Category Archives: job training

Finding a job with a felony: a success story

What does it take to get a job with a record?   When I teach, I allude to factors like  knowing your strengths, having a plan, dealing with setbacks and never giving up.  But it’s not often that I get an opportunity to show … Continue reading

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Filed under companies hiring ex-offenders, criminal records, education ex-offenders, employment ex-offenders, inspiration, job search ex-offenders, job training, personal responsibility

Is it time to go back to school?

A former student recently contacted me with news that he was returning to school.    Yay!   As I’ve said  before, gaining additional education or skills is a great way to  boost your value in the job market.  Particularly these days,  when a surplus of applicants means employers … Continue reading

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Filed under adult education, education ex-offenders, job search ex-offenders, job training, second chances, starting over, training ex-offenders, training for ex-offenders, unemployment

The humility challenge

A pedestal is as much a prison as any small, confined space. — writer and feminist Gloria Steinem The student was a young woman, not long out of high school.  And she seemed extremely sure of herself, which might have … Continue reading

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Filed under breaking the law, companies hiring ex-offenders, education ex-offenders, ex-offender psychology, inspiration, job search ex-offenders, job training, reentry, reentry resources, second chances, starting over, taking responsibility, Uncategorized

Happy graduation: School’s out!

MyEmployability Skills  class just ended, so I’ll be taking a break until the new school year.   A break from teaching, that is, since I use some of my  downtime to research programs and issues that might be of interest to … Continue reading

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Filed under ex-offenders education, expungement, job search ex-offenders, job training, jobs ex-offenders, reentry resources, training for ex-offenders

More jobs to say goodbye to…

The New York Times has a good  article on jobs that won’t be coming back even after the recession is over.  It tells the story of Cynthia Norton , a 52-year-old former administrative assistant who hasn’t been able to get a similar position … Continue reading

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Filed under economy, job search ex-offenders, job training, jobs, recession ex-offenders, skills, unemployment

Reentry isn’t always pretty

I got inspired yesterday looking at some gorgeous pictures on fellow Blogathoner Tracy Doerr’s site — and while navigating the miserable construction zone that swallowed my neighborhood.   I live just outside of Washington, D.C., in an area that will someday … Continue reading

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Filed under goal-setting, hope for ex-offenders, job training, reentry, starting over

Why chain gangs can be a good thing

For a lot of people, the  idea of putting prisoners to work in “ chain gangs” evokes images of  Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke.  Or maybe Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s no holds-barred  programs in Arizona - where even female inmates are shackled on the job site.   So I was  happy … Continue reading

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Filed under companies hiring ex-offenders, employment assistance ex-offenders, employment ex-offenders, job training, starting over

Some jobs to say goodbye to…

I know some of you get tired of hearing me go on about  the importance of getting an education and learning new skills.  But in doing some research last week, I stumbled upon the list of the 30 jobs expected to decline the … Continue reading

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Filed under employment ex-offenders, ex-offenders education, job training

Where books are scary

Believe it or not, one of the places is Virginia, which recently instituted  a ban the books campaign in all state correctional facilities. Yes, it sounded a little crazy to me too.  But apparently a free program that’s been providing prisoners with … Continue reading

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Filed under education ex-offenders, job training, life in prison