Jonaed interviews Khalilah KO Olokunola, a senior advisor for TalentNova and founder of Reengineering HR, about skills-first hiring and navigating the workforce for justice-impacted individuals. They discuss the challenges faced by justice-impacted individuals in finding employment, the importance of community support, the impact of Ban-the-Box policies, and the skills and certifications that justice-impacted individuals possess. They also explore the process of building confidence, the rights of justice-impacted individuals in the hiring process, and the future of fair-chance hiring. Khalilah shares insights into TalentNova, a platform that provides career tools and resources for justice-impacted individuals.
Key Points Discussed
• Justice-impacted individuals face unique challenges in finding employment, and community support is crucial in navigating the workforce.
• Ban-the-Box policies have been instrumental in giving justice-impacted individuals a fair chance at employment by removing questions about criminal records from job applications.
• Justice-impacted individuals possess valuable skills such as resilience, loyalty, teamwork, and leadership, which can be translated into the workplace.
• Listing jobs and certifications obtained while serving time can help fill employment gaps and showcase relevant experience and skills.
• Building confidence during the job search process is essential, and it can be achieved through community support, self-reflection, and positive language.
• Seeking out community-based organizations that provide resume assistance, interview coaching, and other resources can greatly benefit justice-impacted individuals.
• Knowing and exercising one’s rights in the hiring process, such as when to disclose criminal history, can help level the playing field for justice-impacted individuals.
• The future of fair-chance hiring involves collaboration between employers, community organizations, and technology platforms to create opportunities and remove barriers for justice-impacted individuals.
• TalentNova is a platform that offers career tools, including resume and cover letter builders, interview courses, and coaching, to support justice-impacted individuals in their job search and career advancement.
Listen in on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/had-encounters-with-the-law-a-look-at-fair/id1484437411?i=1000662352068
Listen in on NoDegree: https://www.nodegree.fm/
