Second Chance Hiring Ebook
A Guide to Inclusive HR
When I entered recovery, I was a very odd mix of stuff. On the positive side, I had a decade of great work history, an MBA from one of the finest universities in the United States, and I interviewed well.
On the negative side, I hadn’t worked for two years, had horrible credit, (which would, no doubt, have been revealed on a background check), and multiple criminal convictions. These days, due to the pandemic, a two-year job gap doesn’t mean much, but back in 2016 when I began looking for work again, that gap was a major red flag.
But it was the criminal history that caused me the most trouble in restarting my career, even though all I had were misdemeanors.
The purpose of this book is to bring attention to the difficulties people who have been involved in the criminal justice system experience and to highlight why employers who don’t currently hire from this pool should rethink that position.
I sincerely hope that after reading this book, you will better understand why second chance hiring presents a tremendous opportunity for employers, job seekers, and communities, and you will be inspired to take action and hire one (or many more) of these candidates when you encounter them.
Human Resources Strategies to Lower Your Risk Through Inclusive Recruiting
What People are Saying
“Some people have a harder time than others in creating their own desti- nies. Ty Reed understands that, which is why he has written this book to encourage employers to provide those with criminal records a second chance. Everyone wants to feel valued and have a fair chance at contrib- uting to society and making their world better. More importantly for employers, Ty reveals that second chance hiring has innumerable benefits from providing a larger pool of qualified workers to hiring long-term and loyal employees. This book will revolutionize your HR department and your business.”
— Patrick Snow, Publishing Coach and International Best-Selling Author of
Creating Your Own Destiny and The Affluent Entrepreneur
“If you hire or make hiring decisions, you must hear Ty Reed.”
— Marianne Ozmun-Wells, Equity and
Inclusion Office Administrator
“As the speaker committee chair for the Arizona SHRM Conference, Ty Reed’s personal story really struck me. How many other professionals out there in our workplaces have dealt with addiction and successfully beat it after being incarcerated? Ty spoke to us about biases that exist in the hiring process and how by asking more questions and being more curious, we can better understand whether a candidate is a good fit for the position. In this time when we have a constant shortage of good candidates, Ty shared some statistics on one of the biggest labor pools we ignore, the individuals with criminal records. He gave us some tools to enable us to ask better questions and to stop assuming what we think the ‘story’ is and get the whole picture. With more than seventy-seven-mil- lion candidates with criminal records, this would help us reach our hiring targets, have a bench, and then help people get back on their feet when all they need is a chance to prove themselves. This process Ty has created would also help organizations reach both their hiring and DE&I targets. It was an enlightening presentation, and I would recommend Ty Reed as a speaker for SHRM and other professional organizations and as a consultant for your business.”
— Jennifer Pigeon, Speaker Chair for AZ State SHRM Conference 2022
“I so appreciate hearing Ty’s story and reframing work processes like recruitment and hiring to incorporate more equitable approaches that support people.”
— Amber Santoyo, Chief People Officer, Washington State Department of Health
“Ty Reed captivated our audience with his deep and broad experience, his passion for inclusion, and his great love for humanity. We all left the session with more hope, both as employers and as members of society.”
— Holly Eckert, South Puget Sound SHRM Programs Director
“I’ve had the pleasure of attending a couple of presentations by Ty and have found them to be both informative and inspirational. We are committed to continuing and increasing our impact to the communities we work in, and Ty’s experience and knowledge have given us additional pathways to meet this goal. Ty is seen as a valuable community partner, and we look forward to partnering with him in the future.”
— Arhonda Reyes, WA State SHRM Director - DEI
“Ty Reed was an exceptional speaker at our annual Washington State SHRM HR Conference. His message of providing second chance employment is crucial and was of benefit to all of our attendees. Ty received excellent feedback on his presentation. Finally, he was cool and calm in the midst of a technical crisis during his time slot! I highly recom- mend Ty as a speaker for your HR or recruiting conference or event.”
— Andrea Ballard, WA State SHRM 2021 Conference Director
“This eye-opening book will make you rethink your hiring policies and practices. As Ty Reed reveals, one in three American adults today has a criminal record. That is a huge chunk of the workforce you don’t want to ignore when looking for possible candidates. Many of those people are highly skilled and they are all looking for a second chance. Ty dispels the myths about the negative consequences of hiring those with crim- inal pasts and he enumerates the many benefits that result when you give people a second chance. They will repay you with loyalty and hard work, a win-win for everyone. Read this book and open your mind to the possibilities.”
— Tyler R. Tichelaar, PhD and Award-Winning Author of Narrow Lives and The Best Place