One of the many non-profit youth programs outside of SHC, Enterprise for High School Students (EHSS) offers students a chance to develop skills and experience needed for the work force. From writing resumes to going through mock interviews through their Pathways Program, EHSS strives to stimulate students’ success. The Pathways Program begins students’ involvement with Enterprise and is the first thing one must do in order to gain access to their job bank and other programs. Along with an abundance of great opportunities, EHSS creates a sense of community among all participants by making sure to get to know its members personally and professionally. This shapes students into becoming confident individuals who take initiative to gain communication and job skills. Programs such as the ones offered at EHSS give students opportunities to gain job readiness skills and an advantage against those who aren’t as prepared.

To become a part of EHSS, students must first attend a mandatory informational meeting and submit an application before being accepted into the Pathways Program. This is the starting point before they can access any of the opportunities Enterprise has to offer. Students can attend one of two cycles: one in the fall (September- November) or one in the summer (May-July). After finishing a cycle, students graduate from the program and gain full membership access. Although it is already too late to apply for the fall cycle, the summer cycle will be available soon, which is perfect for students with busy schedules during the school year.

Once they are a full member of Enterprise, students will have access to their job bank, which includes various internship and job opportunities. Within the job bank, different employers partnered with EHSS are ready to employ students. Some are willing to hire on the spot and others require a formal interview. There are two types of jobs Enterprise offers: residential and commercial jobs. Residential jobs usually require some sort of housework like cleaning, organizing, computer help, or gardening. Most of the employers hiring in residential areas will often omit the interview process and just accept a resume and cover letter. Some will bypass both of those and hire right away making it extremely easy for students to find work. All commercial jobs, on the other hand,  require a formal interview process. This makes them more selective than residential hires. Commercial jobs usually entail office work, typically in the Financial District. Enterprise also categorizes its job opportunities from “spot” to “ongoing”. Spot jobs usually file under residential jobs due to the one-time tasks to be done, while ongoing jobs resemble temporary jobs that have no set end date.

Along with yearlong spot and ongoing jobs, Enterprise offers summer internships in Summer Gardening, Career Exploration Program (CEP), and Junior Caddie Program. Although these internships are set up through Enterprise, they may require a second interview process facilitated by the separate organizations. Students work the majority of summer and receive a stipend payment at the end. The gardening internship is held at various locations around the city, such as Golden Gate Park, in which student learn planting skills. CEP, a career-oriented internship, explores students’ interests in a specific field and offers them an opportunity to work at a related company. Students do not need experience to participate in the Junior Caddie Program, which involves caddying for club golf players and occasionally accompanying them to their games. Teachers instruct their students throughout this program requiring no previous knowledge of the game. Since, these internships are highly competitive, applying for more than one is suggested.

Enterprise gives students access to great work experience usually unavailable to teenagers. Make sure to attend their Pathways Program’s informational meetings for the summer cycle in order to become a part of Enterprise. Join today, and become a part of the EHSS community!

For more information, visit: http://www.ehss.org/pathways.html