Paid Work Experience Jobs for Young Adults From PA CareerLink Berks County

The Paid Work Experience Program at PA CareerLink Berks County gives young adults a part-time, temporary job with a local employer, and the program pays the wages.

Paid Work Experience is open to people already enrolled in one of CareerLink's other young adult programs, either High School Equivalency/GED or Career Services. The Young Adult Program serves 17 to 24 year-old out-of-school residents of Berks County, and specific eligibility requirements apply for each program.

The assignment is with a local employer in the career field of your choice. Wages are between $10 and $15 an hour depending on the difficulty of the job, and they are paid by the program. You work anywhere from 8 to 12 weeks with an employer, and you can take part in more than one placement. The point is to build your resume, try out different career areas, job shadow with some of the area's leading employers and earn money while doing it. Participants may be hired full or part-time by their paid work employer after a successful placement.

How to start:

  • Attend a Welcome Orientation. It is held in person, and the days and times are posted on the events calendar at careerlinkberks.com. A virtual Welcome Orientation is also offered; email info@careerlinkberks.com and ask to receive the link to the presentation. After you view it, a staff member will be in contact to determine your next steps.
  • Attend the two-week Young Adult Program Orientation. It is typically held the first two weeks of each month, Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 12 PM. Attendance each day is required.
  • For High School Equivalency/GED, if you complete the two-week orientation and meet the minimum score requirements needed to enter class, you are placed into class the following week. For Career Services, if you complete the two-week orientation with good attendance and performance, you will be invited to join the program.

The office is PA CareerLink Berks County, 1920 Kutztown Road, Suite F, Reading, PA 19604. Public office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm, and Wednesday 10:00am to 4:30pm. No phone number is listed for Paid Work Experience itself; the general jobseekers number for the office is (610) 988-1300 and the general email is info@careerlinkberks.com. For relay services, dial 711.

There is no charge to take part. The High School Equivalency/GED and Career Services programs that lead into Paid Work Experience are provided free of charge to eligible young adults, and the wages in Paid Work Experience are paid by the program.

A few things to know before you go. GED classes are held in English during daytime hours. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities, and language assistance services are available free of cost. The page does not say how many Paid Work Experience placements are available or whether there is a wait to be placed, so ask when you attend orientation. In bad weather, closings are posted on WFMZ StormCenter at wfmz.com/weather/stormcenter.

Source: careerlinkberks.com/young-adults, read September 18, 2026.

The details

Call(610) 988-1300Public Office Hours M, T, Th, F 8:30am - 4:30pm W 10:00am - 4:30pm
Who it’s for
The Young Adult Program serves 17 to 24 year-old out-of-school residents of Berks County. Specific eligibility requirements apply for each program. The Paid Work Experience (PWE) Program is available to those enrolled in either the High School Equivalency/GED or Career Services programs.
Area: The Young Adult Program serves 17 to 24 year-old out-of-school residents of Berks County.Teens, Adults
Cost
Wages are between $10-$15 an hour depending on the difficulty of the job and are paid by the program.
How to apply
Welcome Orientation is held in-person. Please check the events calendar for up-to-date days and times. We are also offering virtual Welcome Orientation, if interested please email info@careerlinkberks.com and ask to receive the link to the Welcome Orientation presentation. After viewing the presentation, a staff member will be in contact to determine your next steps.
Read the rest

Attend the two-week Young Adult Program Orientation. Orientation is typically held the first two weeks of each month. Orientation is Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM – 12 PM. Attendance each day is required.

WherePA CareerLink® Berks County1920 Kutztown Road, Suite F, Reading, PA 19604Get directions →More in Reading
CheckedChecked September 18, 2026

In PA CareerLink Berks County’s words

The Paid Work Experience (PWE) Program is available to those enrolled in either the High School Equivalency/GED or Career Services programs. Participants have a part-time, temporary assignment with a local employer in the career field of your choice. Wages are between $10-$15 an hour depending on the difficulty of the job and are paid by the program. You work anywhere from 8-12 weeks with an employer, and can participate in multiple PWE placements. This program allows you to build your resume,…

En español: la página del proveedor →

Organization

PA CareerLink Berks County

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About this listing

This listing summarizes publicly available information from careerlinkberks.com/young-adults. Last recorded review: September 18, 2026. Contact the provider to confirm eligibility, hours and availability before you go. If something here is wrong, tell us.

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