An artificial intelligence program supports ex-convicts in their reintegration into programming.
A interview preparation platform is supporting individuals in their transition from prison to the field of programming.
Formation, an AI-powered interview preparation platform, is facilitating the transition of individuals who have been incarcerated into the tech sector, particularly in programming. Entering the world of programming can be a complicated task, and for those with criminal records, the challenge is even greater.
Recently, Formation established a partnership with The Last Mile, an organization that provides educational and employment opportunities to those impacted by the justice system, with a particular focus on the tech industry. Thanks to this collaboration, alumni of The Last Mile, who have already received technology-related training, can access Formation's Fellowship Program for free, which offers support through interview simulations and technical mentoring. Some of the lessons are specifically designed for the companies applicants aspire to, such as Meta and Google.
Sophie Novati, founder and CEO of Formation, explains that their platform utilizes a proprietary adaptive learning algorithm that rigorously assesses each individual's interview preparedness on both behavioral and technical topics, compared to industry standards. This allows for personalized training, career coaching, and technical mentorship that adapts to variations in skills, previous experiences, goals, and timelines for job searches.
Formation's remote learning model includes at least 15 hours a week of daily sessions, mentor-led sessions, and panels with industry leaders, providing more than just a simple improvement in coding skills. Novati emphasizes that their mission also includes diversifying the tech sector, and the partnership with The Last Mile is a step in that direction.
Kevin McCracken, CEO of The Last Mile, acknowledges that the collaboration is highly beneficial, especially considering many of their clients aspire to roles in engineering and software after leaving prison. He believes it represents a positive shift in narrative, as Formation works with individuals beyond their past mistakes, treating them like any other students.
One of the early successes of this partnership materialized when Jacob, a client of The Last Mile, received a full-time job offer from Asana after completing his internship with Formation. McCracken has received positive feedback about Formation's AI-assisted career coaching, noting that individuals impacted by the justice system "want to apply what they have learned in their careers," rather than being stigmatized by their backgrounds.