The YouthWorks staff has been busy preparing for the start of this years summer session. YouthWorks staff spread the word about jobs this summer far and wide, conducting outreach to various SFUSD high schools, community organizations, and tabling at various summer resource fairs. Over 700 applications poured in from San Francisco youth eager for summer work experience. In reviewing applications, YouthWorks staff considered each youth’s career interest, past experience, skills, and availability. The review process was very difficult as there were so many qualified youth applying for a relatively small number of positions.
Approximately 350 youth were invited in for an interview at our office. During the interview, youth had the opportunity to meet with YouthWorks staff and discuss their interests, skills, and match with available summer internships. These interviews provide a wonderful opportunity for our staff to meet a great pool of youth candidates and to match them with our available positions. At the end of this difficult process, over 250 youth were hired for summer internships.
Last week all hired youth attended a Pre-Employment Training to help prepare them for making a great impression on their first day of work, explore their rights and responsibilities as workers, and learn payroll and other important program procedures. Over the next few weeks we will also begin informing worksite mentors about the youth who have been placed in their offices, libraries, and recreation centers, so that they can prepare to receive their new summer interns.
Youth will begin work at their internships during the week of June 17th and will work through August 4th, 2013. During the summer, youth will gain work valuable experience and also be invited to participate in career exposure activities and workshops. We look forward to working with our new cohort of summer interns.