Just for the summer, Santa Barbara County Youth Workforce is holding weekly orientations to introduce its program to young people from 17 to 21 years old.
Coupled with that orientation is an introduction to the Youth Employment Opportunity Program, which helps young adults from 15 to 25 years old. Both programs are designed to help with the hairy process of finding a job.
Michelle Lynch from the workforce program said she runs a more in-depth program that requires a larger time commitment than the employment program. Lynch said the orientations are mandatory so young adults can realize what a time commitment the program really is. But she added that what they get out of the program is a résumé, on-the-job training, and occupational certificates.
Those who choose to enroll in the program can receive occupational training certificates in food handling, customer service, Microsoft, and CPR. They also get 160 hours of paid work experience.
“I want to set them up for success,” Lynch said.
While the employment program requires less of a time commitment, it can help provide job and training referrals and help with résumé building and interviewing skills.
Together the orientations take about 20 minutes and run Wednesdays at 3 p.m. at the Workforce Resource Center, 1410 S. Broadway, until school starts. Once school begins, Lynch said the orientations move to the second Wednesday of every month.
