Are you experiencing homelessness, out of school, involved with DCF/DMH/DYS, or on probation? Come work in a paid 6-12 month job training program, learn skills, and receive support to advance your goals!
More Than Words is a nonprofit social enterprise that empowers young adults who are in the foster care system, court-involved, homeless, or out of school to take charge of their lives by taking charge of a business. MTW is a youth-led online and retail bookselling and clothing business that provides paid employment for young adults to prepare for meaningful careers. We are a nonprofit job training program where you’ll learn important job skills and get paid to develop and implement plans for your future including education, housing, and career plans. Youth work here for 6-12 months in our Core Social Enterprise Program and then graduate into the Career Services Program, where they are supported for an additional two years and beyond.
We might be a good fit for a young person if they are aged 16-24 and involved with:
At More Than Words you will have two jobs: a Business Job and a YOU Job. In the Business Job you will receive training to process and ship online book and clothing orders all over the world, manage a cash register and provide excellent customer service, plan and run events, and go with our staff to pick-up book and clothing donations in our trucks. As you gain more experience, you’ll learn to facilitate meetings, run shifts, lead your peers, and train new co-workers.
In your YOU Job, you will be paid to work on yourself. You will be supported in your education plan or to create an education plan, learn about life essentials like finding housing, keeping a budget, and opening a bank account. You will participate in community building activities and workshops about employment, education and self-efficacy.
Fill out an online application at https://mtwyouth.org/what-we-do/jobs-for-youth/ or fill out a paper application and email a PDF to jobs@mtwyouth.org or drop off at one of our locations!
Once you submit an application, a member of the admissions team will be in touch within 14 days. An initial virtual conversation or phone call will occur to learn more about you, how we can support you, readiness for the job training program and ensuring you are mission fit.
After speaking with you, we will speak with two adult members from your life to learn more about you, your background, and how they want to see you succeed.
After speaking with these people, you will be scheduled for two in person interviews at More Than Words with a Youth Development Manager. If you are under 18, you will be asked to complete a work permit and bring the work permit back before your start date with your additional paperwork.
While you are working at MTW, we’ll help you map a plan for your future. After you graduate More Than Words you’ll move into our Career Services Program, where you’ll continue to get support for two more years to continue your education and build a career.
Career Service Managers will help you pursue the right education path for you. This could include finishing high school, high school equivalency, getting a trade certification, or pursuing post-secondary education. Career Service Managers will also support you in finding your next job and help identify and pursue a career pathway. MTW will continue to support graduates after the initial two years and will always be a resource for young people.
Yes! Our Advocacy and Community Engagement (ACE) team is built to support these needs. During the hiring process, the admissions team highlights potential areas of need to be addressed throughout a young person’s time at More Than Words. The ACE team supports young adults with attending court dates, finding housing, and advocating to DCF. In addition, our young parents program supports young parents with any needs that might arise related to being a young parent at More Than Words including but not limited to childcare, housing and benefits.
You’ll start by getting paid $14.25/hr, and will have an opportunity to earn raises by getting promoted. Associates earn $15/hour, partners earn $16/hour, senior partners earn $17/hour.
Young adults work 15-30 hours per week. MTW is open 7 days a week and schedules are made weekly.
Any caring adult in a young person’s life can refer at youth to More Than Words. We get referrals from parents, foster parents, caseworkers, probation officers, guidance counselors, and more. Start on our Referral Page where you can download the referral form or fill it out online.
More Than Words is a provider of the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Mental Health, Department of Transitional Assistance and the Department of Youth Services to provide services to the young people you work with. Please see our Referral Page to learn more.
More Than Words only employs youth between the ages of 16 and 24.
Absolutely! Whether you’re a young person interested in a job or someone interested in referring a young adult, we’d love to have you for a visit and tour. Please contact us at jobs@MTWyouth.org to set up a visit or learn about upcoming open houses.
Please contact us at jobs@MTWyouth.org