Out of Prison Out of a Job Out of Luck

In these days- recession days- its very hard to find a job for anybody and its harder than ever for the ex-convict people.

I don’t know how the hell they ll find a job but i think they should find a job to get in..

During a two-week job-hunting class at the Fortune Society in Queens, employment specialist Mitchell McClinton grilled 19 ex-convicts in a series of mock interviews. After coaching his students on how to present themselves, market their job skills and answer the dreaded “conviction question,” he posed as an employer and put them in the hot seat.

“I noticed that you checked ‘yes’ on the conviction,” he said to one of the ex-convicts. “Explain.”

“Basically, I learned from the mistakes of my past, [that they] jeopardize my present and my future,” replied the interviewee.

McClinton moved on to the next ex-convict, but she mumbled through the interview and wouldn’t speak up until he threatened to skip over her. When she finally opened her mouth to speak, McClinton saw something he didn’t like.

“Is that a tongue ring in your mouth?” he said. “You can’t wear a tongue ring to an interview.”

Many of the ex-convicts are seeking cleaning jobs, based on the skills they outlined in the interviews, and some of them are working towards their high school equivalency degrees.

Headley, during his citywide clean-up rounds, said his heart is set on college and eventually an office job at the Center for Employment Opportunities, where he could help other ex-convicts transition into the job market.

But for the short term, he said he’s gratified to be a sidewalk sweeper.

“I’ll take making minimum wage any day over prison or death,” said Headley. “Now I can walk the streets more freely, without having to watch my back. Now, I consider myself a productive member of society. I’m not contributing to the city’s downfall.”

source money.cnn.com