General Questions about Summer Jobs at Y.O.U.
Who can participate in the Y.O.U. Summer Youth Employment Program?
You must be between the ages of 14–19 and still attending high school at the time of applying.
14 year-olds must be rising 9th graders.
You must be 14 before June 10th.
You must be a resident of Cuyahoga County.
A parent/guardian will be required to meet program eligibility guidelines from one of our various funding sources before you can participate.
If you are 14 or 15, you must provide a Work Permit from your school.
If you are 18 or 19, you must provide your current school year registration or current report card.
If you are 18 or 19 and a male, you must have registered for Selective Serivce.
How long is the Summer Jobs application process?
Participants who are selected to have eligibility determination and invited to an Intake will hear from Y.O.U. in April or May. If you do not hear by mid-May, you were not selected.
Eligibility Determination Intake Appointments run from the end of April to end of May.
Only parent/guardian must attend the Eligibility Determination/Intake Appointment.
Intakes are 90 minutes long.
Orientations will begin in early June.
Only youth participants must attend Orientation.
Orientation sessions are 4 hours long.
Work will generally begin the third week of June, unless otherwise noted on employment plans given out at Orientation.
What if I am 13 now and will be turning 14 before the summer experience starts?
If you will be turning 14 before June 10, you can still apply for SYEP.
If you turn 14 on or after June 10, you are not eligible for SYEP this year.
When does the program begin and how long will it last?
Work sessions for the Y.O.U. Summer Youth Employment Program are generally 6 weeks and will start the third week of June and run through the end of July/beginning of August.
There are some exceptions that are noted at Orientation or before.
How many and what kinds of jobs are there?
The number of jobs depends upon available funding and on the employer partners who have registered to be worksites.
Y.O.U. works with hundreds of employers and worksites throughout the County each summer to host young people.
The most common summer jobs are within the career clusters of hospitality & tourism such as custodial, food service, and events or human services with positions like junior camp counselor, recreation aid and nonprofit support.
Most worksites are with non-profit organizations, cities, schools, and retail businesses in The Greater Cleveland area.
Our worksites require basic entry-level skills. Examples of duties are clerical, light cleaning, painting, gardening, computer input, filing, and answering telephones.
To be considered for any job, you still must apply and complete the eligibility determination process.
However, registering does not guarantee you a job. There will be many more registrants than there are jobs.
How much does it pay?
The rate of pay is $13.50 per hour and will have opportunity to work between 20 and 25 hours per week.
Do I get paid for holidays?
No. We ask our employer partner worksites not to schedule youth participants on Holidays.
Youth will only be paid for the hours actually worked.
Will there be a background check or a drug test?
Some work assignments may require one or both. Y.O.U. or the employer will cover the cost.
You will know whether or not this is needed at Orientation or before.
How will I know whether or not I have a job?
You are not officially hired by Y.O.U. until you report to your worksite on the first day of work.
You will know you are eligible for a job with Y.O.U. at the end of the Intake Appointment that a parent/guardian attends. If you determined eligible for funding at that appointment, we will work to find a job assignment for you.
If your parent/guardian is not invited to or does not attend this appointment by the deadline, you will not have a job.
Applicants are selected to have a parent/guardian attend an eligibility determination Intake appointment will hear from Y.O.U. between April and May about the scheduled date of that appointment.
A parent/guardian must attend this appointment and complete the paperwork in order for the youth participant to be scheduled for an orientation.
You will find out your actual job assignment (name, location, general job duties, etc.) at Orientation.
If you do not attend Orientation by the final day, you will not have a job.
If you are required to turn in a Work Permit (14/15 year olds) or Selective Service verification (18/19 year old males) but do not turn it in at Orientation, you will not have a job.
Each youth must successfully complete each of the following steps to be considered for the Summer Youth Employment Program:
Register online at https://www.youcle.org/syep
Meet the age and school requirements and live in Cuyahoga County
Parent/Guaridan completes an Intake Appointment to see if your household is eligible for available funding;
A parent/guardian must attend the scheduled eligibility appointment. Youth do not need to attend;
Parent/guardian must provide and have approved all supporting documentation required by our funders during the application process
Check out the Documents FAQs for more info.
Your household must be found eligible for an available funding source.
If you do not meet the income requirements there are only a certain number of additional spots remaining.
Youth must attend a scheduled Orientation session in June. Parent/guardian do not need to attend;
Present all supporting documentation for employment and tax paperwork
If you do not bring documentation to complete I-9 Employment Verification you will be rescheduled.
If under age 16 (by June 10th), must present a Work Permit
If 18 or 19 and a male, must present Selective Service verification
Check out the Documents FAQs for more info.
Receive Job Assignment
Until you receive and sign an Employment Plan from Y.O.U. that details your job assignment, you are not hired by Y.O.U.
Report to 1st Day of Work
If you do not report to work on your first day and have not properly notified your site supervisor and your Job Coach, you are not hired by Y.O.U.
IT IS ONLY UPON THE COMPLETION OF THESE STEPS THAT YOU ARE FULLY ACCEPTED INTO THE Y.O.U. SUMMER JOBS PROGRAM AND CONSIDERED TO BE HIRED.
Is there a waiting list for jobs?
Yes. If there are more eligible youth than the number of available jobs or funding, your name may go on a waiting list.
As more jobs and/or funding become available, eligible waiting list youth will be randomly selected based on either the requirements of additional funding or on proximity to new worksites.
Do I still have to complete orientation if I am on the waiting list?
Yes. The availability of additional jobs and/or funding often happens quickly. To ensure that you are ready for work at a moment’s notice, you must complete your scheduled orientation.
How can I get more information?
Look through more Frequently Asked Questions.
Visit www.youcle.org for updates.
Email SummerJobsProgram@youcle.org with questions.
If you have questions regarding our Summer Youth Employment Program or need assistance with registration, please contact the Call Center at 216-776-3900. Hours are Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM