Inside CDCR: RJD hosts career fair for students preparing for life after prison

Teacher Julie Eramo sees the potential in her students at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility (RJD), so much so that she organized an Employment Fair at the San Diego prison to give them interviewing experience.

Eramo, who teaches the Transitions reentry class at RJD's Otay Mesa Adult School, coordinated local and statewide employers to participate in the fair. Students selected to attend are less than a year until release, or have a parole suitability hearing date coming up.

The week prior to the fair, RJD hosted educational workshops for the participating students. Representatives from the San Diego Workforce Center provided information about resume writing, interview skills, tax credits and bonding. A local business even donated neckties and those who did not know how were taught how to tie them, and were allowed to wear the ties during their interviews.

Numerous employers held interviews at the fair, all of whom will hire qualified people even if they have a felony conviction. More than 100 students were interviewed for jobs, giving them practice in learning how to dress professionally and speak formally. For many, the Career Fair was their first experience interviewing for a job.