Workforce Solutions – Gulf Coast’s Work-Based Learning Opportunities from Internships to Youth Employment Opportunities: A Comprehensive Guide

Internships serve as a crucial gateway to professional fields, offering short-term, focused opportunities for learning and practical application of academic knowledge. These experiences are tailored to be exploratory and educational, providing mentorship and insights into a specific industry while also facilitating valuable networking opportunities. Interns gain hands-on experience and develop skills in a real-world setting, which not only enhances their resumes but also helps them make informed decisions about their career paths. This initial exposure is pivotal as it lays the foundational stones on which a budding professional can build a career.

Employment experience, on the other hand, builds upon the groundwork laid by internships by deepening professional expertise and advancing one's career trajectory. Long-term employment involves a more significant commitment and focuses on performance and contribution to an organization’s goals, offering financial benefits and opportunities for professional growth. As individuals progress through various roles, they not only refine their skills and apply them to solve complex problems but also establish a professional identity that is crucial for long-term career success.

Together, internships and employment experiences create a robust framework for career development, each playing a distinct yet complementary role in shaping a professional’s journey towards achieving their career objectives. Recognizing the synergistic benefits of internships and employment experiences, we offer comprehensive programs to support each stage of career development. By providing internships and summer jobs, we help young adults and new entrants to the workforce gain initial exposure and skills necessary to thrive in their chosen fields, supporting both individuals in making informed career choices and businesses in preparing a skilled talent pool. Through these initiatives, Workforce Solutions actively enhances the labor market, driving regional economic growth and ensuring a dynamic environment where individuals find meaningful work and businesses flourish.

When it comes to setting up work-based learning opportunities, most employers do not know where to begin. We aim to remove the guesswork from hiring interns or youth employment and provide financial support to make it easy to get your program up and running. Here is where we can help bring new talent into your workplace at no cost while creating positive outcomes for your business and community.

Fully Covered Salary and Administration Costs

Workforce Solutions – Gulf Coast’s youth employment programs are designed to provide financial incentives to employers while opening doors for the next generation of employees. The program covers 100% of wages for the first 240 hours of a youth’s employment. Depending on the employer’s requirements, this period can span eight (8) weeks at 30 hours per week or 12 weeks at 20 hours per week.

Eligible youth must be between the ages of 16 to 24. Workforce Solutions – Gulf Coast takes care of payroll costs, worker’s compensation, and, when required, pre-employment background checks including drug tests. The program gives employers a chance to invest their time and resources into what truly matters—the experience, mentorship, and professional development of their new team member.

Recruitment and Screening Included

We conduct all the recruiting and screening for positions. We will either match a current candidate to the position or conduct additional outreach to find a youth who is the right fit for the job. Our goal is to streamline the hiring process for employers by delivering a shortlist of pre-qualified, motivated young adults who are ready to contribute to your team from day one. Additionally, we are happy to screen any referrals that you may have for suitability and eligibility of services.

Support and Accommodations Summer Opportunities for Youth with Disabilities

Our Summer Earn and Learn (SEAL) program is designed for students with disabilities aged 16 to 24. It provides eligible students with paid summer work experience along with personalized support and the accommodations they need to thrive. The value of the experience goes beyond the financial aspects. Employers have a unique opportunity to mentor participants and help them cultivate industry-specific skills and soft skills that will be essential for career success.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are frequently asked questions to help you understand if creating an internship or youth employment opportunity is right for your company.

Here are some of the most common questions and answers:

Q: Who qualifies as an intern?
A: The program is for both in-school and out-of-school young adults between 16 to 24 years old who live within our 13-county region. Funding is prioritized for youth with vulnerabilities who are deemed eligible via our screening process.

Q: Do you have to find your own intern?
A: No. We can do all the recruiting and screening for the position. We have a network of current candidates that we can match to the position, or we will find a young person who is the right for the job.

Q: Will this negatively affect my company’s taxes?
A: No, there is no negative impact to participating in these internship programs. Workforce Solutions covers all the costs.

Q: Sound too good to be true? What’s the catch?
A: There is no catch! Workforce Solutions is an employer-driven, people-focused organization that aims to make the Gulf Coast a great place to work and do business. We are a public organization that works alongside the Texas Workforce Commission to connect employers with job candidates. We are here to help employers and workers thrive in our 13-county region. Read more about our organization here.

Q: How can my company participate?
A: Your company can partner with Workforce Solutions by reaching out to our team. We will guide you through the application process and help tailor an internship to your company’s needs. Email talent@wrksolutions.com or call 713.688.6890.

Q: Are there any specific industries or sectors that the internship must target?
A: The program is broad and inclusive, catering to many industries. Our goal is to create a match that benefits both the employer and the intern, regardless of the field.

Q: How soon can we start?
A: It takes about two weeks to onboard your company into the program. From there, it depends on whether a suitable candidate is already available, or if recruitment is needed. Your consultant will be able to give you a more specific timeline after you have been onboarded.

Q: What would disqualify a company from participating?
A: As long as at least three employees work for the company, there are very few disqualifying factors. The main ones include worksites that do not pass inspection or deemed high-risk, such as an active construction site. Worksites are carefully evaluated on a case-by-case basis, so reach out for an evaluation.

Take the Leap

Cultivating the next generation of talent is critical to our region’s success, and partnering with Workforce Solutions makes the journey easy. Contact our team today to get started and reach a diverse pool of talent, receive comprehensive financial support, and feel good about investing in your company and our community’s future.