Merle's example shows us that having a criminal background does not mean you have to settle for a job you don't enjoy. With the help of Honest Jobs, Merle found a position he loved, helping him to be hopeful about the future. Learn more about his experience in the video below:
Read Merle's interview here:
What experience do you have with the criminal justice system?
Merle: "I got arrested on May 18th, 2020, for multiple charges. Actually, a lot of them did get dropped, but I ultimately pled to robbery and aggravated assault. That was last year. I got released in September of 2020. So I did about five months on it. And they just put me on probation for three years."
What was your job search experience like after you found Honest Jobs?
Merle: "I heard back from them and got an interview pretty fast. The background check went pretty quick. I got hired quickly. I did apply for the lowest-paid job where I was at. And she [recruiter at Honest Jobs] looked over my resume and saw more. She actually recommended other positions at this company."
Tell us about your new job!
Merle: "It's a fabricator job at Kawneer. Kawneer manufactures doors. We put together all these doorframes, and we pack them up, and we'll ship them out. I love it. I love the job. I love working here. I like the people, the pay is good. You know, I have no complaints. It's a challenging job, but I like it. It's a very productive job. I just enjoy coming to work every day."
Would you recommend Honest Jobs to other formerly incarcerated job seekers?
Merle: "Definitely, 100%. It just made everything for me so easy. Because of my conviction, I was thinking very low on myself. I didn't think I was going to get anywhere in life, but Honest Jobs really helped me out to overcome that situation."
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