San Mateo County teens can sign up for a free career workshop on Tuesday, Oct. 20. The Soft Skills Workshop, run by the county's Jobs for Youth program, starts at 4 p.m. on Zoom and is open to anyone ages 14 to 21 who lives in or attends school in San Mateo County.
Attending the workshop does more than build job skills. Participants automatically become Jobs for Youth members, according to the program's website, making them eligible for scholarships, internships, a members-only job board and one-on-one coaching subject to each program's eligibility requirements.
The program's Al Teglia Scholarship awards $2,000 each to 20 young people per year, according to the Jobs for Youth scholarship page. Applicants must be program members ages 16 to 21, live in San Mateo County, be at least juniors in high school and carry a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA. The program selects scholars based on financial need and personal circumstances.
Members ages 18 to 21 who live in San Mateo County can also apply for the Summer Internship, which places young adults in county departments for eight to 10 weeks. Positions are available in fields including human resources, IT and accounting, with placements in San Mateo, Redwood City, Daly City and other locations across the county. Applications for 2026 are closed. The program says applications for summer 2027 will open early next year.
The program traces its roots to 1982, when Daly City Mayor Al Teglia proposed giving every young person in the county workforce training, according to the county's program page. Originally part of the Human Services Agency, Jobs for Youth moved to the county Human Resources Department in 2017.
Registration is free. Participants need an email address and a cell phone number to sign up. The program accepts a parent or guardian's contact information for younger participants who don't have their own. Participants can register for the Oct. 20 workshop online.
Questions can be directed to [email protected] or (650) 599-7215.
