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This is an open article to anyone who is now or has ever been incarcerated. It is reported that two-thirds of prisoners will reoffend within twelve months from their release. The reasons usually fall into two categories: substance abuse and/or getting a job. There are many programs available on the inside to assist in the substance abuse problems but not so many in the Job Readiness area. If an ex-convict cannot get and maintain a job when they get out they will fall back into their old habits. It is therefore very important to train them in how to find and maintain a job before they are released. Many convicts have never held any type of job. They have no idea what an employer expects of them or how to act in a company. It is important that you learn the following soft skills: 1. How To Write A Resume 2. How To Find A Job 3. How To Interview 4. How To Dress At Work 5. Workplace Relationships 6. Keeping your area tidy 7. Social activity at work 8. Knowing What You Employer Expects From You 9. Customer Service Basics 10. How To Answer The Phone 11. How To Write Business Emails. 12. Handling Conflicts At Work 13. Making Decisions Finding an employer who will give you a second chance is key. They are a number of faith-based organizations who are actively helping ex-offenders with this while they are still in prison. Once you are at work it is important to become integrated into the organization. It is important to dress the way the rest of the company does and work the number of hours that the corporate culture dictates. Learn what your employer expects from you and do it! If you learn the basics of customer service before you start, you will know how to work with customers and keep them happy. When working in the public, it is important to have very good communications… both verbal and written. One of the hardest problems you will confront is making decisions. When incarcerated you have to make very few decisions. When you are released however, you must re-learn how to make all the decisions other free people have to make every day. This will be difficult but you must work at it every day until it… once again, becomes automatic to you. Try to find any Job Readiness program while you are still on the inside. You need to know these soft skills BEFORE you start a job. If you use these job readiness skills everyday, you will be able to get and keep a job when you get out. Good luck! Jim Stedt is a partner at The Business SoftSkills Company (GetSoftSkillsNow.Com) located in Santa Ana, California. They provide job readiness and workforce success videos for education, business, prisons and individual use. Training is available online, on DVD, or through an affiliate program. These products are the most complete and concise soft skills training packages now available for the price of an average college textbook.
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