This article was written by Kathleen Hustad
Calling all high school juniors in the community interested in stepping into the world of corporate careers and technology; a nonprofit wants to partner with you to explore these pathways and help you find your fit.
Genesys Works Twin Cities, a beacon of career opportunity for youth, invites Northside high school juniors to apply for its year-long internship program. This nonprofit organization is not just about internships; it provides skills training, meaningful work experiences and impactful relationships.
“We recruit high school juniors in the spring of their junior year. We do that by visiting schools and community organizations—there’s an application on our website at genesysworks.org,” said Genesys Works Twin Cities Executive Director Allison Barmann. “If a young person is interested in exploring a corporate career or a career in technology, they should absolutely apply to our program.”
The application process is designed to be simple and straightforward.
“[The application process] is not painful, I promise,” said Barmann. “In fact, we offer support through online and in-person application sessions, where we will sit there with the applicants and help them apply and answer any questions live.”
Selected candidates will embark on a transformative unpaid summer training program. Here, participants will learn and acquire professional and tech skills, which are essential skills that set a foundation for career success.
“Over the years, every time someone told me I could not achieve something, I made an intentional effort to remember where I came from and how fortunate I am for opportunities like Genesys Works, that have helped propel my dreams forward,” says alum Jolindah Missoh. “Participating in Genesys Works opened my eyes to new possibilities, and I’m so excited to be a young Black woman in the tech field!”
Participants are also supported in the interview process. “We do a lot of interview prep; we give you the questions beforehand,” said Barmann. “We organize preparation sessions where you can actually practice the interview questions with a friend.”
Once participants complete the training and earn an internship, they generally work about 20 hours a week after they complete their high school courses in the morning.
Genesys Works believes in the power of ‘Learn and Earn.’
“A high school student in that internship gets paid $16 an hour,” said Barmann. “If you work 20 hours a week for the whole year, that’s $16,000 an intern can make during their senior year of high school. That’s a big deal. That is income they can rely on and take home and put to whatever use they see fit, whether that’s paying for college, investing in transportation and a car, or saving for some other future opportunity.”
Each internship is unique. There are even some virtual internships. Genesys Works tries to match people with onsite and hybrid internships that are close to their home or school.
Alum Faiza Mah shared, “For me, the Genesys Works program provided that opportunity by giving me the chance to connect and work for multiple Fortune 500 companies. Although my career has just started, I’ve had the opportunity to explore and work in companies, including Medtronic, Optum, United Healthcare and CHS.”
Genesys Works also understands the unique challenges participants may face. For example, they provide transportation access. “We are committed to removing a variety of barriers,” said Barmann. “We are all about economic opportunity and equity.”
“The biggest takeaway [from Genesys Works] was that I had the opportunity to experience working in a corporate environment for the first time at the age of 17,” said alum Richard Gavilan-Blaz, “It opened my world to a new sense of optimism and opportunity that I didn’t think about before”
Applications open in January, awaiting ambitious and driven Northside high school juniors who are on track to graduate. The opportunity to transform dreams into reality awaits.
Why join Genysis Works?
Gain professional and business technology skills.
- Receive coaching on professional skills such as communication, teamwork and troubleshooting.
- Learn technical skills like project management, Microsoft Suite, Excel certification and data integrity.
Earn up to $16,000 through a year-long internship.
- Get paid at a top company like Medtronic, Target or UnitedHealth Group.
- Build your professional network through job shadowing, informational interviews and relationship-building.
Receive post-secondary planning support.
- Receive help realizing your post-secondary pathway, such as college, military and the workforce.
- Partner with Genesys Works for help and support in completing college admissions, financial aid and scholarships.
How do I apply?
Applications open in January. Visit genesysworks.org/for-students/application-process to complete the brief application.
How do I learn more?
Applicants: genesysworks.org
Employers: genesysworks.org/for-companies
Visit genesysworks.org/for-schools