Learn & Earn
Frequently Asked Questions
We know that our participants and their families will often have questions about the many aspects of the Learn & Earn program, and we want to do our best to answer everything we can. If your question is not addressed below, please reach out to us and we’ll be happy to help.
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Corporate Learn & Earn Program FAQs
What are the program dates?
Application period- January 12; Program dates- June 10 to August 4
How much will I earn?
$12.00 per hour for as many as 30 hours per week
Who can apply?
Young adults between the ages of 18-24 who are permanent residents of Allegheny County or the City of Pittsburgh.
Is this an income-based program?
No, however, household information will be collected to provide workforce data for the program funders.
How do I apply?
Complete the corporate application that includes uploading a current copy of your resume. The link to the application is provided on our corporate program page.
What type of worksites is typically available?
Our work experiences are in the industries of finance, health care, government, education, non-profit, workforce development, and much more.
How are the interviews conducted?
All interviews will be conducted either virtually or in-person based in consideration for all Covid-19 safety precautions. If eligible you will be invited via email to schedule a 30-minute interview.
What do I need for my interview?
Our interviews are professional interviews, please come dressed in business or business casual attire and prepared with a current copy of your resume, and questions for the interviewer.
What are some resources to help me with my interview?
For help with resume creation resources: Resumegenius.com
General Learn & Earn Program FAQs
I’d like to apply for the general Learn & Earn Program, what do I do now?
The application opens on March 1. In the meantime, locate your eligibility documents and get your work permit.
What are the dates for the 2024 Learn & Earn program?
The orientation week is June 17 through June 21. The work period runs for 6 weeks, June 24 through Aug. 2.
How old do I need to be to participate in the program?
All youth working in the general Learn & Earn program must be between the ages of 14 and 21 at the start of the program. If you are older than 21, visit the Corporate Internship page.
What other eligibility requirements are there?
Besides the age requirement, all Learn & Earn participants must reside within Allegheny County and/or the City of Pittsburgh. Proof of address is required as a part of the application process (please visit our How to Apply page for further information). Students under 18 must have a work permit. Male applicants 18 years and older must apply for Selective Service.
What is the pay rate for Learn & Earn work? How many hours can I work this summer?
All eligible participants who accept a position for the summer will be paid at a rate of $9.00 per hour. Over the course of the 6-week program, youth can work up to 120 hours, approximately 20 hours per week. This means that an individual who completes all possible hours is eligible to earn up to $1,188. Please note: This amount is pre-tax.
How will I be paid? How often?
Every participant is placed with a Provider (this is your employer). Every Provider handles pay in a different way. During orientation week, Providers will review the paycheck schedule and how you will receive your paycheck (this might be direct deposit, a check, or prepaid card). Any questions about your pay schedule, how you are getting paid, or if you lose a paycheck, should go to your Provider (employer).
How does the Learn & Earn program work with individuals who require specific accommodations or accessibility services?
The Learn & Earn program works with our community partners to provide reasonable accommodations for youth who require them. If you or a youth you are helping might need a specific placement site or type of position (such as avoiding certain types of work) we ask that you email us at summer@partner4work.org so that we can do our best to arrange something that works well. We also ask that any youth that might need specific assistance, accommodations, or services also communicate this to the organization they are placed with so that the summer experience can be an overall positive and fulfilling one.
If a person is employed through Learn & Earn (general or corporate), will his/her income affect the household eligibility for public assistance programs?
According to the most recent SNAP and TANF Cash Assistance program manuals released by the PA Department of Human Services, if the participant is a dependent under the age of 18, income from Learn and Earn is excluded from Cash Assistance and SNAP income requirements for the household. If the participant is over 18 or a high school dropout and he/she is the head of a household, then Learn & Earn income is included. Learn & Earn applicants and their guardians should contact their public assistance program case manager to receive an official determination on whether Learn & Earn income will affect household public benefits.
Misc. Application FAQs
How do I start the application process?
Please visit our 'How to Apply' page for all application details. This page covers the following information: required documents, how to upload files, work permit information, eligibility guidelines, etc.
If I am submitting a pay stub/ statement as my proof of income, how many pay stubs/ statements do I need to submit?
You must submit one pay stub/ statement for each individual within the household who makes an income. It is not necessary to submit multiple paystubs/statements for each individual. The pay stub/ statement you submit must be dated within the past 6 months and include a year-to-date amount.
What happens after I submit my application?
All submitted applications will be reviewed. Not every applicant is guaranteed a job placement. If you are offered a job, a Provider (employer) will contact you directly.
Placement Process
How does the matching process work?
The Learn & Earn team places youth based on multiple criteria: location, job interests, and age. Additionally, youth are able to both request to be placed with an organization and to be requested by an organization. We do our best to honor all placement requests, although there are times that, due to space or organization location, we are not able to place a youth in a requested location.
How are youth placed in specific jobs?
Once a youth is matched with their Provider (employer) the Provider will work with the participant on their specific job placement. Any questions about a specific job placement should be directed to the Provider (employer.)
What if I want to work at a specific worksite?
We cannot guarantee employment to any applicant nor a job placement at a specific worksite. If an applicant and worksite wish to be matched, the worksite must notify the employer (Provider) who they are partnered with by April 6. The Learn & Earn staff will do its best to honor this request, but cannot guarantee this placement.
After the Summer
What happens when the program is over?
Once the 6-week work period is over there are many opportunities to look into across the Pittsburgh region. Almost all our partner organizations engage in various types of year-round programming, some with paid work experiences and some without. Click here to learn more about Partner4Work year-round young adult programs.