Fellowship Recruitment
frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Questions
Answer
I haven’t heard back about my application / When can I expect to hear a response? / Can I get an update on my application?
We appreciate your interest in the fellowship,
Who should I address my cover letter to?
You can address your cover letter to the Work First Recruitment Team.
The Purpose of the Fellowship
Realizing that that too many policymakers have limited experience actually working with the very individuals impacted by the policies they create, the Work First Foundation decided to create a program to address the disconnect between public policy and low-income individuals, specifically public assistance recipients. The Work First Fellowship is designed to give young professionals who are interested in becoming leaders in their fields, informing and creating policy, or simply just serving individuals from marginalized and disadvantaged backgrounds with a tangible year-long experience working directly with underserved populations.
By working full-time in offices that administer employment and workforce development programs, Work First Fellows serve low-income individuals on public assistance, gain a deeper understanding of how policies are implemented, and see firsthand how policies impact the people they are meant to help.
What do Work First Fellows do?
Teach Employment Skills
Fellows who work as trainers provide skill-building training for individuals living on public assistance to help them find employment and achieve self-sufficiency. They gain experience by providing classroom instruction leading classes on a variety of workforce development topics, including Computer Literacy, English as a Second Language, Soft Skills, and Financial Literacy.
The Work First Foundation encourages fellows to be leaders in the classroom by designing and implementing new curricula. In the past, Fellows have developed curricula for classes on HTML/CSS, self-efficacy, and nutrition. This on-the-ground work helps fellows begin to form relevant and substantive research questions.
Casework Management
Fellows who are placed in casework positions provide crucial support to adults living on public assistance during the job search process. They gain experience engaging with clients one-on-one in order to help them develop a plan to gain long-term and sustainable employment.
Fellows provide support to clients through job search activities, resume and cover letter reviews, mock interviews, and connecting clients with the resources they need to take care of their basic needs.
Research Public Policy
Fellows are responsible for conducting a year-long research project and are free to explore whichever aspect of workforce development most interests them, as long the findings benefit the clients they serve. Work First feels strongly about this condition, as it ensures that fellows will have a direct impact on urban poverty. In recognition of the unique exposure to urban poverty that the Fellowship offers, Work First asks Fellows to share their knowledge with policy experts and workforce development professionals by presenting their findings at the Work First Research Symposium at the conclusion of their service year.
Program Overview
A year-long commitment typically from July to July, exact dates vary.
Placements in New York, NY, San Francisco, CA, Los Angeles, CA, Milwaukee, WI, Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD, and Memphis, TN.
Work full-time in America Works offices. Possible placements include New York, NY, San Francisco, CA, Los Angeles, CA, Milwaukee, WI, Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD, and Memphis, TN.
Opportunities to attend policy discussions and professional development events
Competitive salary and optional benefits, with a $5,000 award upon completion of individual research projects.
Read the full job description here.
Professional Development
Work First provides Fellows with the opportunity to take advantage of professional development events. Fellows have attended events hosted by New York City Employment and Training Coalition, Manhattan Institute, New York University, Network After Work, City University of New York, Concordia Institute, and NationSwell, among other think tanks, universities, and institutes.
Alumni Network
Graduated fellows are now lawyers, policy experts, social workers, academics and business leaders. Fellowship Alums are connected to incoming fellows to share experiences and guide new fellows in the next chapters of their lives.
The application for the 2020-2021 Work First Fellowship is now open!