Young Professionals Program Frequently Asked Questions

This is a program that is supported by Oakland County Michigan Works! It is designed to engage young professionals within Oakland County between 16-24 years old for a work-based learning opportunity, whether that be an internship or paid work experience.

A paid work experience typically gives participants idea of what to expect being employed in a certain industry. It can be useful for gaining a general overview of an industry. Paid work experiences tend to happen over a shorter period of time.

Internships are usually a fixed-term work placement, often connected to their educational endeavors. Internships are often longer than a work experience placement and give participants a more in-depth insight into a specific industry or job.

As the employer, you will work with an Oakland County Business Services Representative and Youth Coordinator to determine the number of hours and prevailing wage for your available position(s). Young, professional candidates will be made available for an interview. Once a candidate has been identified, he or she will complete the necessary paperwork and other requirements to become an employee of our organization. Our Youth Coordinator will work with your organization to go over the payroll process and bi-weekly timesheet collection that is required as part of the program.

Youth employees come with a variety of skill sets and experiences. For some, this may be their first job, while others may have years of experience. We encourage employers to be adaptable in terms of their employee’s work, offering both support and more challenging work if needed. If there are specific skills or age restrictions that are required for your position(s), be sure to include them in the job description.