TeenWork Program
At KUB, one way we serve our community's growth is by providing training and support for tomorrow's workforce. In 1995, KUB and Austin East Magnet High School partnered to start the TeenWork program. The program assists high school juniors in learning the necessary skills to function in the work environment. TeenWork teaches students how to obtain employment, learn employer expectations, work as a team, gain on-the-job skills, and acquire the confidence necessary to succeed.
To be eligible to participate in TeenWork, students must complete a TeenWork interest survey, earn a 2.5 or higher GPA, be nominated by a teacher or principal, be available to attend sessions, show enthusiasm for learning, and successfully complete the interview process. Students who meet those requirements are invited to a TeenWork reception, which occurs each year in January, and students and parents learn more about the program and KUB.
From January to May, students attend 13 training sessions where they learn about resume writing, interviewing, professional dress, workplace etiquette and communication, workplace safety, money management, and other business skills. Students who complete the program are given the opportunity to interview for a summer job at KUB. See our program outline below for more information.
KUB employees administer the program and coordinate all the classroom training for the TeenWork program. KUB Human Resources employees lead the classroom sessions on resume writing. Team leaders and other employees throughout KUB conduct one-on-one mock interviews to assess each student's interviewing skills. At the conclusion of the mock interviews, TeenWork students are given feedback on how they performed and tips on how they can improve their interviewing skills. What students learn during this process is put to the test when they are interviewed by various KUB managers for summer positions with the company. Students are also shown the correct way to fill out a KUB application.
In addition to developing students' interview and resume writing skills, KUB employees help guide students in choosing a career by conducting career assessments. Career assessments help determine a student's strengths and professional goals. KUB employees also spend time job shadowing with TeenWork students. Job shadowing gives TeenWork students the opportunity to learn about the variety of careers available at KUB, such as accounting and finance, administrative services, communications, computers, engineering, human resources, marketing and research, and underground and overhead construction.
Included in the job shadowing phase is giving students individual jobs or projects to complete. A KUB employee monitors each student's progress on a job or project. Examples of jobs or projects that are assigned to TeenWork students include
- Entering information into a database for our Engineering Department.
- Entering employment application information into KUB's Human Resources Information System (HRIS) for our Human Resources Department.
- Developing an informational TeenWork video for the Outreach Team, a section of our Planning and Communications Department.
These tasks are just a few carried out during KUB's day-to-day operations. In addition to giving students a glimpse into real world duties, job shadowing helps students interested in employment at KUB determine which department they would like to work in.
In 1999, a community service component was added to the program. KUB employees work with students to show them the importance of supporting their community. As a class, students must plan and carry out a community service project. The 2004 TeenWork class spent a day assisting teachers at the Fair Garden Community Development Center, a kindergarten preparatory school for children age three to five. The TeenWork students spent the day organizing rooms, preparing bulletin boards, and cleaning classrooms. In addition, the 2004 class helped the Ronald McDonald House by cleaning rooms, sorting clothes donated to the house, and painting the interior of the house.
In addition to providing students with business skills, KUB employees involved in TeenWork encourage students to pursue their career interests. The program challenges students to consider every opportunity available, such as attending college or entering a professional or technical career. Here is how KUB's TeenWork program has affected the lives of some of its graduates:
- "The TeenWork program inspired me to work towards a career in the business world. Before the program I didn't know which aspect of business I wanted to pursue. Working in KUB's Accounting Department was a deciding factor." -Rakisha Myers, former student employee in KUB's Accounting Department and now a full-time KUB employee after graduating from UT.
- "TeenWork provided me with the technology, information, inspiration, and business skills to serve and meet many demands in my undergraduate studies. My understanding of the business environment, employer expectations, and characteristics needed to become a successful person were also enhanced." -Ventonio Foster, former System Operations employee at KUB.
- "The experience I gained in TeenWork helped me focus on my career goals after graduating from high school. I believe the training I received gave me an advantage over recent high school graduates in the job market." -Salina Douglass, Underground Construction employee at KUB.
Another component of TeenWork is volunteering in the community. KUB employees know the value of community service. KUB Cares, an employee organization, helps focus KUB's community efforts by providing information on volunteer opportunities and promoting employee involvement. The efforts of this organization are evident by the hundreds of hours KUB employees volunteer each year to help a variety of organizations such as:
- Adopt-a-Highway
- American Heart Association
- Multiple Sclerosis Society Walk
- Dogwood Arts Festival
At KUB, we are committed not only to our customers, our workforce, and our community but also to the future of area youth, a commitment that is exemplified by our TeenWork program.
