Big Lots workers can use free job tools to plan a career move

Big Lots workers can use free job tools to plan a career move

Big Lots has spent the last year and a half in a corporate unwind that changed the job picture for thousands of workers. The company and its subsidiaries filed voluntary Chapter 11 petitions on September 9, 2024, later reached an asset purchase agreement with Gordon Brothers Retail Partners on December 27, 2024, and got a sale order on January 2, 2025 that authorized transfer of stores, distribution centers and intellectual property. Big Lots reported 1,392 stores as of February 3, 2024, and later changed its name to Former BL Stores, Inc. on September 23, 2025. That kind of restructuring can make a shift feel unstable fast, which is exactly why the smartest move is to build a next-step plan before your schedule, store, or department changes it for you.

Start by translating your Big Lots experience into career language

The retail work you already do has more value than it may feel like on a long shift. Handling customers, recovering a messy aisle, staying calm under pressure, balancing register and floor work, and keeping inventory organized are all usable skills in warehouse operations, customer service, merchandising, logistics, office support, and at other retailers with a larger footprint. The goal is not to pretend you have a different background than you do; it is to describe your actual work in the language employers use when they hire.

That matters because Big Lots is not just a storefront chain. It is a multi-location retailer with store roles and support-center roles, which means the skills you build now can carry into jobs that look different on paper but still depend on service, execution, and keeping operations moving. If you treat your current role as proof of skill instead of a dead end, you can start aiming for a same-level move, a step up, or a sideways move into a more stable schedule.

Use CareerOneStop as your first stop, not your last resort

The U.S. Department of Labor says its Employment and Training Administration supports CareerOneStop as a first source for career exploration, training, job search, local help and resources. That is useful because it gives you one place to begin instead of bouncing between random job boards and hoping something sticks. CareerOneStop also says its tools cover job-search planning, networking help, employer research, resumes, cover letters, interview prep and job banks.

A practical way to use that site is to start with a job-search plan, then gather your documents, then research employers before you apply. CareerOneStop’s job-search pages are built around that sequence, which helps you avoid the scattershot approach that wastes time and burns energy. If you have not updated a resume in years, this is also where you can start turning day-to-day retail duties into a cleaner work history that a warehouse, office, or operations manager can actually read.

Use American Job Centers to get free local help

CareerOneStop says its American Job Center Finder can connect you to nearby centers, and the Department of Labor says American Job Centers are designed to provide a full range of assistance under one roof. That includes training referrals, career counseling and job listings, which is exactly the kind of hands-on help many workers need when they are trying to move out of a closing store or into a better-paid role. CareerOneStop says there are nearly 2,300 American Job Centers nationwide, so chances are good that there is one within reach.

The Department of Labor also says veteran job seekers get priority referrals to jobs and training, along with special employment services and assistance. If that applies to you, it can change how quickly you get connected to support and openings. Even if you are not a veteran, an American Job Center can still help you sort out whether your next move should be a direct job switch, a training-backed transition, or a path toward a more stable schedule in a different sector.

Follow a simple step-by-step path

The biggest mistake workers make during a transition is trying to do everything at once. A cleaner approach is to move in stages, using the free tools already built for this kind of shift.

1. List the work you already do well. Write down customer service, inventory control, floor recovery, cash handling, time management, and any experience training others or keeping a department organized.

2. Pick a target direction. Decide whether you want warehouse work, customer service, merchandising, logistics, office support, or another retail role with stronger hours or pay.

3. Use CareerOneStop to research the path. Look up job descriptions, compare employers, and build a basic job-search plan before applying.

4. Visit an American Job Center. Ask about career counseling, job listings, and referrals to training that matches your target role.

5. Fill the skill gap with training. The most useful options may be basic computer skills, forklift certification, bookkeeping or supervisory development, depending on the job you want.

6. Ask about funding. CareerOneStop says WIOA-eligible training program funding may be available for qualifying laid-off workers, which can lower the cost of moving into a new field.

7. Update your resume and interview answers. Use the work you already know from Big Lots to show reliability, pace, customer handling and operations experience.

This sequence works because it turns a vague worry about the future into a concrete set of moves. It also keeps you from over-investing in training you do not need or applying for jobs that do not match your real strengths.

Treat training as a bridge, not a reset

A lot of workers assume they need to start over to leave retail, but the better approach is to fill the gaps that keep you from getting hired. If the next job requires stronger computer skills, basic bookkeeping, a forklift credential or supervisory development, you can target only that missing piece instead of spending months chasing a whole new identity. The Department of Labor and CareerOneStop both point toward training, local support and job-search tools because small upgrades often matter more than a total career reboot.

That is especially important when a company as large as Big Lots goes through bankruptcy and asset sales. Changes at that scale ripple through stores, warehouses and support functions, and workers are often left making major decisions under time pressure. Free public workforce tools do not solve everything, but they can help you move from reacting to planning, and that shift alone can make the next job more stable, better paid and easier to keep.