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| Main Office 515 W. Seneca St. Ithaca, NY 14850 Telephone: 607.275.0122 Fax: 607.275.0312 Youth Outreach 330 W. State St. Ithaca, NY 14850 Phone: 607.272.8162 Fax: 607.272.8952 |
Youth Outreach Program - Mentors
It's about sharing your expertise, your inspiration,
and your workplace.
We all have community in common. . .
our community is our classroom.
What do you teach?
Apprentices get job training in work that interests them and become valuable assets to our community.
Being a Learning Web mentor is a win - win:
Host a motivated apprentice at your work place:
You become a mentor by volunteering your time, and sharing your work world with a young person who is your apprentice. Youth apprentices gain hands-on training and valuable job experience at your workplace. Apprenticeships usually last from 1-3 months with apprentices working from 10-20 hours per week. The apprenticeship schedule is arranged to meet the needs of your business.
Apprentices receive a cash stipend from The Learning Web for the hours that they complete at their apprenticeship.
An apprenticeship helps our participants get job training and experience that will help them find a job later on. Youth work at a business with a mentor, their supervisor, who teaches them all the skills needed to work at the job. The apprentice placed at your business has expressed an interest in your field of work. Apprentices are paid by The Learning Web for the work they do as an apprentice. Sometimes a mentor will have a job opening and like the apprentice's work so much that the young person is hired following the apprenticeship. This is totally up to the mentor and is not required. Mentors can be a great reference when youth are applying for other jobs.
An apprenticeship is never full time work. Usually, an apprentice starts out working 10 hours per week and, as they get more experience, their hours may increase to a maximum of 20 hours per week. Youth are paid hourly at the current minimum wage. Mentors verify work hours by signing the apprentice's weekly time sheet.
How long does the apprenticeship last?
An apprenticeship generally lasts from 1 month to 3 months, though some can last even longer depending on the nature of the apprenticeship match.
What can I expect from the Learning Web staff?
We try to arrange an apprenticeship that works out for both mentor and apprentice. Learning Web staff orient and support mentors on an individual basis, and monitor sites regularly. Mentors receive individual coaching and support as the need arises or if requested by the mentor. There are no mandatory group meetings. The staff will make contact in person at the worksite or via the phone or email at times that are mutually convenient. We ask that you contact the Learning Web staff to discuss any issues regarding the apprenticeship. The staff person will quickly address and resolve the issue. If that isn't possible, the apprenticeship is ended in a way that allows all parties to feel respected. In some cases a youth decides that they are no longer interested in the field of work and the apprenticeship ends; we feel it is just as valuable for a youth to find out what they don't like as it is to find out what they do like. The learning experience that results from problems at the apprenticeship can be positive, life long lessons for a young person.
Does my apprentice get to do real work at the apprenticeship?
Yes, an apprenticeship isn't just sitting and watching. You will teach skills so that your apprentice can help with real work. Your apprentice is expected to follow all the same rules and expectations that your regular employees follow.
We want the experience to build skills and provide feedback to the young person regarding their work performance. After a trial period, your Learning Web staff person will meet with you and your apprentice to create a Learning Agreement that spells out the goals and expectations for the apprenticeship. There is also an intitial work evaluation of your apprentice done during the Learning Agreement meeting, and a final work evaluation of your apprentice done at the end of the apprenticeship.
What about insurance?
The Learning Web maintains a private group insurance policy through which each apprentice has some coverage against physical injuries, at no cost to the mentor. We require the apprentice to sign a form releasing the mentor and The Learning Web from liability in the event of an accident. We also talk about safety precautions with apprentices and mentors and expect mentors to incorporate safety training as appropriate to the field.
How do I sign up?
Give us a call at 272-8162 or email us at info@learningweb.org . A Learning Web staff person will contact you to set up a time to meet and talk about mentoring. We ask mentors to complete a brief Mentor Application and to submit 3 personal references.
You become a mentor by volunteering your time, and sharing your work world with a young person who is your apprentice. Youth apprentices gain hands-on training and valuable job experience at your workplace. Apprenticeships usually last from 1-3 months with apprentices working from 10-20 hours per week. The apprenticeship schedule is arranged to meet the needs of your business.
Giving a little time makes a difference that lasts a lifetime.
Our services to you are free.Apprentices receive a cash stipend from The Learning Web for the hours that they complete at their apprenticeship.
|
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an apprenticeship?An apprenticeship helps our participants get job training and experience that will help them find a job later on. Youth work at a business with a mentor, their supervisor, who teaches them all the skills needed to work at the job. The apprentice placed at your business has expressed an interest in your field of work. Apprentices are paid by The Learning Web for the work they do as an apprentice. Sometimes a mentor will have a job opening and like the apprentice's work so much that the young person is hired following the apprenticeship. This is totally up to the mentor and is not required. Mentors can be a great reference when youth are applying for other jobs.
An apprenticeship is never full time work. Usually, an apprentice starts out working 10 hours per week and, as they get more experience, their hours may increase to a maximum of 20 hours per week. Youth are paid hourly at the current minimum wage. Mentors verify work hours by signing the apprentice's weekly time sheet.
How long does the apprenticeship last?
An apprenticeship generally lasts from 1 month to 3 months, though some can last even longer depending on the nature of the apprenticeship match.
What can I expect from the Learning Web staff?
We try to arrange an apprenticeship that works out for both mentor and apprentice. Learning Web staff orient and support mentors on an individual basis, and monitor sites regularly. Mentors receive individual coaching and support as the need arises or if requested by the mentor. There are no mandatory group meetings. The staff will make contact in person at the worksite or via the phone or email at times that are mutually convenient. We ask that you contact the Learning Web staff to discuss any issues regarding the apprenticeship. The staff person will quickly address and resolve the issue. If that isn't possible, the apprenticeship is ended in a way that allows all parties to feel respected. In some cases a youth decides that they are no longer interested in the field of work and the apprenticeship ends; we feel it is just as valuable for a youth to find out what they don't like as it is to find out what they do like. The learning experience that results from problems at the apprenticeship can be positive, life long lessons for a young person.
Does my apprentice get to do real work at the apprenticeship?
Yes, an apprenticeship isn't just sitting and watching. You will teach skills so that your apprentice can help with real work. Your apprentice is expected to follow all the same rules and expectations that your regular employees follow.
We want the experience to build skills and provide feedback to the young person regarding their work performance. After a trial period, your Learning Web staff person will meet with you and your apprentice to create a Learning Agreement that spells out the goals and expectations for the apprenticeship. There is also an intitial work evaluation of your apprentice done during the Learning Agreement meeting, and a final work evaluation of your apprentice done at the end of the apprenticeship.
What about insurance?
The Learning Web maintains a private group insurance policy through which each apprentice has some coverage against physical injuries, at no cost to the mentor. We require the apprentice to sign a form releasing the mentor and The Learning Web from liability in the event of an accident. We also talk about safety precautions with apprentices and mentors and expect mentors to incorporate safety training as appropriate to the field.
How do I sign up?
Give us a call at 272-8162 or email us at info@learningweb.org . A Learning Web staff person will contact you to set up a time to meet and talk about mentoring. We ask mentors to complete a brief Mentor Application and to submit 3 personal references.
Tips on building a successful apprenticeship
- Get to know your Learning Web staff person so that you feel comfortable contacting them when necessary.
- Introduce your apprentice to other employees and communicate what role each person plays. It's also helpful to let your apprentice know about some of the "informal culture" of the workplace so that they understand and feel included.
- Hold high expectations- apprentices should be expected to adhere to the same basic norms that paid employees follow. The difference is that the apprentice may need coaching about the norms and some prompting to follow them.
- Let your apprentice know what you expect---set clear, explicity stated goals and expectations.
- Attendance- what to do if they must be late or absent.
- Appropriate dress, including any safety equipment they may need.
- Use of phones/cell phones while at the apprenticeship site.
And any other specific guidelines of your workplace. - Create a role and duties for your apprentice- tasks will most likely change and grow as the apprentice learns the ropes.
- Give your apprentice clear instructions for each task, especially unfamiliar ones.
- Observe your apprentice while they work, and give constructive feedback about any mistakes. Review and retrain them regularly if needed.
- Encourage your apprentice to let you know if there's a problem or if directions are unclear. Make sure your apprentice feels free to speak up.
- Feel free to contact your Learning Web staff person with ANY questions or concerns. It is usually much more effective to deal with an issue when it first pops up. We welcome hearing from you!
- Have Fun!!
Click here to download forms such as Time Sheets, Mentor Applications or Program Evaluations.
Learning Web Partners & Sponsors