Step Up!

Gain Confidence. Build Skills. Get Experience.

If you’re 18–30 years old, live in Montreal, and want to take the next step in your career — you’re in the right place.

About STEP UP!

Step Up! is Your chance to gain confidence and build real-world employment and workplace skills to help you succeed!   

Is STEP UP! right for you?

Join us if you:

  • Are having trouble finding a job
  • Want to build your personal and professional skills
  • Need help figuring out your career direction
  • Want hands-on experience in the job market

If that sounds like you, Step Up! could be exactly what you need.

What you’ll get

A paid, 16-week hybrid program that combines training and work experience to help you launch your career.

You’ll receive:

  • 8 weeks of paid employability training to boost your confidence and job-readiness skills
  • 8 weeks of paid work placement with a local Montreal employer
  • One-on-one guidance and ongoing support to help you reach your goals
  • Workshops include CV writing, interview prep, time and stress management, communication, confidence building, networking, and more.

You’ll be paid for your active participation throughout the entire 16 weeks.

APPLY TODAY!

We’re looking for 11 motivated participants who are ready to develop their skills, gain real experience, and enter the workforce.

Ready to launch your career?
Step Up! starts March 2, 2026 and runs until April 24, 2026

Application deadline:

January 23, 2026 – spaces are limited!
Apply Now!

FAQs for PARTICIPANTS

1. How do I know if I’m eligible for Step Up!?

To join Step Up!, you must:

  • Be 18–30 years old (inclusive)
  • Live on the island of Montreal
  • Be currently unemployed with little or no work experience
  • Be available full-time for 16 weeks
  • Not be enrolled in school (part-time or full-time)
  • Have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN)
  • Be eligible to work in Canada and a resident of Quebec – Priority given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents
  • Have access to a reliable internet connection
2. Does the program pay its participants full time?

Training & Pay 

  • During a uninterrupted 8-week training period, you will receive a weekly allowance, and you may be eligible for reimbursement for certain expenses (transportation and childcare costs, if applicable)
  • Training runs Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a 1-hour unpaid lunch break each day. 
  • After training, you’ll move straight into your paid work placement. If the employer wants to hire you after your work placement, your wage/salary will depend on your skills, experience, the employer’s needs, and current job market rates.
3. What does work placement look like?

Work Placement Overview

  • After completing the 8-week training, you will have the chance to interview with one or two employers and start your paid work placement right away. 
  • We’ll match you with employers who understand the program and the extra support you may need as you build your professional skills and career. 
  • The paid 8-week work placement aims to connect you with employers who want to keep you on and help you launch your long-term career. 
4. Can I participate in the program and work or study part time?

No, you cannot. The program entails full-time participation in its entirety. The program subsidizes participants by offering paid training and work placements.

At the start of the program, the training period begins and lasts for 8 weeks. During this 8-week training period, you will need to be prepared and present (online or in person) for your daily workshops (Monday-Friday, 9:30 am-4:30 pm). The workshops take place twice a day and divided up into different topics and activities.

Once the training period ends, you will be placed in an entry-level position and will be required to work full-time (a minimum of 25 hours, a maximum of 30). The employer will be subsidized by Step Up! for the remaining period of the program which is 8 weeks. This brings the program to a total of 16 weeks of paid full-time training and work placement combined, which requires your complete commitment.

5. What kind of jobs will I be placed in?

You will be placed in a full-time (30-40h/week) entry-level job.  We cannot guarantee the type of entry-level position you will receive.

Possible positions include:

  • Administrative Assistant
  • Data Entry Clerk
  • Customer Service Representative
  • Warehouse Clerk
  • Secretary
6. Do I need to be a Canadian citizen to sign up for this program?

No, but you must have a valid Canadian social insurance number and the legal right to work in Canada. We accept permanent residents and those with accepted refugee status. (*Priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents) 

7. I am receiving government assistance (such as EI or Social Assistance) can I still join the program?

Yes. However, depending on the kind of government assistance you are currently receiving, adjustments to your regular payments will be made by your employment or social assistance agent.   ​

8. I have work experience and/or a post-secondary degree, am I still eligible for the program?

Our approach is to determine each candidate’s needs on a case-by-case basis. Before registering for the program, we will have a one-on-one meeting to assess if the program is a good fit. We assess what barriers you are facing and if this program is well-suited to meet your needs.  If we cannot meet your needs, we do our best to put you in touch with someone who can.   ​

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9. I don’t speak French, am I still eligible for the program?

Yes. The training will be done in English. ​ ​

FAQs for EMPLOYERS

1. How many hours per week are the work placements?

You will need to guarantee a minimum of 25 hours per week up to a maximum of 30 hours per week for 8 uninterrupted weeks.  . 

2. How do the subsidized payments work?

Wage Subsidy Information for Employers 

As a participating employer, you will receive a wage subsidy through YES Employment + Entrepreneurship. 

  • The subsidy amount for the participant’s first 8 weeks depends on factors such as the number of hours worked and the subsidy percentage (typically 50–80% of the current minimum wage). 
  • Step Up! participants will be on your payroll, just like any other employee. 

Payment Process: 

  • YES Employment + Entrepreneurship will provide 8 uninterrupted weeks of subsidized wages through direct deposit. 
  • Employers can choose to receive the subsidy: 
  • In one lump sum at the end of the 8 weeks, or 
  • In two installments (one mid-term and one at the end). 
  • Employers must submit the participant’s paystubs to the Step Up! Program Manager before the subsidy can be issued. 
3. How does the interview process work?

You can choose to interview as many (or as few) candidates as you like. Once you select who you would like to have placed with your company or organization, we will discuss their wage, subsidy, and the hours you can offer. Alternatively, if you do not find any candidates that meet your needs, that is no problem. 

4. What happens after the 8-week subsidy period is over?

Continuation After the Subsidy Period 

This program is not an internship. The goal is for the participant to continue working with your company once the 8-week subsidy period ends. 

After the subsidy concludes, YES Employment + Entrepreneurship will no longer act as an intermediary or provide wage/salary subsidies. The participant would then remain employed directly by your company under your regular payroll and terms. 

Are you an employer looking to hire? 

Partner with Step Up! and you’ll get:​

 

Motivated workers seeking full time employment
Reimbursement of 50-80 % of minimum wage for full-time work
The ability to uplift and empower Montreal youth
The chance to build a long-term relationship with a dynamic non-profit organization

Get Involved with Step Up!

service agreements

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Calling all employers and recruiters!

Are you looking for fresh, motivated talent to fill your entry-level positions? If so, we are currently seeking employers to hire participants from Step Up! — a paid work placement program that trains young adults aged 18- 30 years old and places them in Montreal-based entry-level jobs (25-30 hours/week at a subsidized rate of 50-80% of minimum wage).

Participants are trained over 8 weeks to become workforce-ready through daily online workshops aimed at developing essential power skills.

 

Interested in learning how you as an employer can benefit from this program?

Fill out the form below and someone from the Step Up! team will contact you.

Step Up! Form for Employers

Interested in learning more? Ready to sign up for the program?

​Fill out the form with your name, email, and message, and our program coordinator will get back to you within 48 hours!  ​

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Get Involved with YES Employment + Entrepreneurship

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