Each year, Step Up prepares and places over 1,000 Minneapolis youth in paid internships across 15 industries.
About Step Up
Step Up helps organizations introduce talented future professionals to their industries and businesses, while providing young people with the opportunity to explore their passions, develop critical skills and forge meaningful connections with industry professionals. Since 2003, Step Up has provided over 34,000 paid experiences in partnership with businesses large and small.
Through Step Up, young people get their foot in the door, discover new careers and demonstrate what they’re capable of. As an employer, you play a critical role in helping young people prepare for their future. With your partnership and support, Step Up equips young people with the confidence and skills they need for great careers and leadership in our community.
From the most basic to the most advanced tasks, our team supports you in creating high-quality internships that are a good fit for your organization. We work with you to determine the best fit and skill set so our interns can make the greatest impact at your workplace.
Join us in building and strengthening our future economy and the talented youth who will power it!
Step Up is a partnership of the City of Minneapolis, Achieve Twin Cities, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, and Project for Pride in Living.
Step Up Benefits for Employers
Talent Pipeline
Prepare to compete in a global market by building a pipeline of dynamic, diverse workers.
Industry Diversity
Learn how to make your workplace more welcoming by bringing in new energy, skills and fresh perspectives.
Address Equity Gaps
Step Up helps address our community's wide disparities in career and education access by BIPOC youth.
Fresh Ideas
Bring energy, new skills and youthful perspective to your workplace.
Professional Development
Provide professional development opportunities for junior staff to be supervisors for the first time.
Work = Done
Interns get real work done. Nearly 90 percent of supervisors say their intern made a valuable contribution to their workplace.
Job Coach Support
Count on our Step Up job coaches, who provide support to you and your intern throughout the internship.
Step Up Employer Partners
Step Up collaborates with over 100 top Twin Cities companies, public agencies and nonprofit organizations each year to provide over 1,000 high-quality career experiences for Minneapolis youth each year.
See our employers in action
How to Hire a Step Up Intern
Get Started
Step Up interns are Minneapolis youth ages 14-21. Contact our Step Up team to discuss internship opportunities at your company and submit a pledge form.
Job Description Forms (JDF) Due
Our team will provide job description forms for you to submit for each unique internship position at your organization.
Intern Placement
We'll work with you to match interns with your company based on their interests and skills and the needs of your organization.
Supervisor Orientation
We'll equip you with the tools you need to support your intern for a productive and fun summer.
Internships Start
Our standard internships run eight weeks, but you can provide a 6-10 week experience. Interns are paid at least $16.50 per hour.
Internships End
Hundreds of Step Up interns, supervisors and community leaders come together for our annual end-of-summer celebration to mark another year of internships!
Step Up Level 2 Employer Resources
Step Up Program Overview
Learn how you can participate in one of the nation’s premier youth employment programs.
Employer Roadmap for Hiring Step Up Interns
Here are details on participating in Step Up, including program timelines, the hiring process and staff contacts.
Download our Step Up employer roadmap and FAQs.
How to Create a High Quality Job Description Guide
Once our Step Up employers "pledge" an internship, our team sends out the official online job description form. Before then, you can get started by learning how to craft a strong description.
Step Up Remote Internships Tips
Step Up now offers remote internship opportunities. Find out how to create a successful remote internship and provide support to your intern.
Step Up Job Description Library
Imagine what Step Up can look like at your company! Explore high-quality job descriptions from previous Step Up internships in over a dozen functional areas from 15 industries.
Step Up Roles at Your Organization to Ensure Intern Success
Learn about the roles of Step Up champions, main contacts, supervisors and mentors at your organization and how they can support intern success.
Intern Job Pledge Form (Level 2)
You'll complete this form to pledge Step Up internships at your organization. Check back soon for our 2025 form.
Questions?
Contact Scott Kosloski at 612-455-1535.
“Our Step Up interns give us an inspiring preview of our future workforce here at the Fed and in the Twin Cities: bright, motivated leaders who have a rich variety of skills, talents and life experiences to share with us. As we prepare for our summer interns each year, we’re thinking about how the work of our past interns helped us throughout the year. We learn as much from them as they do from us.”