CareerLaunch

CareerLaunch is a career readiness program from Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) for Club members ages 13 to 18. It helps teens figure out their skills and interests, explore possible careers, make informed choices about their education and get ready to enter the workforce. Club staff or volunteers lead the program with a facilitator guide and work with teens one-on-one or in small groups. Participants build job-search skills and general job readiness. The program also gives teens online tools for exploring careers, along with college and job search information and interactive activities. Mentoring, job shadowing and training opportunities are part of the experience. CareerLaunch is one of BGCA's workforce readiness programs, which also include college readiness and financial literacy offerings. Clubs operate at more than 5,400 locations across the country, and each Club chooses its own mix of national and local programs. Membership costs vary from Club to Club.

Open to teens ages 13 to 18 who are members of a local Boys & Girls Club that offers CareerLaunch. There is no national application or deadline; teens take part by joining a local Boys & Girls Club, and students should contact a nearby Club to confirm it offers CareerLaunch.