One Student, 75 Paid Hours: A Small-Business Guide to Hosting Maine’s Future Workforce

Running a small business in Maine means wearing a lot of hats. What if you could add a set of hands this season—at no cost—and open a young Mainer’s eyes to a career right here at home? That’s exactly what the Maine Career Exploration Program offers. We’ll cover up to 75 hours of paid work experience for a 16- to 24-year-old, and you’ll gain fresh energy, new ideas and the chance to shape tomorrow’s workforce. Think of our program as a free (for you) paid internship with your company.

Why host a young person?

1. Try-before-you-hire pipeline. Seventy-five hours is enough to spot a good match and future potential. Most employers invite students back as part-timers or full-timers!
2. Feel good investing in your hometown. Keeping talent in Maine strengthens our local economy. And hosting a young person will make you feel good – you are an important part of their career journey!

How to Find the Right Student

1. Tap into Local Schools' Resources

A good first place to start is your local high school, adult education program or college. Many of Maine’s high schools have a dedicated Extended Learning Opportunity (ELO) Coordinator who works with students to find a local business that can offer an inside look into an industry that interests them. Colleges and Adult Ed Programs also have staff in workforce navigator-type roles who can do the same.

2. Reach out to our community partners.
If schools can’t find a match, call one of these nonprofit hubs. They specialize in youth workforce development in Maine.

• Learning Works Youth Build  (207-775-0105)
• Eastern Maine Dev Corporation (207-942-6389)
• Midcoast Youth Center (207-443-8750)
• Tree Street Youth (207-513-6866)
• Aroostook County Action Program (207-764-3721) 

3. Tap your own network.
Still searching? Post on your Facebook page or ask employees, customers and vendors. It is very likely you can find an interested young person within your network!

4. Promote Your Business

Remember that young people may have preconceived notions or not know anything about your job, so take this as an opportunity to “pitch” the next generation on the benefits of your work and what you love about it.

Snap a “day in the life” reel, spotlight a long-time employee, or share why you love the work. Focus on:

• Skills they’ll learn: from reading blueprints to writing professional emails.
• Growth stories: “Ella started here bagging hardware—today she manages our online store.”
• Support: Let them know you’ll mentor, answer questions and treat mistakes as learning moments.

5. Set Expectations (for both of you!)

You only have 75 hours of paid work to host a young person through the program – be thoughtful in how you plan to work with them. Consider what you want to show them, what projects they can assist with or departments they could see. Don’t fill their time with mindless busywork or menial tasks that don’t provide a real look into what a career with you looks like. If you let the participant know what you expect from them and what they, in return, can expect from you, both of you will have a more meaningful experience!

Ready to get started? Fill out our onboarding form and we’ll contact you right away!

Give 75 hours. Gain a future employee. Keep Maine strong.