Starting Again: Life After Prison

One of the most difficult things for ex-offenders to accomplish when they are released from prison is finding employment. For many, the stigma of a criminal record is just too much to overcome. For others, like Tom,* it is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity.

Tom had spent a large part of his adult life behind bars. He was a repeat offender with a long history of arrests and convictions for drug possession and sales. However, over time Tom began to feel he wanted to turn his life away from crime and began to take college courses while in prison. He focused his energy on earning no less than eleven college certificates in the safety management field. He currently holds certificates in hazardous substance and waste handling, earthquake preparedness, radiological emergency response, and emergency management, just to name a few. Nevertheless, in spite of his strong motivation and obvious intelligence, his friends and family told him that
his certificates would be useless “on the outside.”

Fortunately, Tom didn’t believe them. When released from prison in January 2004, Tom enrolled in the Goodwill Academy in as part of his transition back into the community and the world of work. Determined to find employment and overcome his past, he began his job search almost immediately. Working closely with Goodwill’s employment staff, he created a resume and began following up on local job leads. On March 9, 2004, Tom was invited to interview for an on-call position with a local safety inspection firm in Rodeo. The interviewer was very impressed with the way Tom presented himself and asked him if he would mind taking a rather extensive 120-question test. Tom agreed. Remarkably, he only missed four out of the 120 questions! The interviewer remarked that even their experienced workers had never scored as high. Tom was offered a full-time job on the spot, earning $18 per hour, instead of the on-call position for which he originally applied. In addition, the firm has offered Tom the opportunity to continue his education and earn his college degree through their tuition reimbursement program.

Once again, Tom demonstrated that motivation, a clear vision, and hard work can open the doors of opportunity.

* Name changed to protect the privacy of the Goodwill participant.