Career Ready Tempe (CRT) is a workforce program by the Tempe Chamber Foundation in collaboration with the City of Tempe Economic Development Department that connects low-income high school juniors and seniors with paid internships, bridging the skills gap and preparing them for in-demand careers. CRT provides students with hands-on experience, career pathway exploration and mentorship, addressing equity gaps in workforce development.
Students in the program will be prepared for professional settings through quality soft skills training. They will receive in-person training from Arizona@Work and complete six online soft skills courses via Arizona State University’s Edge program, covering customer service, leadership and personal development. Interns must complete modules on Time Management, Customer Service and Communication Etiquette. Employers can select three additional modules for students to complete before starting their internships.
Program Overview
- Internships will run for 6 weeks from June 9 through July 18.
- Interns complete a total of 120 hours, approximately 20 hours per week.
- The Career Ready team handles student application review, interviewing and matching with businesses (business partners are invited to review student profiles and attend interviews).
Launched in 2019, the program has perpetuated the hiring of several graduates by the businesses they interned at through the program. Businesses who wish to apply for an intern can do so by contacting the City of Tempe.
