What are the requirements for an employer to participate?
Any Maine employer is eligible to participate. You must be ready and able to develop work opportunities suitable for young people/students and facilitate on the job training that meets learning goals and your business needs.

What does it cost me as an employer to participate?
There are no upfront costs, though there is a time commitment from employers. The Maine Career Exploration Program pays young people for up to 75 hours to work in your business. There is no wage, insurance, or liability cost to you!

Are there any jobs a young person cannot do in the workplace?
Yes, all jobs must comply with local, state, and federal laws. A more comprehensive list can of prohibited jobs can be found here.

Get Started!

How do I get started?
Get started by completing and submitting the Employer Onboarding Survey. Completing this survey will allow the MCEP to understand more about your work experience opportunity and once we receive your information, we will be in touch with next steps! Best practices and additional resources are found in the Employer Handbook. You can also connect with your local schools to see if they are interested in offering an Extended Learning Opportunity with your company. Alternatively, a young person could identify you as a potential host and then you'd fill out the onboarding survey and reach out to Manpower directly, and they would assist you with next steps. 

How do I find a young person to host?
You can find a young person in two different ways. 1.  Reach out directly to local schools, adult ed, colleges, etc., to see if they are interested in offering an Extended Learning Opportunity with your company. 2. If you already have a young person interested, you can fill out our Employer Onboarding Form and then contact Manpower (our payment partner) to begin their onboarding process.

What needs to be included in a young person’s work experience?
The MCEP’s Work Experience Opportunity: Best Practices & Toolkit in the Employer Handbook details what is included in the work experience. Please use this as a guide as you complete the Employer Onboarding Survey. 

Is there a mentorship element in this program?
Yes! We ask that you identify a program mentor within your organization. Remember this is an exploration program as the young person learns about Maine businesses, industries, and opportunities.

What if the job description changes during the work experience?
If anything changes during the work experience, please contact the Program Coordinator you are working with or Manpower to discuss.

My young person has an issue on the job (performance, scheduling, workplace injury, other). What do I do?
Please contact Manpower or your Program Coordinator to discuss.

Can I hire the young person directly at the conclusion of the work experience?
Absolutely! The Maine Career Exploration program’s mission is to connect young people in Maine to the many businesses and organizations, like yours, in an effort to grow our talent. When a business decides to hire a young person after their placement we call this a success story! Remember that if you are hiring a young person directly, you will need to conduct your regular onboarding paperwork as the young person will no longer be covered under the program’s insurance and wages.

What does it mean to be a Preferred Employer Partner with the Maine Career Exploration Program ?
This means that you are a Maine employer who has been onboarded and vetted by the Maine Career Exploration Program to host young people in work experiences. This partnership provides your business additional visibility to attract talent to your business. Please see more information here on how you can receive this credential!

I know other businesses that want to get involved. How can I share information with them?
Please share your experience with them and direct them to our employer page on our website where they will find the tools and contact information to get started. We appreciate the word of mouth!

I have additional questions! How can I get in touch with the MCEP?
Please contact us here! We look forward to hearing from you.