August 19, 2025
A Skilled Worker Searching for a Second Chance
When Eric Reynolds walked into the IHA Hiring Event, he wasn’t just looking for a job he was seeking a new beginning.
Eric had recently graduated from Rockford Career College with an associate degree in Construction Management, and had completed certifications through the Goodwill Senior Program in construction. He also held a diploma in welding and was more than qualified on paper. But despite his education, training, and experience, he found himself locked out of opportunity.
Why?
Because of his past.
When a Past Mistake Blocks a Future Path
As a convicted felon, Eric faced rejection after rejection not for his skills, but for his record. Even when he passed tests and outperformed expectations, employers turned him away.
“They don’t even say ‘background check’ anymore,” Eric explained. “Now it’s ‘you didn’t pass the credit check.’ But I know what it is.”
It was discouraging. Exhausting. And deeply unfair.
Eric was doing everything right earning credentials, staying out of trouble, showing up ready to work but doors kept closing.
Until one day, during a class at Goodwill, he heard about a hiring event.
The RHA Hiring Event and a Man Named Mr. Ford
At the urging of a classmate, Eric attended the RHA Hiring Event, not knowing what to expect.
What he found was different from every other event he’d been to.
“It was easy. The people were more approachable. You could actually talk and exchange information with someone right there without writing your name down and walking away.”
That day, he met Mr. Ford, a representative who didn’t just see his past he saw his potential. They talked, exchanged numbers, and Eric followed up.
That call changed his life.
Connection First, Then Career
Unlike traditional job fairs that often feel rushed or impersonal, the RHA Hiring Event gave Eric a chance to be seen—as a person, not just a resume.
“Every time I had an on-the-spot interview, I felt like—OK, maybe this is the one. This is the one right here.”
He took a chance, and more importantly, someone took a chance on him.
From Unemployed to Sanitation Specialist
Today, Eric is employed as a Sanitation Specialist, working hard and staying focused. His bills are getting paid. He’s out of the job search cycle. He’s moving forward. And perhaps most powerfully, he’s doing it on his own terms.
“I could’ve gone back to crime. But Mr. Ford saw something in me. He gave me an opportunity and I took it and ran with it.”
What If He Didn’t Show Up?
Eric knows the answer to that question.
“I’d probably still be looking for a job.”
Without the IHA Hiring Event and the personal connection he made there, Eric might still be stuck discouraged, overlooked, and closed off from opportunity.
That one event, one conversation, and one follow-up call made all the difference.
Attend, Engage, Succeed
To anyone considering a hiring event, Eric has this to say:
“At one event, you’re in front of 10 employers. That’s 10 interviews at once. That’s 10 chances. Don’t miss it.”
He encourages others—especially those with barriers like his—to show up, be present, and trust the process. The right person might be at the next table, waiting to change your life too.
A Final Thank You: Goodwill and Maria
Eric gives a special shoutout to the Goodwill Program and Maria, a key supporter who helped him stay focused and informed throughout his journey.
“They’re good people. They go all out to give you the information you need to succeed.”
If you’re searching for a fresh start, looking for employment, or ready to build your career, check out RHA’s upcoming hiring events and programs designed to open doors, not close them.
✨ Visit https://rockfordha.org/home/careers-at-rha/ to learn more.
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