When it comes to preparing young people to enter the workforce, hands-on experience is a must! Of course, the theory and skills learned in the classroom is just one piece of the puzzle, but often, it becomes necessary to provide youth with the opportunities to gain experience in a real workplace setting. This is the aim of programs like CASW-Workforce, which works with NYC youth to design their professional debut. Real-world work experience isn’t just another box to tick on your resume, but also a great way to meet mentors and even make new friends!
Here are a few reasons why programs like SYEP, WLG, and LFL are so important:
- Real world work experience and skills development
Like we mentioned earlier, job placement programs like those provided by CASW-Workforce are essential for connecting young people with hands-on exposure to workplace environments. This can mean attaining job-specific technical skills, depending on your work placement. But the benefits are also more general, as any job requires you to practice soft skills like communication, teamwork, time management, and responsibility. One of our participants, Melissa Velasco, summarizes this beautifully: “Before, I didn’t know how an office really ran …now I’m comfortable asking questions and giving updates.” Another participant actually expands on this, stating that her summer job has been more of a general help; “I learned how to communicate better with my coworkers and supervisors.”
2. Increased self-confidence and personal agency
We can all agree that doing something for the first time isn’t easy, and entering the workforce is no exception. It can seem daunting to sit down for your first job interview, or, even if you get the job, ask a question (the horror!!!). The truth is, the only way to get comfortable with doing something, is by doing it. By placing youth into productive roles and giving them responsibilities, we’re allowing them to prove themselves – specifically to themselves. “Now I feel like, yes, I deserve to be hired – I proved myself…” says Velasco. Another one of our participants, Madison Langford, spent the summer working for the merchandise and business operations department at the Bronx Zoo; specifically working on tasks like data entry and coordination events: “It feels good to know I contributed to something; it makes me want to keep going.”
When young people believe in their abilities, they’re much more likely to pull through challenges and seek new experiences.
3. Enhanced career pathways and long-term employability
At CASW, we don’t view these placements as just a gig for the summer, but as a stepping-stone to your future career. When you work through one of our programs, you are not just gaining references for future jobs and establishing a “working history,” but also a way to open the door for further opportunities, meeting mentors, friends, and possibly building a network that can lead to more advanced roles down the line. Also, even a summer or semester-long job can be invaluable when it comes to determining what you like and do not like – which can lead you to your true vocation. One of our participants says as much: “It helped me figure out what I might study next.” Melissa Velasco drives the point further by stating: “If I hadn’t done this I might have gone in a totally different direction…this helped me see what I like.”
4. Social inclusion, reduced youth unemployment and stronger communities
In a post-COVID world where young people are increasingly encouraged to spend time behind a screen, face-to-face interactions and the opportunity to connect with different people is becoming increasingly important. We want to provide NYC youth with a chance to grow, not just professionally, but socially and emotionally. Job programs like ours can help to mitigate social isolation by encouraging them to pursue their goals and make new connections. Likewise, the benefits are not just felt by the young person that is employed by these programs, but by the surrounding community. Programs like workforce can help boost representation for underrepresented groups in the workforce, and even strengthen local economies by making youth less dependent on familial or caretaker support. “A lot of us students didn’t think we could get this job – now we have examples,” says Velasco. This is also a good sign for employers, who have the chance to create a pipeline of skilled workers and develop that talent early.
5. Improved career clarity and motivation for further education or training
Exposure to real-life work scenarios can help youth to determine which path they ultimately want to take career-wise, helping to clarify their interests, strengths, and preferences (I.E. working in an office vs. in a field setting, creative vs. technical work, etc.). Often, one summer can be the push they need to pursue a different course of education or continue their path with more determination, specifically once they have a better understanding of what their desired career entails. Langford tells us how exactly her summer work experience helped her see a clearer pathway toward the future, “Working at the zoo has changed how I plan for school… I know now what I’ll study next year.”
