Career & Employment Services

What was your first job? Early work experience offers young people a critical stepping stone to future employment opportunities. However, unemployment rates for youth in Illinois are at record highs, with low-income Chicago youth being hit disproportionately hard.

Alternatives’ Career and Employment Services (CES) program works intensively with youth from low-income communities to prepare them to enter the workforce.

To help youth gain the advanced skills necessary to become competitive in the job market, CES offers:

One-on-one case management with an Employment Specialist to identify strengths, challenges, and areas of interest to create plans for pursuing and achieving goals. Through individual case management, young people create resumes and individualized career plans.

Basic workforce preparation workshops on topics including resume writing, interview preparation, job application strategies and goal-setting. These group workshops enable youth to connect with positive peers and develop key job preparation skills.

Intensive skill development projects that build skills in high-opportunity fields while providing early work experience. Current projects include: Digital Connectors, Wicked Truth, and Teen Moms Computer Basics.