Youth Services at the DuPage County Workforce Development Division is the County’s lead agency for youth employment programs. We provide eligible young adults ages 17 to 24 with free career and employment services to help them start a career with a future.
Make your way here.
Get an internship.
Get funded to go to school.
Discover your passion.
Launch your career.
THE PROGRAM
Make Your Way (MyWAY)
You make your way. You select the path that is best for you.
GO TO SCHOOL
Funding for Training or School
Possible scholarship assistance
We pay up to $10,000 for you to get training or go to school, so you can get the skills you need to succeed.
This pathway focuses on career exploration. You'll get paid while you learn about career options, and you may go on tours to see what the work environments are actually like. Then, you can land a paid internship at a local company. Once the internship is complete, participants receive job placement and follow-up services.
Watch Now
See how the program helped these young adults
Two tracks, one outcome: Launching careers.
Watch Now
See how the program helped these young adults
In just weeks, Marquel obtained his Commercial Driver's License (CDL) at the College of DuPage and quickly gained employment.
Dyana, a young mother, earned an associate degree in Biological and Physical Science from College of DuPage. She went on to obtain her bachelor's from Northern Illinois University and is now applying for a master’s program!
Cameron attended courses at Symbol Training Institute to become a machinist. With three certifications under his belt, he secured a job at Paragon Automation in no time.
Janelle earned College of DuPage's Respiratory Therapist certificate program and now earns more than double her retail wage. Janelle now works on the front lines as a Respiratory Care Practitioner at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights.
You’ll work one-on-one with a career counselor, to explore career options and find out what jobs are right for you, and the best way for you to get on track to success.
Resume Creation and Job Interview Training
To get a good job you need a good resume and strong interview skills - we help you with both!
All paths point to employment.
Permanent Job Placement Assistance
Upon completion, whether you chose the individual training or paid work experience track, we provide you with the support and assistance you need to get a permanent job.
Services for Young Adults with Disabilities
We can help you navigate your future by providing any of the above services, plus additional individualized supportive services.
Peek Inside: At this location, we offer our customers a wide range of manufacturing capabilities, from CNC machining all the way to complete product assembly and fulfillment.
Fun fact about our company: a robot works right alongside our machinists to produce parts with quality and efficiency!
You would like to work at our company if
you are interested in the wide range of evolving technologies, processes and creativity that go into the world of modern manufacturing.
In the next year, we expect to hire CNC machinists
To get that job, you typically need a high school diploma and vocational or technical training in machining. We offer additional on-the-job training once a new machinist with the foundational skills and experience joins the team so they can continue to master their craft.
Our best machinists have: a passion about the art and science that goes into taking a raw piece of metal or plastic and forming it into a high-precision design.
CNC Machinists From this position, you could grow into
Master Machinist
Machining Business Manager
Owner of your own machining business
In the next year, we expect to hire Assembly Operators
To get that job, you typically need a high school diploma, a mechanical aptitude and a willingness to learn and closely follow processes and work instructions.
Our best assembly operators are eager learners and pay attention to details. They enjoy working on different types of mechanical work every day.
Assembly Operators From this position, you could grow into
lead operator
supervisor
manufacturing manager
FEATURED ORGANIZATION:
Company Name: The Jel Sert Company
DuPage Location: West Chicago, IL
Total number of employees in DuPage: 900 during peak season
Peek Inside
The Jel Sert Company is a leading manufacturer of food and beverage products. For the past 20 years, our team has been dedicated to establishing an exemplary manufacturing infrastructure that supports the needs of some of the world’s largest Consumer Packaged Goods and pharmaceutical companies.
Jel Sert is committed to providing employees with development opportunities as we are invested in their long term success and advancement within the organization. An individual development plan assists employees in career and personal development and allows employees to reach short and long term career goals.
You would like to work at our company because
We are committed to attracting the best talent and developing our employees to exceed their potential. Our employees take pride in their work and are always looking for ways to contribute their ideas, skills, experience, and passion. We reward and value creativity, professionalism, teamwork, honesty, and longevity.
In the next year, we expect to hire 2-3 technicians
To get this job, you typically need a Minimum of 3 years’ experience working with electrical, hydraulics, programming, and mechanical PLCs is required.
We pay $2.00 per hour shift differential for all time worked on 3rd shift. *Rate of pay depends on one’s experience, education, and skills.
Our best technicians have: Strong mechanical and electrical skills Additionally, someone that takes pride in their work, is honest, creative in their ideas, and works as a professional in a team environment.
All Technicians are sent to College of DuPage for classes. Technicians are scheduled for a series of six mechanical and six electrical classes. Classes are during work hours, so Technicians are paid for their time in class. We adjust their hours to spend half their shift on the floor and the balance in the class. Jel Sert pays for this training which includes classroom and lab work. All Technicians are involved in this training despite their experience level.
TECHNICIAN
From this position, you could grow into
