MANCHESTER, Conn. (AP) - A series of workshops scheduled for Thursdays in April at Faith Tabernacle will focus on how those who have been convicted of crimes can re-enter the workforce.
The program, which will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. starting April 7, will be one of two “Helping Ourselves Prepare for Employment,” or H.O.P.E., workshops sponsored by the Urban League of Greater Hartford. A second, to be held in Hartford on Wednesday nights, will focus on career readiness.
Tyron Harris, the Urban League’s Young Professionals Civic and Advocacy Chairman and host of the workshops, said they are geared toward individuals who have been convicted of crimes, helping them go from “prison to paycheck.”
“Their biggest difficulty is confidence,” Harris said, adding that many people with criminal records may be self-conscious or depressed about their history and limit their employment search.
Specifically, he said many will apply only for jobs they believe will hire them, even though they likely have skills they’ve honed either before their period of incarceration or during it, which they may not know would be useful in a number of different industries.
The workshops will address how those with criminal records should discuss them in an interview. Harris suggested they should be honest about the situation, showing accountability for their mistakes but also what they’ve learned from the experience and how they can be an asset.
Doing so can help give employers a better idea of their abilities, show more confidence, and help them continue, he said.
Harris will also emphasize the best ways for those with criminal histories to search for jobs, suggesting growing industries and areas of the marketplace, such as smaller, possibly independent, local businesses that “are more likely to give second chances.”
He said warehouse and automotive fields also have been receptive to offering jobs to those with records.
“You may have to start at the bottom, but if you’re willing to work, you can move up,” he said.
He also said the workshops would cover difficult questions throughout the job search, not just what’ll be asked by HR in interviews but where to look for jobs - he mentioned the strengths of staffing agencies - and how to develop soft skills. Harris mentioned the workshops would also focus on customer service, as “no matter the industry, the customer is why you’re there.”
The meetings will be held at Faith Tabernacle as an expansion of the church’s community-centric Thursdays. In the past, it has hosted tutoring for elementary and high school students, among other events, and the workshops can further assist community members however possible.
While the workshops are aimed toward specific individuals, Harris said they’re free and open to the public, and anyone looking to gain insight on improving or furthering their careers can learn more by attending.
“Despite the title, the workshops are for everyone,” he said, adding he just asks those interested to come with “an open mind and a willingness to learn.”
The workshops will, specifically, focus on employment tips, including what questions to expect in interviews regarding applicants’ records, how they can best “dress for success” at interviews and work placements, and how they should focus their searches to find employers more open to giving second chances.
The Hartford workshops, to be held on April 6, 20, and 27 from 6 to 7 p.m. at 140 Woodland Street, will cover much of the same material under a more general umbrella of successful job search and career progression.
Harris, who has 12 years of human resources experience, said both workshops are designed for “anyone looking to be employed,” calling the workshops a glimpse behind the curtain of employers’ mentalities.
He’ll offer a “bird’s eye view of what an employer views” during the hiring process.
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Information from: Journal Inquirer, https://www.journalinquirer.com
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