Youth & Young Adult Services
Build skills. Explore careers. Get ready for your future.
Your Future Starts Here
You don't have to know what you want to do next. Michigan Works! can help you explore careers, build skills, gain work experience, and prepare for your future. Our services are all free.
We Can Help You...
Explore Careers
✔ Career Exploration & Guidance
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Get Work Experience
✔ Connect with local employers
✔ Paid & Unpaid Work Experience
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Build Job Skills
✔ Leadership Development
✔ Interview Coaching
✔ Resume Assistance
✔ Job Search Guidance
Get Training
✔ Career Training Opportunities
✔ Skills Training for Employment
✔ Learn more about Apprenticeship
Finish School
✔ GED Preparation & Completion
✔ High School Completion Support
✔ FAFSA Completion Guidance
✔ Scholarship/financial aid application assistance
Get One-on-One Support
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✔ Adult Mentorship
Explore What's Possible
How can you know what career you want if you don't even know what's out there?
We can help you explore your options.
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Tour local employers to see what they do, what careers are available, and the education pathways to get you there.
The largest hands-on, interactive career exploration event in the region. This annual event introduces 8th-12th grade students to hundreds of in-demand careers.
Career Expos held at your school can introduce you to employers and careers in your community.
Getting Started is Easy
Our youth services are available to eligible young people ages 16–24.
Eligibility is based on program requirements and individual needs.
Not sure if you qualify? That's okay. Talk with us and we'll help you find out.
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Connect
Reach out to a Youth Career Advisor.
Meet & Make a Plan
Discuss your needs with us one-on-one and we'll see how we can best assist. Our Youth Career Advisors will work one-on-one with you to assess your skills and needs, and determine how best to help overcome your barriers.
Move Forward
Overcome barriers and explore your future with your Youth Career Advisor's mentorship and guidance. We can help you complete/continue your education, obtain and maintain employment, or get prepared for the workforce.
Michigan Works! and its partners provide year-round programs that combine employment and training activities with opportunities for youth to learn how to maintain positive relationships, find opportunities to give back to their community, and develop leadership qualities that will help them succeed no matter what career path they choose.
Our programs connect students, parents, and educators with information on high-demand careers and training programs with a focus on building awareness of short-term credentials, associate’s degrees, and apprenticeships where there is documented employer demand.
Our youth services are supported through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) .
Eligibility determined based on a review of barriers, such as literacy deficiency, school dropout, homeless, pregnant/parenting, offender, etc.
JMG helps students who face barriers to success stay in school, graduate, and prepare for their next step.
Students build leadership, financial literacy, problem-solving, career, and workplace skills through hands-on activities.
Jobs for Michigan's Graduates teaches leadership, financial literacy, problem solving, career development and interpersonal skills in a fun, interactive learning environment. Students earn credits toward graduation and possibly early college credit. JMG is designed to enhance, not replace, the standard school curriculum.
Additional Resources
Career Exploration & Training
Pathfinder Career Exploration - research in-demand careers, the skills required and calculate your return on investment
Career Explorer - When you access the Career Explorer tool through Pure Michigan Talent Connect you will be provided with local labor market and training information to help you identify training and employment recommendations.
MAT2 - With the MAT2 (Michigan Advanced Technician Training) Apprenticeship Program, you earn while you learn. The program provides a living-wage, a debt-free associate degree, and an industry-aligned education.
Job Corps - At Job Corps, students have access to room and board while they learn skills in specific training areas for up to three years. In addition to helping students complete their education, obtain career technical skills and gain employment, Job Corps also provides transitional support services, such as help finding employment, housing, child care, and transportation. Job Corps graduates either enter the workforce or an apprenticeship, go on to higher education, or join the military.
Jobs for America's Graduates and Jobs for Michigan's Graduates - Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates (JMG) helps young people find their path to education and employment success. Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates is the Michigan affiliate of the national Jobs for America’s Graduates network, one of the largest and most successful student-centered programs that help young people achieve their fullest potential.
Skill Assessment - identity your skills and learn how they can be applied to a job
Online Tools for Learning
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KHAN Academy - start learning about anything, online, for free; "work on skills you choose at your own pace"
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MeL - Search for books, articles and more on Michigan's eLibrary
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Michigan Education Portal - provides courses that lead to college credit. Information regarding finishing high school and/or earning your GED
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GED - Learn all about the GED in Michigan
Post-Secondary Education
FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Federal Student Aid - Steps to follow to help with expenses for higher education
MCAN - Michigan College Access Network - focused effort on increasing college readiness, participation, and completion in Michigan