Goodwill NYNJ launches Second Retail Career Training Cohort at FIT

On January 16, Goodwill NYNJ launched its second cohort of the Career in Retail Pathway training at the SUNY Fashion Institute of Technology. Sixteen retail employees are participating in the 7-week training, which is free to employees at the FIT campus and is sponsored by Goodwill NYNJ.

To join the program, Goodwill NYNJ employees had to apply and participate in a group interview with Lenox Thomas, Goodwill NYNJ Executive Vice President of Retail Operations. At the end, those applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to the Goodwill mission, a passion for the retail sector or the potential to advance and establish a career in retail, were selected.

“This week, the group has come together in an unbelievable way and much faster and stronger than I had expected. I notice a professionalism developing among the participants,” comments Neal Leavit, one of the lead FIT instructors. “I am gratified to see that only  after two weeks of training, they are developing a consultative work partnership, even right on the street corner as they visited stores.”

Last year, 24 Goodwill store and e-commerce employees participated in the 1st FIT Retail Career Pathway training program. The 6-week session Tooke place every Tuesday and Thursday of May and June. Within 6 months from graduation, 58% of the employees who participated in last year’s cohort were promoted!

Meet Tiffany, one of last year’s training graduates: https://youtu.be/3g7f791Wjas