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It seems few area residents are applying for all those federal prison jobs proclaimed with
the coming of the new prison in Gilmer County.
There was an original perception the prison would be a solution for a suffering, depressed
jobless region. David Corcoran, publisher and editor of The Glenville Democrat, wrote
"Those suave prison officials, all seasoned department heads with many years of
experience, did an excellent job outlining the procedures for securing Bureau of Prison
employment."
Few area residents have been hired to work at the new facility, and the application process
is difficult, even for college graduates.
Corcoran further indicated in his column, there is a wide gap in communication, particularly
in understanding or accepting the hiring process.
At a public meeting in Glenville, a prison official asked a group of over 100 job seekers
"How many of you want JOBS at the Gilmer Prison?" Nearly all the hands went up, after
which the official said "Sorry, we don't have jobs, we have careers."
Corcoran seemed taken back by the "shock tactic" as he looked in the eyes of area
workers who had lost jobs, single parenting mothers and college graduates who were
trying to obtain jobs at the prison. He said they appeared "jarred."
He said "The initial shock tactic seemed out of place ..."
"They were so hungry for jobs - so hungary they're willing to attend a formal, even
threatening, jobs seminar at a college."
Corcoran said while prison officials were well meaning, they didn't understand the central
West Virginia workforce, culture and language.
Certainly part of the problem is a perception about the coming of the prison. It was touted
as bringing jobs to a very depressed area.
Political leaders and supporters may have created a picture of prison officials setting up
tables and taking applications. That will not happen.
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