West Michigan Works! hosting virtual Second Chance Job Fair

West Michigan Works! hosting virtual Second Chance Job Fair
<strong>Photo by iStock</strong>

The region’s workforce development agency is hosting a job fair for individuals returning to society after incarceration.

West Michigan Works! said it will hold a virtual Second Chance Job Fair on Aug. 26. Job seekers can register today through Friday for a 15-minute call with one or more employers.

Participating employers consider a variety of factors when making hiring decisions, including the type of conviction, skills and qualifications, and job responsibilities.

Interviewing individuals with a past conviction allows employers to tap into an overlooked talent pool. Research by Talent 2025 indicates less than 2% of West Michigan employers hired returning citizens in 2018.

Thirty-Two-Two, an initiative advocating for post-incarceration employment opportunities in West Michigan, found people with a prior conviction on their record will stay with an employer longer, decreasing costly turnover and increasing productivity.

“Working with second chance programs has been an outstanding source of talent for our organization,” said John McMahon, senior human resources generalist at Montage Furniture Services. “We have been able to hire several amazing employees who we would never have come across were it not for these programs.”

In addition to Montage, participating employers include Arrow Staffing, Alliance Home Health Care Services, Dean Transportation, Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch, Hutchinson Antivibration Systems, and Praxis Packaging.

Job seekers will have a chance to discuss their prior offense directly with potential employers.

“Providing a platform for returning citizens to have a conversation with hiring professionals provides the opportunity for job seekers to become more than their conviction and more than another application on the hiring manger’s desk,” said Kiosha Jeltema, business solutions manager for West Michigan Works!.

A list of employers, open positions, registration information and tips for job seekers is at westmiworks.org/second-chance.