Hire UP is an internship program offered by Workforce Development, Inc. and the Rochester Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Together, with the help of our hiring organizations, we offer summer internships for youth between the ages of 16 - 24 who have little to no work experience.
Hire UP youth attend a series of career readiness workshops which include professionalism, resume building, and interview skills. The interns then attend an interview day in which our partnering organizations are able to interview all eligible interns.
At the end of their 8-10 week summer experience, youth are able to build both their network and their resume. Pilot employers from 2016 include the YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, DEED, Southeast Service Cooperative, and Homewood Suites. Sammie Hedwall, Youth Career Counselor and Coordinator of Hire UP! describes the program as “a great place for people to gain work experience and contribute to the Rochester area economy. Employers are giving to the community by making room for youth to gain skills and experience that contributes to our entire future workforce in a meaningful way.”
TESTIMONIALS
“We weren’t sure what to expect, but what we found was a great group of young adults that were involved in volunteer work, extracurricular activities, and had great communication skills. The businesses that missed out on this opportunity, really missed out on some great, local talent.” - Hire UP employer
"I didn't know what I wanted to do past high school, and now I confidently can say that I have great skills to offer as an employee." - Hire UP intern
