Too many young people enter college without an understanding of how higher education can further their career goals (or even what their career goals are). Apprenticeship helps shape ideas about career while building transferrable skills.

Even in times of low unemployment, many jobs go unfilled because employers cannot find people with the right skillset because too often, students graduate from high school and college without the advanced-skills needed to be successful in today’s 21st-century workforce.

In Switzerland, more than 70 percent of students take an apprenticeship in fields such as financial services, healthcare and information technology. CareerWise is adapting that model to implement modern youth apprenticeships in the United States.

CareerWise offers a two to three-year apprenticeship designed by businesses and offered in partnership with schools, taking students out of the classroom and putting them in the workplace in meaningful, paid positions for 16 – 24 hours a week while earning high-school and college credit.

Apprentices complete the program having gained meaningful work experience, an industry certification, debt-free college credit and an established professional network. And, they have options: convert the apprenticeship into a high-demand position in their industry, or continue their higher education…or both!

Industry helped develop the competencies to which apprentices are trained, and are in complete control of the competitive hiring process. The CareerWise model provides positive ROI on apprentice production and can help develop staff through low-risk management opportunities.

The innovative approach provides an environment for learners to apply their classroom studies to a real-world environment with stakes. Apprenticeship has been shown to contribute to positive outcomes for schools by increasing student engagement and attendance, graduation rates and credential and college-credit attainment.