Resources for youth employees
Congratulations on your summer job! Below are resources that can prepare you for your work experience and help you start planning for your future.
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Still have questions? Contact:
Youth Employment and Opportunity
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1483 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02120
Working safely during COVID-19
Depending on your job, you may be working on site. At a work site, your employer is required to follow certain safety guidelines to lower the risk of COVID-19. Be sure to know these guidelines.
Whether you work on site or at home, there are basic steps you can take to protect your health. Follow the latest guidance.
Workers have specific legal rights to guard their health and well-being. Knowing these rights is important so you can insist on the protections you are due:
Tech access
Tech accessMaking the most of your paycheck
Making money is one thing. Using it wisely is another. The good news is that there are several free resources that can set you on a path to financial success.
Meet with a financial coach who can help you figure out your financial goals and give you the guidance you need to reach them. Coaches can also help with job search skills, such as resume writing and interviewing. Must be 18 or older. Learn more about coaching and get started.
Credit BuildingYou may not realize it, but the choices you make today can affect your credit history. If you have good credit, it will be cheaper and easier to get a car, an apartment, or a home someday. Do your future self a favor and sign up today for a credit building workshop. You'll learn the basic rules of starting and building your credit. Find an upcoming credit building workshop.
A bank account can save you from the fees charged by check cashing stores, so that you get to keep more of your hard-earned money. Bank On Boston can help you find a bank account that is safe, affordable, and reliable.
Please note: If you are under 18, your bank account will likely have to be a joint account with a parent or guardian. This means that both you and the parent or guardian have full access to the account.
Tax PreparationIf you make over $12,200 a year in wages, you will probably need to file a tax return. As long as your earnings are less than $56,000, you can get your taxes done for free by the Boston Tax Help Coalition, which runs nearly 30 tax sites across the City.
Virtual learning
Want to learn another language? Try computer coding? Brush up on your math skills? Make the most of your time out of school with virtual learning programs, many of them free! Check out our list of virtual learning programs:
Virtual learning programsResources for well-being
We all have basic needs that must be met in order for us to thrive. If you or your family could use help in the areas below, there are resources available. If you can’t find the resource you need, please fill out the YOUth First intake form and a youth resource specialist will work with you directly.
Find free meal sites across the City.
HousingSeveral programs in the City specifically help young people who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Get in touch with one of these programs.
Looking for affordable housing in the City of Boston? Learn about your options.
Young people ages 12-25 can get an MBTA pass at a discounted rate. Learn more about T passes and apply.
Mental HealthWe have a mental health resource list where you can connect with reliable information about anxiety, depression, self-harm, and stress management.
Are you unsure if you’re in a healthy relationship? Get information and help.
Next steps for your future
You have many career opportunities open to you. Whatever your age, you should start thinking now about what path you might want to take to get there. If you could use help getting started, the City’s career development experts can meet with you to offer guidance. Sign up to meet with an expert.
Are you a Boston Public Schools high school student? If so, your school’s career specialist can help you find a school-year internship that will give you continued work experience. Contact your school’s career specialist.
The Department of Youth Engagement and Employment, which runs the SummerLink jobs program, also hires paid interns each summer to support its youth programs.
CollegeOnce you finish high school, you can attend any of six local colleges free of tuition and mandatory fees as long as you meet the requirements of the Tuition-Free Community College Plan. The plan also pays for some college expenses, such as books or transportation.
City Academy provides low- and middle-income Boston residents with free training to:
- become a registered Emergency Medical Technician, or
- earn a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) or Hoisting License
The program works with graduates to secure jobs with the City of Boston or a private employer. You must be 18 or older. Learn more and apply for City Academy.
Other Job Training ProgramsThe Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development (OWD) funds many free job training programs. These programs prepare participants for careers in areas such as hospitality, construction, healthcare, and human services. Visit the OWD website and click on "Job Training Programs" to see a list of these programs.
The MassHire Career Centers can help you with every part of finding a job, including:
- writing a resume
- interviewing
- searching job listings
- networking, and
- connecting with employers.
There are two of these career centers in Boston, MassHire Downtown Boston Career Center and Masshire Boston Career Center.
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Still have questions? Contact:
Youth Employment and Opportunity
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1483 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02120
