Now that's what employers like to see....

A follow up to my earlier post about employment searches slowing down  during the holidays:  I stand corrected.

Last Thursday, while trudging on barely-plowed streets to my local Best Buy, I ran into Lorena, a woman in her early 30s.  As holiday shoppers sped past, she was braving the elements (and some very reckless driving) to walk to a job interview.   It had taken her over an hour by bus just to get here from her home in Maryland.  This was only a few days after a huge snowstorm had passed through the DC area, and to say we were still digging out is putting it lightly.  Even at this point, it seems like it may be Spring before we see some local road surfaces again.

Anyway.... the office where Lorena was heading was still several blocks and numerous snowdrifts away.  At the last minute, some thoughtful car salesmen at a local dealership also pointed out the address she wanted was  across a sixth-lane highway.  Unfazed, Lorena insisted she was  determined not to miss this chance.  "When the employer called, I was so excited I just said yes, I'd come as soon as she could see me," she said.  "That was three hours ago and I still can't believe I made it."

I wished her good luck as she hurried on her way.  I really hope she gets the job.

I'd hire her on determination alone.

Gearing up for the New Year

No, this is not going to be a post about New Year's resolutions.  I'll give you a few more days before that.  But in preparation, I wanted to mention Dr. Richard S. Sandor's brilliant book "Thinking Simply About Addiction.   Loyal readers know I'm not one for plugging authors on this blog, but after devouring this gem, and marking passages and pages throughout, I couldn't resist.

And by the way, this book isn't just for those with addictions to drugs or alcohol.  There's some wisdom in here that's applicable to anyone trying to start fresh and resist falling into old patterns of behavior.

Dr. Sandor is  a psychiatrist who's worked with drug addicts and alcoholics for more than 25 years.  He believes addiction is a disease, but not in the way you'd expect.  It makes an unhealthy or compulsive behavior automatic -- an automatism is the word he uses.  This can't be cured or reversed -- if you find that once you start doing a behavior you can't stop, that won't change.  But it can be made dormant, if  you put the work in-- and don't start up again.  It's a two-part recovery.

The big picture is this.  Long after stopping, long after withdrawal and craving have faded, something is still there ready and waiting to be awakened if it's given the opportunity.  An addiction never goes away.  Even after years of abstinence, the automatism is still there.  The solution is not starting again and that belongs in the realm of choice...."

So Sandor suggests being honest with yourself.  There are two reasons people relapse (and these, I might add are applicable to many kinds of  destructive behavior) : 1. They have forgotten the pain and costs,  and 2. They have gotten into such a state of emotional distress that they don't care.

Sound familiar? It should, as all sorts of risky behaviors can and do exert that pull on many of us.  Sandor believes the answer must be found in a spiritual awakening so that no matter how your life is going you retain the humility not to revert to old ways.  Yes, he acknowledges this is tough in our society, where the "capacity to quickly and effectively escape" feelings of pain, fear, boredom and other negative emotions "has never been greater.  And not just through drugs and alcohol -- gambling, eating, sex, exercise, gaming, shopping, thrill-seeking, stealing, etc. --  all these can blot out feelings.

But change is possible. The key, and an idea I like, is the importance of  accepting that suffering is part of the human experience and that it has meaning.  Setbacks can make you stronger, wiser and a better person.  As Sandor notes, attempts to avoid suffering are at best a short-term fix.  "Like it or not, suffering really is inescapable and in time, what was at first an easy way out stops working.  When you begin to understand that suffering is not only inevitable, says Sandor, "but essential for discovering the purpose of human life and consciousness," then you've "begun to move forward from mere abstinence (not engaging in the negative behavior) to true recovery."

Thoughts?  Comments?  Anyone have a strategy that's helped you stay on a positive path?

What are you doing over the holidays?

As hiring activity slows down for the holidays, it's okay to give yourself a break.  Enjoying time with family and friends can actually help you recharge.  It's also a good opportunity to tinker with your job-search strategy so that you can start out fresh in the New Year.  Here are some suggestions: 

1. Fine-tune your pitch.   Employers are deluged with resumes. Now more than ever you need to make yours not only stand out -- but target the specific job you're going after.  Two great articles here and here show what works and what doesn't as far as resumes are concerned.  It's also a good time to go over what you're saying in interviews.  What's your sales pitch?  Why should someone hire you and why?  

2.  Remind people that you are looking for work.  Just because the holidays have slowed things down doesn't mean you're not still looking.  Remember, the majority of jobs come through someone you know, so as you're out and about celebrating keep spreading the word.

3. Update your list of potential employers.  Have you closed the loop on pending hiring decisions or the status of job openings?   If you haven't added any new employers to the list lately perhaps now's the time.  Is there anyone who told you to call back in a few months that you haven't followed up on?  If so, do it now.

4. Take advantage of public resources.  More people out shopping means shorter waits at places like one-stop centers or employment agencies.  Use the quiet time between Christmas and New Years to get a head start on your search going forward.

5. Get in touch when things are slow.   That week between Christmas and New Years can often be a good time to connect with employers or hard-to-reach contacts as things are typically slow and many use that time to catch up.

Employers who hire ex-offenders

I'm always happy to see when companies come out and talk about hiring ex-offenders.  Not only does it take some of the stigma away, but it gives hope to many who fear most doors are closed to them.   Johns Hopkins recently joined the ranks of organizations walking the talk in this editorial in the Baltimore Sun.

Since 2000, Johns Hopkins Hospital has hired more than 450 former felons, and does a great job saying why this is a good policy:

 Focusing on ex-offenders in a time of high unemployment may strike some as misguided, but we disagree. As an anchor institution in East Baltimore, we must provide stability to our entire community, and keeping ex-offenders employed clearly benefits the community. In the long term, the health-care field will see its staffing needs continue to grow; we cannot meet those needs if we write off a large section of the population.

The medical center's disclosure  prompted this follow-up article which names even more employers who along with Hopkins, came to the MCIW, the state women's prison to interview women soon-to-be released for jobs, including:

Safeway, Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, Uptown Press, cdm eCycling, I Hop Restaurant, Harbor City Services, Inc., Baltimore City, Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake and Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Any others we want to add to this list?

Transitions and transformations....

                                                    
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."        

----    William Morrow

This quote made me think of someone I've been working with.  She's going to be released next week and we met for the last time today.  

As we talked in a small visitor's room,  I could see two other women being processed into the jail.  The deputies told them to put their money, their bras and other belongings in plastic bags.  One girl stood nervous and mute in a faded sweater and jeans, another, a redhead, sat in a corner chair doing her best to seem in control.  She bantered with the deputy up to the point where she almost got in trouble, wished another lady a cheerful good luck as she was sent to her cell, and generally carried on like she was at a party.

It made me realize how far the young woman sitting across from me had come.  She's spent nearly two years in detention here at an age when many people are still trying to figure out what they're going to do with their lives. She's been shamed, treated well, treated badly, endured discomfort and disappointments and even some happy moments, but most importantly when you talk to her you can tell she's learned -- a lot about the world and herself. I've seen it in the way she's reacted to setbacks and how focused she's become about her future -- and how realistic.  She knows she faces challenges.  She knows she has a lot of work to do and tough times ahead.  But she also has a plan.  Multiple plans, in case one doesn't work out. She's done the research, asked the questions.  She has  family and friends to support and inspire her (and realizes how fortunate that makes her). She also  has a list of agencies and people she's met along the way who are willing to help and she plans to take advantage of it. 

But most importantly, she seems to have the inner resources and the attitude to move forward with her life now.

I wish her -- and everyone in her position -- the best of luck.  Change never happens overnight, but it is possible.  And it's wonderful  to see the transformation.

How much do tax credits for employers help?

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal looked at whether the tax credits being proposed by President Obama will actually spur hiring.  Since employers make their hiring decisions based on business needs, there are questions as to whether these offsets would lure anyone who wasn't already planning on hiring.  As one employer noted: 

"Giving me a tax credit if I hire somebody? That's not a really big incentive for me," said Mark Sincavage of Sincavage Corp., a Blakeslee, Pa., commercial excavation company that employs four. "We need customers in the door."

Mr. Sincavage, who has laid off two workers during the downturn, said a credit of $3,000 -- the number he expects -- won't help if he can't come up with the rest of a new employee's salary.

It got me thinking about the tax credit employers receive if they hire ex-offenders.  Under current law, companies are entitled to shave $2,400 off their federal  tax bill in return for employing certain targeted groups of job seekers, which include former felons. A handful of states ,as noted here offer additional credits.   But most re-entry professionals I've talked to,say these credits on their own aren't much of a selling point.  As OAR's Nathaniel Harris( who talked about what employers are looking for  in an earlier post ) noted, "It's nice that it (the credit) is there, but it really doesn't help unless they were planning to hire the worker already."

How about the rest of you?  Has anyone had success using the employer tax credit as a selling point?  At what point do you bring it up?

What a Career One-Stop center can do for you

This week I  got a chance to visit the local Career One-Stop employment center  in Falls Church, VA.  It's one of the first places we recommend to ex-offenders, since these federally funded centers -- which are located in all 50 states -- offer a variety of services to help jobseekers.  I've spoken to the staff there on several occasions, but never seen the offices myself.  Fortunately, I had Manager Trang Montgomery as my guide, so I was able to get plenty of questions answered.

What can career one-stops do for ex-offenders?  Can they find me a job?

It's important to understand that these one-stop centers were set up by the U.S. Department of Labor to serve all people looking for work.  Shelves on one wall hold information for people returning to the workforce, laid off workers, young workers and even people looking to start their own business, so they don't specialize in ex-offenders or any kind of jobseeker.  ""It's important to have the right expectations when you come in," Montgomery  says. "We don't want people to get disappointed. We can't just make a call and get you work. But we can help you in your search and provide the resources."

What resources does the center provide?

The center has three counselors on staff who can answer your questions and assist you in your job search.  There are also workshops on such things as resume writing,  interviewing and  filling out an online application, as well as information about job fairs and other employment-related events.  The office itself has the feel of a library.  It's got desks, tables and a quiet corner stocked full of books, research materials and other information on jobs, training, educational programs and finding employment. I counted at least 12 computers, including one offering special access for the disabled. You can reserve computer time by signing up at the front desk. When I got there at 10:30 and most of the computers were being used, but at that point at there were only a couple of names on the waiting list. There are also copiers and a fax machine that can be used free of  charge for job-related tasks.

Do I need an appointment? 

The center is open M-F from 8:30 to 5:00 p.m. and you're free to just walk in.  There's a receptionist out front to assist you with questions, and there are computer terminals immediately to the left where you can enter your name and information as well as the services you are interested in.  If you'd like to see a counselor you are required to sign up for an appointment -- these are first-come, first-served and based on availability.  If you show up at 2:00 and there's already a long waiting list, it's unlikely you'll be able to see someone that day.  More intensive counseling is available on a limited basis, but typically only for low-income individuals and Montgomery notes there's a long wait to see a caseworker.

You are welcome to stay at the office as long as you want for research and job-related activities, including using the phones for setting up interviews, printing out resumes and making copies, even faxing information to employers. The only requirement is that you conduct yourself as you would in any business environment and are respectful of the other jobseekers there.

Are there places where I can get more in-depth counseling from someone who understands the challenges faced by people with criminal records?

Yes.   OAR and other community-based groups that work specifically with ex-offenders, are often the best place to start, notes Montgomery.  These organizations are more likely to have the funding to work with you in depth.  In Northern, VA, for example, OAR conducts workshops and will assign you a caseworker to assist you in your employment search.  These groups often have contacts with sympathetic employers who will give you a chance.   That said, it still pays to cast a wide net, which makes stopping by a Career One Stop center a good idea.  Through Virginia-based Skillsource, which runs the center, there is an Offender Transition Initiative, which works with employers to find workers seeking a second chance. 

Can the Career One-Stop provide me with a list  of employers who hire ex-offenders? 

Yes and no.  While walking around the office, I did in fact, find a handout featuring employers who have hired ex-offenders.  But Montgomery recommended caution in relying on it.  First, just because a company was open to hiring one ex-offender doesn't mean they make a practice of it.  Second, these lists can become quickly outdated.  It's better for you to work on getting an employer interested in you for your skills first and then hopefully the business owner will be willing to overlook your background.

I'm looking to start my own business.  Is there any assistance the center can give me?

Yes.  Counselors can point you to resources you in setting up as small business.  In fact, a new program being piloted by the U.S. Department of Labor works specifically with budding entrepreneurs.  To qualify you must be at least 45 years old and have a business idea.  If you are selected for the program, which is done randomly to meet federal requirements, you will receive assistance developing your business plan, learning about regulations and obtaining licenses to start your business. So far 35 people have gone through the program and a handful have developed successful businesses.  One of them, according to Montgomery, was an ex-offender.

I tried one of these places before, but got nowhere.  Why should I bother?

Finding a job is a numbers game and it's largely about persistence, whatever your background.  The more people who know you're looking, the better your chances.  So why not give it a shot. What have you got to lose?

Tis the season for employment agency scams

I answered this question recently on another forum and thought it was worth revisiting here:

Q: Has anyone ever heard of the company called E1 Employment Services? They place ads for jobs in local papers but have a $185 fee for you to get a job through them. Is this a legit company? I called the number today for a job listed in distribution and the lady told me to come in tomorrow with a money order or credit card to sign up with them. She explained that this was a 1 year fee and that is all I pay. They guarantee they will find me a job in my field. She also told me if I wanted to donate some non-perishable food items, they would deduct $10 off my fee. What do you think? Should I try this or does it sound like a scam to you?   Zachlarry in Gray, Maine.

A:  I'm not familiar with this particular company, but I'd steer clear.   Guarantee or no, you should never pay employment agencies to get you work.  These firms are typically  paid by the companies that are hiring.  But just to be sure I checked with Barry Asin, president of Staffing Industry Analysts, which follows the employment placement industry.  Asin said he has no doubt that there are going to be "fly-by-night companies out there preying on desperate individuals now and that this sounds like one of them.  "No legitimate staffing firm out there is asking individuals for money to place them," he said.  The same thing goes for companies that say they can find you a job if you have a record.  So if a business agency wants money first, just say no.  You'd be better off revisiting your local one-stop career center or community agencies in your area.  You can check them out here.    This article also offers a good run-down on scams to avoid. 

Anyone out there have a different experience?