Mission Statement

This is a blog about reentry into society for persons released from prison and the many difficulties and barriers they face. The writings contained in this blog come from personal experience and they are intended to put out information from the real life adventures I have come up against with navigating my reentry into society. The blog welcomes submissions from anyone who is or has gone through reentry after prison as well as from any authorities, organizations, etc. with information that would be help for prisoners with their reentry to society after incarceration.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Don't give up

By Steve Gordon

A job interview is a start for reentry on the way back to a meaningful and productive life after prison. As I have posted previously, they don't always pan out. Actually the percentages are not good and there will be many interviews before landing employment.

It took me a year just to get an entry level part time job in a fast food restaurant. The owner/operator of the Chick-fil-A that hired me just wanted to know if my history would be a problem in the work place. I told him it would not and he gave me a job. I have been there almost two years and have proved myself worthy.

Today I had a phone interview/screening for a full time job with ARAMARK. Get this, the job is a Food Service Manager in the Philadelphia prison system. I touched on my "history" in the phone interview and nothing was said. I think it went well as I was able to lay out the places I have worked and the things I did without the confinement of an on paper application. It is also encouraging to actually get to speak to someone, so I passed the first stage. I lasted about 25 minutes.

The next step is an on site walk through and interview with the Food Service Director at the facility. Barring my being disqualified because of having spent time in prison, I am certain I can make a good impression on this account and actually feel my past can play as an advantage.

Going from prison to an $8.00 an hour part time job, then get a raise after a year to $8.50 to potentially a full time job paying in the 38,000 range is a pretty big deal. If I can make this happen it means that I have come from nothing to being back in the work force and accepted for who I am and not for something that was a huge negative in my life.

There is another plus if this works out. This can only be a positive towards my application for a Pardon in Pennsylvania.

I will keep you posted. There is no definite time frame so it may be a week or so before I hear anything else. Give me that walk through, I will sell myself and get this job.