Students who expect to pursue careers after graduation are offered many opportunities to prepare for the future, by:
- Participating in seminars, internships, job shadowing, and field trips.
- Meeting regularly with a Career Development Manager, who exposes students to job opportunities, helps them create a job search plan and research available jobs, acts as a liaison between students and employers, and teaches students work readiness skills like resume writing and interviewing techniques.
- Preparing career goals using COIN Career Software.
- Connecting with potential employers in industries like retail, recreation, landscaping, carpentry, administrative, hospitality, health care, food service, government service, and fiber optic installation.
- Meeting visiting employers who come to IYI to observe students’ skills.
- Getting help from outside partners and resources like the Mercer County One-Stop Career Center and the Workforce Investment Board
- Connecting with Mercer County Vo-Tech, the local AFL-CIO, the City of Trenton, Trenton School District, the New Jersey Juvenile Justice Commission, and the Mercer County One-Stop/WIB for labor market information, career counseling, training and job referrals.
As a first career step, IYI students can participate in New Jersey’s Apprenticeship Program through a pre-apprenticeship Construction Professionals Training Program, which reinforces construction basics, work readiness, basic technology, and workplace safety. It also includes ACT prep, financial aid seminars, driver’s education, and courses at Mercer County Community College.
For students seeking higher education degrees, IYI:
- Develops individual student profiles from grades, results of the Test of Adult Basic Education, High School Proficiency Assessment, SAT, and other academic indicators.
- Offers AmeriCorps positions, where students earn valuable scholarships.
- Offers benefits from YouthBuild USA’s National Schools Initiative.
- Partners with Mercer County Community College on its summer Educational Talent Search, where IYI students can get help completing its entrance exam, application, and the FAFSA (the government form for scholarships. The college’s Recruiter/Counselor of Programs for Academic Services and Success offers follow-up services and help to students in transition.
- Partners with the Rutgers University Education Opportunity Fund, which provides students with financial assistance, tutoring, academic advice, internships, and career counseling, as well as a free, comprehensive summer program to sharpen students’ academic and study skills.
Even before they graduate, the future alumni of IYI get support in developing a post-graduation individual plan. Then, after graduation, additional supports are available. They can:
- Connect with the Career Development Manager and Alumni Tracker to gauge their progress.
- Benefit from IYI check-ins with employers for one year after graduation.
- Participate in faith-based mentoring through the Youth Empowerment Program.
- Use evening referral services.
Alumni with special needs are eligible for services from the New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, paid for by the state, including employment and job coaching, psychological testing, and vocational opportunities based on an Individual Educational Plan and academic ability.