Step Up Internships and Career Exploration

Kick-start your career with skills training, on-the-job experience, online career exploration and more!

 link to employer info

Student standing at table painting tiles

Step Up offers

lots of great paid

career opportunities,

part-time and full-time, in-person and virtual!

What is Step Up?

Step Up is for Minneapolis youth who are 14-21 years old. It helps you explore great careers, find paid summer internships, learn new job skills, and earn real money and academic credit.

Our application for summer 2023 is now closed, so please check back in December for our 2024 application. After you complete the application and are accepted to the program, you'll first complete work readiness training to learn new skills and help us to get to know your interests and strengths. Then you’ll do a paid summer internship (in person or online) or a paid online career exploration program. Throughout the summer you’ll also work with adult professionals for support and to learn what it takes to succeed.

Our Step Up application for summer 2023 is now closed. Please check back in December for our 2024 application.

Check out these great Step Up internships!

Step Up intern at Minneapolis Foundation

Watch our Step Up Video

Two students working with electrical equipment at a table

Migizi

Medical worker and intern wearing scrubs looking at a computer screen on the wall

M Health Fairview

Two men wearing hard hats standing on a street

CenterPoint Energy

Swedish Institute Interns

American Swedish Institute

Five women standing on the street together, smiling at the camera

Xcel Energy

Young man sitting at office table looking at charts

Metro Transit

Federal Reserve Intern

Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

Healthcare Intern

Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare

Metro Transit Intern

Metro Transit

STEP-UP intern at company

CenterPoint Energy

US Bank intern

U.S. Bank

Construction Intern

Minnesota Trades Academy

STEP-UP intern at Tunheim PR agency

Tunheim

Thrivent Financial Interns

Thrivent Financial

Farmstead Intern

City Kid Farm 

Radio Station Intern

KBEM FM - Jazz 88.5

Young man working on mechanical equipment

Graco

Why should I do Step Up?

Kickstart your career.

Power your future with career-oriented jobs and exploration opportunities available only to Step Up interns. Meet people who can connect you to future jobs in business, healthcare, the arts and many other fields.

Paid summer internships and online Career Exploration Program

Step Up helps you learn about about great new careers and the training and education you need to pursue them.

Success starts with Step Up.

Get your foot in the door, discover new careers and show people what you’re capable of. You'll learn how to develop your resume and build on your strengths.

Check out these great places to work.

Real jobs. Real work. Real money.

Explore careers with a fun, flexible and good-paying summer internships and online Career Exploration Program through Step Up. Each summer, Step Up participants collectively earn $3 million in wages.

Step Up is for you.

Step Up offers a variety of part-time and full-time opportunities, both in-person and remote!

Build your network.

Through Step Up, you'll connect with caring adult professionals who can help you get on the path to a great career. 

How does Step Up work?

1

Apply.

Our application is closed for summer 2023. Please check back in December for our 2024 application. 

2

Get trained.

Participate in Work Readiness Training and mock interviews to learn workplace and professional skills. 

3

Connect with your paid summer experience.

You’ll do an internship with a local company or organization OR you’ll explore careers and learn how to land your dream job through the Step Up online Career Exploration Program.

 

4

Launch your Step Up experience.

Step Up internships run nine weeks, beginning on June 20 and ending by August 18. The online Career Exploration Program runs in mid-summer.

 

5

Find more opportunities.

Participate in additional Step Up career events and opportunities that interest you. 

6

Still have questions?

Contact our team at StepUpInfo@achievetwincities.org . Our summer 2023 application is now closed, so check back in December for our 2024 application. 

Step Up intern

Who can participate in Step Up?

Step Up is open to Minneapolis residents between the ages of 14 and 21 (by June 1, 2023) who are eligible to work in the US and are not yet enrolled in college (PSEO is ok). You must have a home address in the city of Minneapolis.

ONE of the following must ALSO apply:

  • Meet family income guidelines
  • You are a student with a disability
  • You have an IEP or 504 plan
  • You are an English Language Learner
  • You are pregnant or parenting
  • You are experiencing homelessness or high mobility
  • You are involved in the foster care system
  • You have been involved in the justice system

Learn more about Step Up eligibility.

Our Step Up application for summer 2023 is now closed. Check back in December for our 2024 application. 

"Thank you so much for this Step Up experience. I gained so much knowledge and enjoyed the atmosphere where I worked this summer. My supervisor and co-workers have been so helpful with college and goal-setting tips. I genuinely appreciated the kindness of everyone I worked with."

Lauryn, Step Up intern at Fairview Health Services
Three students sitting together at a classroom table and laughing.

Find more

career support

at your Minneapolis

or Saint Paul high school

career and college readiness center.

 

Find your center