Sasha McCullough gets nervous talking to people she doesn't know. That didn't matter to job coach Sam Lynch.

After McCullough filled out 24 job applications with no response, Lynch knows that the laid-off security guard could benefit from solid interview skills to separate herself from the pack.

"Breathe slowly and tell me who you are,'' he said Tuesday.

She relaxed, then shook his hand. With convincing eye contact, McCullough, 24, nailed the introduction on day one of Hire Newark, an intense boot camp job-readiness program at the city's Training Recreation Education Center.

"That's what I'm talking about,'' Lynch said. "Now you've got nine more times to do this.''

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McCullough laughed, but Lynch wasn't joking. It's about repetition and practice. So, off she went among 29 other classmates doing the same thing in front of several attentive job coaches determined to mold city residents into the ideal employee.

They haven't failed since the four-week course was created two years ago by Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and RWJ Barnabas Health in collaboration with Mayor Ras Baraka's Centers of Hope initiative.

Fifty-six graduates in three classes have been hired locally and class number four, "which says it wants more," is set on adding its name to the employment rolls of 12 companies that partner with Newark Beth.

"It is a life-changing, life-altering program," said Darrell Terry, president and chief executive officer of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center (NBI) and Children's Hospital of New Jersey (CHoNJ) in Newark. "They (staff) really get into who these folks are, and they start to care in a manner that many of them had not experienced before.''

On day two, Jacqueline Oteng had child care issues when the babysitter for her 18-month-old son had a doctor appointment. Rather than miss class, the staff allowed Oteng to bring the toddler, stroller and all. When he became restless, they took turns taking care of the boy, reading and talking to him.

"I was amazed," said Oteng, who wants to get a master's degree in social work. "You don't get that everywhere.''

Atiya Jaha-Rashidi, director of diversity and inclusion at Newark Beth, gave Oteng a pep talk and a hug during the lunch break, telling her not to feel bad about having to bring her child.

"Everybody is proud of you for being here,'' Jaha-Rashidi said. "You got this.''

The motivation is constant. It's about growth, as the coaches, working like a relay team, dispense professional advice to help the candidates land and keep a job. When speaking, they tell participants to get to the point, be assertive and make certain potential employers can hear them. Lessons move quickly from social skills and branding to exercises fostering teamwork and following basic instructions.

"I need to hear about what you want,'' Lynch said told Shaun King.

King hasn't had a steady, meaningful gig in two years. He said he was in the program "trying to do better'' for his two daughters when Lynch changed his thinking.

"You're here to get yourself together, so you will shine and so they can be what they want to be.''

While the end game is employment, Terry said, it's also about better health, which is why Newark Beth started the program.

"If you don't have a job, you can't feed your family, you're not going to get that mammogram, you're not going to get that colonoscopy,'' Terry said. "Providing economic opportunity for people changes those dynamics.''

Residents in the class understand the importance of this opportunity, even if the health ramifications haven't sunk in. More than 150 people applied for the 30 available slots, and trainings are only held twice a year. Anyone interested in applying should go through the Newark2020 website at https://www.hirebuylive.com/hire-newark/

In this group, the men and women crave a career, a pension, a 401k. Temp jobs don't cut it anymore. Neither does employment with sketchy hours.

They want the stability of 30-year-old Nasir Muhammad. The husband and father of five is a coach in the program and was a member of the inaugural class. He can identify with the residents' desire to succeed.

Muhammad was unemployed for two years until the program called, giving him hope. Passion and love was evident from the outset, he said, something that was missing in other workforce programs that didn't produce results for him.

"Whatever you need,'' he told the residents, "I'm here to do it.''

Karen Johnson, 54, was plugged in to what was being said. An inspirational quote in the class workbook spoke to her heart, too.

"When everything feels like an uphill battle, just think of the view from the top.''

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Johnson said she belongs on the mountaintop, her ascension delayed by drug addiction. She held on to jobs, but grew tired of "chasing her demons,'' running the streets.

Drug-free for five years, Johnson said she has arrived.

"I'm in a roomful of people who want to see me do better, a roomful of people who are about Newark.''

Class ended the first day at 2 p.m., but at 6:30 p.m., Alfred Elliott, 40, was still fired-up with enthusiasm.

"I'm ready to go back now,'' he said when we talked by phone. He returned Wednesday, early.

The class was there, too. All 30 of them.

Barry Carter: (973) 836-4925 or bcarter@starledger.com or

nj.com/carter or follow him on Twitter @BarryCarterSL