Connecting young people aged 18-24 with AFSCME represented careers can strengthen their future and the future of our union. Older youth are looking towards career paths with more urgency, whether they are in a technical training program, enrolled in a college, working towards a GED, or are disconnected from education and employment opportunities (known as Opportunity Youth). So, offer information and paths to employment in your outreach.

Approaches

Hiring events and career fairs aimed at young adults are a great way to discuss public service careers with older youth and introduce them to our union. Hiring and career exploration events are often hosted by colleges, community-based organizations, or local governments, who invite employers to host a booth and meet young people. Career fairs are usually loosely structured, with young people exploring information at exhibit tables and booths. These tend to focus on career exploration, with employers answering questions and offering information on how to apply to open positions or training programs offered by their organization. At fairs designated as hiring events, organizations may conduct interviews and accept applications on the spot. 

Whatever the focus, the most successful events will also be engaging. To foster engagement, make your table or booth interactive and ask young people about their interests, experiences and goals. Create excitement at your booth by utilizing visuals. If possible, bring tools, models, or work samples to the event. Photos are a great substitute if supplies are not logistically possible. You can also display a QR code connecting to your union’s website, employer’s job openings, social media apps, or even an online quiz you create around the information you are sharing. Offer union giveaways as prizes for answering a certain number of questions correctly. 

To maximize the impact of your event, find ways to keep in touch with the people you connected with. Print our sample contact sheet or create a digital one to collect participant information.

Mentoring programs offer an engaging way to introduce young people to our union and a career in public service. Mentoring describes an ongoing relationship where mentors (union members or staff) provide guidance to mentees (young people). Mentors can be paired with individual youth or small cohorts of young people to share their public service experience, answer career questions, and discuss youth interests and goals. Successful mentor programs pair trusting, consistent relationships with strategic career exploration. 

Mentoring programs offer a way to generate youth interest in the public sector while also reinforcing our union within the community, increasing our union’s visibility, support, and power. There are many ways to structure mentorship programs to align with your capacity, industry needs and youth interests. You can also partner with an existing mentorship program in your community (see the Partners tab for suggestions). Pairing mentorship programs with job shadowing or field trips creates even more opportunities for career exposure.   

Job shadowing programs give young people the opportunity to observe a “day in the work life” of their host. In one-on-one pairings, a shadow learns about their host’s career through direct observation, opportunities to ask questions and hands-on experiences when appropriate. These programs offer career exposure that can be influential in future career decision-making, especially when the shadow experiences are engaging

Consider creating a union job-shadow program where young people can shadow AFSCME members or staff to learn more about public service and collective power. Be sure to plan activities for hosts and their shadows and create a program structure that aligns with our union’s goals. If a workplace you represent already has a job shadowing program, consider how our union can support this program and improve the experience for AFSCME members and the young people shadowing them. 

Download our guidance on Planning a Job Shadowing Day to see a sample agenda and get ideas for your own event. 

Internships provide hands-on career experiences for young people, giving them the opportunity to learn about careers in public service while developing workplace skills for their future. Internship programs often range from a few weeks to several months, offering work-based learning opportunities over the summer or during the academic year. Some students may earn credit toward their degree for their work in an internship.   

Consider hosting an intern or supporting an internship program at a workplace you represent. Interns develop skills and learn about an industry, organization or occupation while working on individual tasks, assignments or projects that support the workplace. Through their work and learning, interns often provide fresh perspectives, contributing innovative ideas that can strengthen our public services and our union. Engaging internships can also encourage young people to pursue a career in public service, creating a youth talent pool that aids in recruiting and filling vacancies when they arise. Remember, an intern’s primary role is to learn, so it is important that our union and union members shield them from inappropriately being used to address staffing shortages or impede upon permanent bargaining position roles.  

(Note: Like all work, internships should be paid whenever possible and be designed to fulfill any applicable course credit requirements for students. Although unpaid internships are not uncommon, unpaid programs become inaccessible to many young people. Paid programs increase access to early career opportunities and promote economic mobility among a more diverse youth talent pool, ultimately supporting diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion goals.) 

Is your union currently facing a challenge you’re stuck on resolving? Are our members confronting a workplace problem that needs solving? Consider collaborating with young people to find solutions! Partnering with an educator to create a project based on an obstacle or challenge provides opportunities for students to engage with real-world situations. You may be surprised by the innovative ideas young people bring to a variety of issues, large and small. Classes studying subjects that are relevant to our union are often the best candidates for group projects.  

Group projects give students the opportunity to apply their knowledge and develop critical-thinking, problem-solving and teamwork skills while making a real-world impact. These projects also allow students to learn more about a career in public service and about AFSCME. Projects can be structured to fit the nature of the issue, the class size and the skill set of students. They may be tackled by small groups or the entire class. Timelines can also vary from a single lesson plan to a semester-long project. Be sure to collaborate with the teacher or program lead on what will work best for everyone involved.  

Fellowships are competitive, funded opportunities, often for college students or college graduates, offering paths to pursue professional development, education or research goals. These objectives can be related to a wide variety of interests and fields, including public service. Public service fellows are often placed in government agencies or nonprofit organizations where they bring new ideas and can expand the capacity and reach of their host organization. Fellowships are beneficial for fellows and the organizations that host them. 

Fellowships benefit host organizations as they attract diverse talent and expand recruitment possibilities. Fellowship placements can last anywhere from a few months to a few years, with some fellows choosing to continue their career at their host organization if the option arises. If you have a project outside of the scope of our union’s typical functions, consider sponsoring a fellow who can focus on this work. If a fellowship program exists within a workplace we represent, consider how to support and improve the program. Connect with fellows early on in their fellowship to maximize talent retention.  

On-the-job training (OJT) is a way to give older youth more in-depth, work-based learning. While it is possible to provide this training outside of apprenticeship, it is recommended that OJT be part of a formal, structured program such as a registered apprenticeship or youth apprenticeship. All registered apprenticeship programs require a significant amount of OJT in addition to supportive instruction; youth apprenticeship requirements vary by region but also contain a mix of OJT and supportive instruction. This article explains the variations of youth apprenticeship models in the United States.  

OJT provides registered apprentices with a formal way to build the practical skills needed to become proficient in a specific occupation. Union input on OJT components and the role of members as professional mentors or journeypersons can improve the quality and experience for both apprentices and members. Connecting with apprentices during OJT establishes our union’s relationship with workers at the start of their careers, so think of apprenticeship and OJT as an opportunity to grow union membership.  

To learn more about registered apprenticeships, contact AFSCME’s Job Training and Development Center at research@afscme.org

Partners

After establishing youth outreach and engagement efforts, young people can be extremely useful partners, too. Youth who are already engaged with your union can provide insights on how to improve your strategies and structures. This is especially true for young people who have participated in programs like job shadowing or internships. Recognizing the utility of youth feedback is an essential step in youth engagement. Young people can also connect their peers with your union and public service career information. This partnership can be an especially useful tool for connecting with opportunity youth, or young people aged 16-24 who are disconnected from school and work.  

Note: If you engage youth as partners in outreach, be sure to acknowledge their contributions and provide support throughout their involvement. Recognition could be a stipend, official title, or gift card depending on the level of youth involvement.  

Partnering with employers expands the possibilities for career exploration. Employer partnership may be necessary to schedule worksite activities from field trips to hiring events. Although we may not always agree, collaborating with employers on youth outreach goals can be mutually beneficial and improve or strengthen our relationships. Let youth outreach and engagement be an area of common ground 

College

Colleges have clubs and organizations representing a wide variety of student interests. Partnering with student groups can help you connect with students based on their interests. Collaborate with student groups to plan opportunities like being a guest speaker at a meeting or assisting with informational or mock interviews. Although there are many clubs focusing on career exploration and preparation, partnering with other types of student interest groups can help you enhance the number and diversity of your connections. Students from cultural organizations to service groups to honors societies are all planning their future career paths, so consider what interests and skills might be relevant to the fields your union represents and connect with those student groups. For example, talk to students advocating for housing justice about careers at public housing authorities or discuss the skills relevant for an IT career with students in a coding club. Strengthen your connections by linking student interests and skills to public service careers.  

Specific departments or schools within colleges and universities can help you connect young people with relevant, in-demand public sector careers. For example, partnering with a college psychology department or school of social work can help you connect students with AFSCME-represented careers in behavioral health. Departments and schools might plan informational or hiring events such as career fairs or help publicize information about internship or fellowship opportunities. Our union can also provide college and university programs with relevant insights into careers and industries their students may pursue, including the knowledge, skills and abilities they will need to be successful. Your partnership can help them prepare their graduates to thrive in public service careers in the future. 

Tip: Collaborating with departments or schools of labor studies can also help you recruit for union staff positions. 

Unions have represented faculty, staff and even students on many college campuses for decades (including AFSCME), so these unions can make excellent partners in connecting with young people, especially those who are invested in empowering workers. Young people involved in campus organizing can be strong candidates for internship or fellowship opportunities at our union. Campus unions can also connect you with college departments and student organizations or help you prepare for a hiring event or career day at their college.

Apprenticeship

From independent local programs to chapters of nationwide associations, community-based organizations offer excellent ways to connect with youth. Partnering with these organizations allows you to reach youth outside of the classroom, which is essential for connecting with opportunity youth, or older youth who are disconnected from school and/or work. Successful activities can range from career days to hiring events. Programs designed to focus on mentorship or to be safe spaces for youth of diverse backgrounds can make great partners. Some organizations may already incorporate career exploration into their programming. Even programs not specifically youth-oriented may be able to connect you with young people in your community, so be sure to talk with your union’s current community partners. Once you have established a solid relationship with a community-based organization, consider partnering with multiple organizations to expand your reach. 

Workforce development boards work with employers, unions, educational institutions and other community partners to align workforce skills with industry needs. These boards create resources and support economic development initiatives such as apprenticeship and apprenticeship readiness programs. Collaborating with workforce boards provides opportunities to…  

      • connect with educators, community-based organizations and other workforce stakeholders; 
      • gain support for your outreach & engagement activities or collaborate on an existing economic development initiative;  
      • participate in their workshops or hiring events. 

Tip: Workforce development boards often include mandatory labor union representation, so find out who sits on your local or state workforce board and consider advocating for AFSCME to have a seat at the table. 

The U.S. Departments of Labor and Education offer many resources and tools that can support AFSCME’s youth outreach and engagement efforts. For resources tailored to your needs and region, check out federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration or state-level departments of education and labor. Partnering with these agencies can connect you with ways to support your initiatives as well as networks of stakeholders working to increase youth participation and preparation for the workforce. You can also collaborate with state-level departments to provide labor insights on resource development.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs help students develop technical and academic skills relevant to a variety of careers. Youth in high school CTE programs access career exploration and preparation often while earning college credits or engaging in work-based learning as part of their secondary school studies. Partnering with CTE programs allows young people to explore public service career opportunities, so research the CTE programs offered in your area to see whether any match the fields your union represents. Consider the knowledge, skills and abilities needed in those fields and collaborate with educators to incorporate them into the CTE curriculum. You can even help CTE programs offer career exploration or preparation through one of the many activities in the approaches tab.

Tip: Teachers’ Unions and School Administrators can help you identify CTE programs that align with the fields your union represents. 

Download our Partnership Planning Tools for guidance on identifying, assessing and establishing partnerships. Use tools like our Potential Partner Assessment Form, Establishing Partnerships Checklist, and Partnership Outreach Templates to get started.

Tips

  • Create excitement! Be enthusiastic about the information you’re sharing and get creative with how you share it. 
  • Be flexible! Plan backup activities and be prepared to make tweaks to your presentation or activities based on time constraints and youth interest.  
  • Ask questions! Create opportunities for youth to discuss their interests and goals.  
  • Focus on youth, not the adults in the room. No matter who asks a question, address your answers to the entire group, not one person. 
  • Use clear and concise language. Avoid or define industry jargon. 
  • Be prepared for student questions. Leave time for students to ask questions and plan responses for work-related and personal inquiries such as…  
      • How much money do you make? Discuss entry-level salaries and opportunities for growth. Bring a contract and explain wage scales.  
      • How much vacation time do you have? Again, refer to contracts and explain how seniority helps determine vacation time in unionized workplaces. 
      • Are you married? Do you have children? Decide what information you want to share with youth and how you will respond to these questions. 
  • Options! Options! Options! Empower and engage youth by offering choices whenever possible. 
      • Allowing youth to choose between activities ranging from writing to art to public speaking will allow youth to showcase their strengths through activities they find the most interesting! 
  • Use technology to your advantage! Make technology a tool instead of a distraction by planning activities such as online quizzes or competitions that utilize phones, tablets, or computers. 
      • Note: Plan ways to include youth without technology. It is likely at least one person forgot their device or didn’t charge it. 
  • Be authentic. Balance enthusiasm with authenticity – young people might disengage if you seem disingenuous. 
  • Create opportunities for peer-to-peer connection! Plan small group activities or ask students to “pair and share.” Peer-to-peer connection can sustain engagement and contribute to youth sense of belonging. 
  • Link the program to the workplace. Connect skills and knowledge developed in the program to public service careers. Work with staff to determine what skills students have been developing in their program. 
  • Utilize social media! Make posts, stories, reels and livestreams on apps like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). 
        • If your youth outreach and engagement partners are on social media, make a joint post to expand your reach.
  • Discuss opportunities for growth. Share paths for advancement within the careers you’re discussing. 
  • Don’t make assumptions about the past experiences or future trajectories of opportunity youth. Encourage them to pursue paths they might have considered impossible. 
  • Connect youth with supportive services. Opportunity youth tend to face more barriers than young people who are employed or in school. Programs and services can help youth meet their needs and allow them to pursue educational or employment opportunities.

Contact Us

We are here for you! Please contact us if you have a question, concern, or request regarding workforce development.
research@afscme.org