**Formation and The Last Mile Join Forces to Aid Justice-Impacted Aspiring Engineers**
Entering the programming field is consistently a struggle—**especially today**—but for those with a criminal record, the challenges can be even more pronounced. **Formation**, an AI-enhanced interview preparation platform for software engineers, aims to change this landscape by providing assistance to both incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals.
Recently, Formation teamed up with **The Last Mile (TLM)**, an organization dedicated to equipping justice-impacted individuals with educational and employment opportunities, particularly in the technology sector. Through this partnership, TLM alumni—who have already undergone some technical training—receive complimentary access to Formation’s Fellowship Program. This initiative includes mock interviews, technical mentorship, and tailored lessons aligned with the hiring criteria of leading tech firms like Meta and Google.
“Formation’s platform is powered by a patented adaptive learning algorithm that thoroughly evaluates an individual’s readiness for interviews across behavioral and technical subjects, measuring them against industry hiring benchmarks,” states **Sophie Novati**, the founder and CEO of Formation. “It subsequently provides customized training, career advice, and mentoring to effectively close skill gaps.” The platform also takes into account factors such as skill level, prior experience, career aspirations, and job search timelines to create a personalized interview preparation journey.
### **Beyond Coding: Fostering Confidence and Career Preparedness**
Formation’s remote learning framework involves a minimum of 15 hours of weekly participation, including daily stand-ups, mentor-led workshops, and discussions with industry veterans. However, the program transcends merely technical education.
“Formation empowers these individuals by granting access to training and resources tailored to their skills and experiences,” says Novati. “We also provide exceptional mentorship and career guidance to assist them in understanding job expectations, navigating the hiring landscape, and effectively showcasing their backgrounds—overcoming mental barriers and imposter syndrome.”
Formation’s mission is firmly rooted in **diversifying the tech field**, and its partnership with The Last Mile is a natural progression of this vision. Typically, Formation partners with organizations to craft specialized hiring and training initiatives and also collaborates with individuals seeking customized career assistance. When Formation representatives approached TLM, Executive Director **Kevin McCracken** quickly recognized the opportunity. Since many TLM clients aim for engineering and software positions post-incarceration, the collaboration was an ideal match.
The partnership has already demonstrated success—one TLM alumnus, **Jacob**, completed an internship with Formation and landed a full-time position at **Asana**.
McCracken has received encouraging feedback regarding Formation’s AI-enhanced career coaching. “Individuals affected by the justice system don’t wish to be treated differently—they aspire to leverage what they’ve learned to carve out a career,” he notes. “Formation looks beyond an individual’s previous errors and regards them as any other student. It’s invigorating and aligns seamlessly with The Last Mile’s mission.”