Resources for teens looking for a job or a career.
Programs for Teens
These agencies will either help you to find a job or to explore different career options for the future.
Americorps – Ohio
(800) 942-6446
For young adults 17 and older. You will spend 10 months to one year serving community-based organizations in Ohio by helping in education, public safety, human services and the environment. May receive money towards college.
City Year – Cleveland
(216) 574-2677
Offers young adults ages 17-24 in Cleveland the chance to spend 10 months doing community service and receive scholarships. Must have a high school diploma or GED.
Cuyahoga Community College
(800) 954-8742
Offers programs for high school students to take college courses, as well as refresher courses for them to be ready for college.
Educational Opportunity Center (EOC)
(216) 987-6320
Free program offered by Cuyahoga Community College on goal setting, advising and other assistance to adults interested in college, vocational education, and GED preparation.
Employment Connection
Hard-Hatted Women
(216) 861-6500
Helps women and girls enter trade and technical careers. A summer career exploration camp called Rosie’s Girls is provided for girls in grades six through eight. They will learn leadership skills and apply basic skills in carpentry and other technical trades.
Inroads
(216) 623-1010
Provides college students with programs that offer skills and work experience necessary for success in business and/or technological careers. Focuses on African-Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans.
Peace Corps
(800) 424-8580
Volunteer opportunities throughout the world for young college grads and others with professional skills and work experience.
University Circle, Inc.
(216) 791-3900
The Future Connections program provides opportunities for summer study/internship experiences for Cleveland merit and honor roll students in their junior year of high school.
Upward Bound Program
Baldwin Wallace College (440) 826-2208
Case Western Reserve University (216) 368-3750
Cleveland State University (216) 687-9233
Cuyahoga Community College (216) 987-4097
Prepares potential first-generation college students for success in college. Must meet income eligibility.
Urban League of Greater Cleveland
(216) 622-0999
Provides spring tours of historically black colleges/universities for high school students. Fixed fee.
Youth Employment Program (YEP)
Support to At Risk Teens (START) at Youth One-Stop Center
(216) 426-8469
An introduction to employment for youth ages 18-21. They offer basic education, job readiness training, self-sufficiency skills and job placement.
Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU)
(216) 566-5445
Serves at-risk youth ages 14-19 in Cuyahoga County. Has summer job placement options for teens as well as tutoring to help them with their classes.
WIRE-Net
(216) 588-1440
WIRE-Net’s youth programs work with youth from 8th to 12th grade in the Cleveland schools and also older youth ages 17-21. Programs promote career awareness in manufacturing with resources, support, and soft skills training.
Career Information
Do you know what type of work you want to do? There are hundreds of careers to pick from. When making your decision, you should take into account your interests, your skills, and your values. Some online resources have assessment tests that will help you figure out what you want to do, as well as profiles of different occupations with descriptions of jobs, employment outlook, and salaries.
Choose one of the resources below or use the Road Map to College at Cuyahogalibrary.org
Online Resources
Learning Express Library
A database with interactive online practice tests for dozens of academic and licensing tests, including SAT, ACT, ASVAB, Nursing Entrance Exams, and civil service.
OCIS (Ohio Career Information System)
A database that includes profiles of hundreds of careers with assessment tests to help users discover what type of career they may want to pursue.
America’s Career Infonet
A comprehensive resource on occupational information and salaries, including videos.
Occupational Outlook Handbook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics produces this classic source with hundreds of career profiles.
Career Project
Look at dozens of different jobs through interviews with people who are in the profession.
My Plan
Covers career profiles, college majors, assessment testing, salaries, and more. Find 500 short videos on careers.
Today’s Military
Information on the job training and careers that the United States Marine Corps, Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard have to offer.
Job Training
Different occupations require different types of training. Education pays off in higher salaries and less chance of unemployment. Some jobs require only on-the-job training, but most jobs require classes beyond high school.
Vocational schools will prepare you for semi-professional or technical jobs.
Community colleges offer two-year degrees, as well as other job training.
Colleges and universities offer 4-year degrees, master’s degrees and doctorates for professional occupations.
Check out the Greater Cleveland Education Directory for listings of higher education opportunities in Northeast Ohio area.
OCIS (Ohio Career Information System)
Database on the library’s website that lists hundreds of colleges across the United States and vocational schools in the state of Ohio.
Vocational Training
Cleveland Job Corps
(216) 795-8700
Cuyahoga Community College
Easter Campus: (216) 987-2000
Metro Campus: (216) 987-4000
Western Campus: (216) 987-5000
Cuyahoga Valley Career Center
(440) 746-8228
Lakeland Community College
(440) 525-7000
Lorain Community College
1-800-995-5222/(440) 366-4076
Polaris Career Center
(440) 891-7600
Vocational Guidance Services
(216) 431-7800
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships are training programs for trade and craft professions. The course of study usually includes paid on-the-job training from skilled laborers as well as classroom instruction. They cover such essential occupations as bricklayers, construction workers, electricians, plumbers, roofers, sheet metal workers, and painters.
Bureau of Apprenticeship & Training
(440) 244-7906
Hard Hatted Women
(216) 861-6500
Ohio State Apprenticeship Council
(614) 644-0370
UCIP-ASAP (Union Construction Industry Partnership-Apprentice Skills Achievement Program)
(216) 432-7037
Workforce and Economic Development Division (WEDD) (Division of Cuyahoga Community College)
(216) 987-3053