"YES WORKS!” The YES Program is a pipeline that connects young talented student professionals to employers in the community.

We will ensure any student seeking career readiness and skill development has access to the support needed to set them up for success. We create valuable job training and interviewing opportunities for students.

• Support 

• Knowledge

• Influence

• Listening

• Leadership 

• Success

In order to achieve our mission of creating a YES for every student, we offer two levels of student participation:

• LEVEL 1 - YES ACADEMY

  • Our introductory level of participation

  • Designed for our new students or those with less job experience

  • Attendance required at all major program events through the year

  • Once Completed you will be YES CERTIFIED!!!!

• LEVEL 2 - YES Advanced

  • Great for those already that completed YES Academy, Level 1

  • Allows for support where it's needed most, more Independent mindset

  • Get help with online applications, building resumes, interview prep

  • Attendance is required at program events (4 out of 5 Events)

  • Once Completed you will be YES ADVANCED CERTIFIED!!!!

1. YES - SIGN UP! (Fall Semester)
Fill out the Application here: https://forms.gle/ZSf7Xb6LZmKb7BhC6
When the application is completed you will receive an invitation to the lunch workshops.

2. YES LUNCH AND LEARN WORKSHOPS (Fall and Spring Semester)
YES Lunch and Learn Workshops provide training and hands-on learning for important career readiness skills such as communication, teamwork, time management, problem solving, and leadership. Students also learn how to create a resume and how to gain confidence with interviews and networking. This component is required for Level 1  and Level 2. If you do not attend the workshops you will be dropped from the program. Being Prepared for the job is critical! 

3. JOB INTERVIEW FAIR (April)
The Job Interview Fair is an annual event where YES participants are able to meet and interview with potential summer employers. Over 25 Employers will attend this event at the school Library and conduct hundreds of Interviews! Students are encouraged to apply for multiple positions. The more experience interviewing the better!  

This event is required for Level 1 and Level 2. The only exception is if you have already secured a job.

4. Job Placement (Spring Semester)
After the Job Interview Fair, Employers will begin to make job offers to the students. The Student’s responsibility is to respond in a timely/professional fashion to either accept the or decline the position. YES students may receive more than one offer and can accept only one position through the job fair. This way the jobs can be assigned and the next steps for on boarding can begin. YES Students may work more than one job if they have a second job outside of the YES Program.

5. YES Summer Kick Off Training (Summer)
GET PAID $150!!! In Early June, YES Summer Kick Off  is our paid training session for students participating in the YES Program. The focus will center on topics that are specific to YES-sponsored job placements such as meeting your summer WORKSITE COORDINATOR, tracking your hours worked and completing new hire paperwork etc. Students will experience dynamic presentations from local professionals and attend breakout sessions in smaller personalized groups.

YES-Sponsored Summer Job (Summer)
Participants will begin their summer job for six weeks during June and July. They will have the opportunity to work up to 105 hours during that time period and will be assigned a Worksite Coordinator through the program. Worksite Coordinators will provide ongoing support and communication to ensure each participant's summer job placement is successful and meaningful.

If you are interested in joining the team as a Summer 2026 Worksite Coordinator, please check back at the start of the new year when our job posting goes live. A link will be shared when the posting is available!

These partners help make our program possible.

YES Program participants have opportunities to interview at a variety of worksites including:

Are you an employer ready to say YES to hiring a Unit 4 Student? Click HERE to register for the Program:

Why should you partner with Y.E.S.?

Youth Employment Services offers our employer sites a unique opportunity to support the youth of our community. If you are an employer looking for reasons to get involved, here are the Top 10 Reasons to Say "Yes" to YES:

1. Help grow the future workforce.

2. Provide a mentoring experience that benefits both the student and the adult.

3. Educate youth employees about your specific career field.

4. Gain positive public awareness for your business by partnering with both the City of Champaign and Champaign Unit 4 Schools.

5. Infuse your workplace with the energy and fresh ideas of your youth employee(s).

6. Contribute to the individual growth and development of your community's youth.

7. Add extra hands to ongoing projects.

8. Foster interest and passion for your career field with the next generation of employees.

9. Help shape a more successful and productive future for our community.

10. Assist in preparing your student employee(s) to meet their continuing education/career path goals.