After dozens of rejections, Frederick job seekers find a second chance

For Becca Hughes, finding work meant getting past more than 40 rejections in six months. Now she stocks shelves, checks out customers and talks with neighbors at The Common Market Co-op on Seventh Street in Frederick.

Hughes told The Frederick News-Post that employers repeatedly turned her away or withdrew offers after reviewing her criminal record. Her search changed when she connected with Justice Jobs of Maryland.

Program manager Taurean Washington helped her identify employers willing to consider applicants with criminal histories and apply to the co-op. Hughes said an interview invitation came the next day, and she started work a few weeks after connecting with the organization.

Justice Jobs provides career preparation and employment resources for people affected by the criminal justice system. Washington told the newspaper that about 20 people working with the organization were hired between July and September.

The organization’s first Second Chance Career Fair is planned for Thursday, Oct. 15, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Veteran Services Center, 1750 Monocacy Blvd. in Frederick, according to the supplied report. Participating employers will be open to considering applicants with criminal records.

That does not mean applicants bypass the hiring process. Common Market human resources manager Blair Barnes told the News-Post that candidates referred by Justice Jobs still complete the usual application and interview steps. The partnership helps the co-op identify applicants who have received preparation and support.

Justice Jobs program director Christian Castro said the organization has a list of about 20 second-chance employers and is working to build more direct relationships with hiring managers.

The Golden Mile Alliance has also approached roughly 50 businesses about their willingness to hire people with criminal records, according to executive director Robert Van Rens. Responses have varied.

For people rebuilding their lives after incarceration, the effort can make the first conversation with an employer easier. Ralik Bell, who is working a temporary job at the Claggett Center near Adamstown, told the newspaper that he plans to attend the fair and uses certificates from completed programs to show prospective employers the work he has done to change.

The goal is an opportunity to be considered—and, for applicants such as Hughes, a chance to demonstrate what they can contribute once hired.