LEWISTON – A month ago, Cheryle Kelley would have stammered through a job interview.

But not now.

“I really worked on my interview skills. I’m more outspoken now,” said the 24-year-old single mother. Then she smiled. “I had three practice interviews on Thursday and two (interviewers) said they’d hire me.”

Kelley was one of 10 graduates of WorkReady, a collaborative program of the Workforce Investment Board, CareerCenter and Lewiston Adult Education that prepares people for the work world.

Begun last summer, the program has graduated nearly 50 people from its intensive, revolving three-week program that helps them to overcome obstacles and find meaningful jobs.

For Kelley, that means a job in construction. She proudly displays a portfolio of her carpentry projects to guests invited to the graduation ceremony at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee’s Shipyard Lounge Friday.

Many of those attendees are recruiters from local companies, looking for prospective hires.

“These are very good people,” said Kathy Fulton, who works in Geiger’s human resources department and put three of the graduates through their paces in mock interviews.

“They took it very seriously and it was a confidence builder for them,” she said, noting the promotional products company already hired one WorkReady graduate for seasonal work.

Rob Callahan, assistant director of Lewiston Adult Ed, said about one-third of the program’s graduates have found jobs in their chosen fields, about one-third have signed up for more education or training and another third are still working through issues that block their ability to find work.

“Some of those life barriers are considerable,” he said. Some have been out of the work force for years and need modern skills, others are grappling with the effects of poverty and lack of education or support.

For Simon Graham, a stupid mistake he made in North Carolina when he was young earned him a prison conviction. Although he served his time, he hasn’t been able to find work in the electronics industry, despite some advanced training he’s gotten in the past two years. His portfolio reveals his classwork and an impressive GPA for each.

“I have paid the price,” said Graham of his criminal record. “But now I’m almost 30. I have a home, bills and responsibilities. Now I want a career.”

Graham, dressed in a natty brown suit, said he was able to hone his resume and interview skills through WorkReady, which he put to good use when a visiting U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud stopped to chat.

“I’m very pleased to see these people furthering their education and bettering themselves,” said Michaud after offering Graham some advice and shaking his hand. “It’s not easy.”

Each of the graduates had to create a personal employment plan and took classes in improving verbal and non-verbal communication, working with people, understanding important workplace information, using job attainment skills and worker safety. Local companies such as Geiger, Oxford Networks and L.L. Bean support the program by giving the students real-life experience with creating resumes and interview techniques, and tailoring the WorkReady curriculum.

“We couldn’t do this without the support of the local business community,” said Callahan.

And the program has grown. When the first class graduated last fall, there were only two local businesses that showed up to meet the graduates, said Callahan. On Friday, a steady stream of recruiters came through.

“I think it’s great that local business is willing to collaborate in this kind of public/private partnership,” said Michaud. “These students have so much energy and sense of accomplishment. I’m very pleased they’re doing this.”