How to Start a Small Business to Build Youth Employment Skills

Youths shadow mentors to gain exposure in a field.

In starting a business to build youth employment skills, you are committed to helping youths from all walks of life develop work skills to gain employment and advance in their careers. Your program offers students the opportunity to participate in a work-placement program. While the main objective of starting a business to build youth employment skills is to help youths develop essential skills in the workplace, employers have the benefit of receiving possible subsidies while providing hands-on training.

Things You'll Need

• List of employers
• Information packages
• Evaluation form

Instructions

1. Contact employers who would be interested in participating as mentors in your youth employment skills program. Discuss salary options with potential employers. Develop training programs for communication, problem-solving and interpersonal skills required in an office environment. Create exposure and guidance with information on a variety of career choices. Develop information packages that explain why education is necessary and how it helps in the job market. Summarize your information as the objectives of your business to build youth employment skills.

2. Develop work placement opportunities that focus on work skills based on a youth's previous education and qualifications. Develop the operations as follows: discuss each youth's career goals individually and provide guidance on career planning and counseling; match youths with suitable mentors in an actual work environment where youths can "shadow" a mentor to learn how they do their job; participate in general roles in an organization; or participate in a specific role, such as a technical assignment. Ask mentors to complete a youth evaluation form at the end of each placement and to include possible full-time employment opportunities.

3. Decide who will be eligible to participate in your youth employment program in keeping with the Department of Labor's Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which restricts hours that youths under the age of 16 can work. Consider opportunities for assisting youths with disabilities in their transition into the workplace. Establish other eligibility criteria such as location, receipt of social assistance, ability to work either full time or part time, and willingness to participate in workshops. Find a location, register your business as a nonprofit organization or other structure, and open your door for business.

Tips & Warnings

• Research the employment market before starting your small business to identify work-related skills that employers want in youths, and then design your program accordingly.

References

• Indian and Northern Affairs Canada: First Nations and Inuit Youth Work Experience Program
• Oxford House College: Introduction to Work Placements
• United States Department of Labor: Youth & Labor
• YMCA: Ontario Works Employment Placement Program
• State of Alaska: Youth Employability Skills

Resources

• "Disposable Youth"; Ed. D. James, et al.; 2010