes and digital training, and general employment support.

For those who need support finding a first job, or for those returning to the workforce, our Career Services Program offers essential tools to evaluate your interests and skills. Learn how to interview, fill out online applications, write a resume and cover letter, and learn basic computer skills.

Advances in technology impact all employment categories and can create hardship especially for older workers. Through our Career Services Program, you can improve your tech skills and computer literacy, learn methods for retaining your current job, and find training and educational resources to help support a move from one career to another.

Disability, criminal background, and lack of a high school diploma can all seem like insurmountable barriers to finding and keeping a good job. But, Goodwill can help break down those barriers. Our professional Career Coaches will work one-on-one with you to create a marketable, personalized program that matches your interests and skills. You put in the effort, and we will champion your cause and support your efforts to get over the past and get moving forward again.

If you’re unsure how to get started or have been out of the workforce for a while, our highly trained Career Coaches can design a tailored program to help answer your questions and guide you one-on-one through the process – and it is 100% free. It all begins with an assessment of your needs and existing job skill sets. To get started, contact us at info@llgi.org or 217-789-0400. Here’s what we can do for you:

Learning never stops and while not everyone learns at the same pace, GCFLearnFree.org provides thousands of online lessons covering 85 topics that you can utilize for free to fit your needs and your schedule. This learning portal, provided by the Goodwill Community Foundation, provides access to learning modules in math, money, computer basics, Microsoft Office, Careers and reading using video, audio, games and interactive activities. To get started go to edu.gcfglobal.org.

The Skills to Succeed Academy is an innovative online employability learning solution, created specifically to appeal to 15-24 year olds. However, the content is relevant to all ages. The Academy offers 42 hours of highly interactive online training and support materials that take learners through the entire journey of finding and keeping a job. The modules create an engaging environment that features videos of young adult characters, interactive tutorials and individual tracking tools. The Academy begins with an online self-assessment to help students think about what makes them tick and their career choices. The next group of learning modules teaches how to search for jobs, write a resume and how to succeed in an interview. The last set of modules is all about starting a new job, expectations, maintaining motivation and staying employed. To get a glimpse of the Academy presentation, please visit s2sacademy.org.

Northstar Digital Literacy defines basic skills needed to perform tasks on computers and online. Online, self-guided modules assess the ability of individuals to perform tasks based on these skills. Included are basic computer digital literacy standards and modules in three main areas:

Northstar was developed in response to the needs of job seekers who may lack the digital literacy skills needed to seek, obtain, and retain employment, as well as to perform other tasks in daily life. Northstar allows end users to freely take the assessments from anywhere via our homepage, but individuals can instead go to an approved testing location and obtain the Northstar Digital Literacy Certificate when they pass assessments. Certificates provide an important credential for employment, as even entry-level jobs increasingly require basic computer skills. Certificates also certify end user ability to complete computer skills needed in higher education and demonstrate their ability to use social media and online information thoughtfully. If individuals do not pass, personalized assessment results provide a roadmap to relevant instruction, allowing them to retake the assessment once they have mastered the necessary skills. Northstar also includes learning resources to support adult learners to master the standards outlined. Learning resources include classroom curriculum that can be used in person or remotely, and Northstar Online Learning, which provides self-directed instruction and practice for individuals.

Northstar is used by over 2820 Adult Basic Education programs, colleges, nonprofits, workforce centers, government agencies, and businesses. There is no cost to complete the assessments on the Northstar homepage.