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a 49-year-old Black woman who was in prison for five years. This piece of advice applies to individuals with extensive work experience as much as it does to those with little work experience coming out of incarceration. According to the study participants, in order to keep your job, you have to be willing to do what it takes. This may include taking additional training courses or go- ing back to school. Study participants reported that they picked up skills while on the job even though they may have been hesitant at first. At the age of 63, Debra learned how to read blueprints. “I was afraid of them, so now I’m pretty hands on with the computer. I still don’t know a lot of things, but I don’t mind getting in there.”

Multiple respondents shared stories of their success as a result of their hard work and patience. George explains that being employed showed him that he was capable of accomplishing what he wanted. “I didn’t think four or five years ago, I was putting a needle in my vein, and five years later, I’m sitting here talking to [large aeronautical company] on the phone and have discussions about inven- tory that [my employer] has given to me. That’s a pretty cool feeling.” Conclusion While finding and maintaining a job may be difficult after incarceration, it is one of the key components to suc- ceeding in life. The advice presented about finding and keeping a job after incarceration provided by previously incarcerated individuals can be used as a guide for indi- viduals experiencing the same challenges. Advice such as taking advantage of opportunities and resources, leaving old habits behind, applying at second chance employ- ers, not giving up when things get challenging, meeting potential employers in person and thinking about the future can help individuals in their search for employment. Once employed, participants suggested showing up and being on time, learning to communicate, giving it your all, and over- all just being patient. Together, all of this advice can pave the way for a more successful journey to reentry. Although there are many hurdles that come with being gainfully employed after incarceration, the experiences of the indi- viduals that were interviewed for the study are testimony that successful employment after incarceration is possible. “I made it through the darkest times of my life and now my success, my future, it’s all in my hands,” said Michael. References 1 Bureau of Justice Statistics. 2020. Correctional Populations in the United States, 2017-2018 . (August). 2 Friese, Bettina, Araceli Ochoa, Enedelia Garcia, Josee Hildebrandt, and Carly Holmes. (2020). Supervising Employees With Criminal History: An Exploratory Study of Manager Strategies and Perceptions. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology , 64 (8), 880–898. Thousand Oaks, Ca.: Sage Publications. (January).

While finding and maintaining a job may be difficult after incarceration, it is one of the key components to succeeding in life.

It is going to take time, be patient “Never give up, nothing happens overnight. You don’t walk in the door and get the keys to the kingdom,” said George. It can take time to move up the ladder, so do not be discouraged if you have to start at the bottom. As Jeremy, a 36-year-old Black man who spent almost five years incarcerated, put it, “Shoot for the moon but don’t pass up the grass work. Shoot for that big, high-paying job that you want, but if you get an entry-level some- where, just do it. You don’t have to stay there, it’s so much easier to find a job when you have a job than if you don’t have one.” With patience and hard work, many re- spondents experienced personal and professional growth. Bruno said, “Just don’t give up on that position, it’s going to get better. Wherever you start at, that’s not the end.” Another respondent, James, advised using your first job “as a building block.” That first job may not be where you want to stay but it can certainly help get you where you want to be.

Araceli Ochoa, M.A. is a graduate of Seattle University.

Rachel Deckard, B.A., is a graduate student at Seattle University.

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