OYC Youth Career Guide - A Roadmap to Your First Job

Sep 13, 2026

Youth-focused career guide designed to help current and former foster youth land their first job and build a sustainable career mindset. Covers developing an ongoing “Mamba Mentality,” identifying support systems and assembling a personalized team, and using a starter kit approach with resumes, cover letters, and interviewing tools. Provides practical guidance on right-to-work documents, including what to carry and where to obtain them, and explains work permits for those under 18, supported by Foster Youth Bill of Rights information and Ombudsperson contacts.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResumes

FormatPDF

Pages26

Reading Time9 min

AccessFree to download

FOSTERING CAREERS

A ROADMAP TO YOUR FIRST JOB

BUILDING YOUR TEAM

PaRT 2

OUR STARTER KIT

RESUMES, COVER LETTERS AND INTERVIEWING

RIGHT TO WORK DOCUMENTS

FOR U.S CITIZENS

FOR NON-U.S CITIZENS

WhAT ABOUT WORK PERMITS?

Foster Youth Bill of Rights

CAN I GET A JOB?

DO YOU NEED SUPPORT IN COMPLETING YOUR WORK PERMIT?

FOSTERING CAREERS A ROADMAP TO YOUR FIRST JOB Fact: The average American will change careers at least three times in their lifetime and have between 12-15 jobs. The truth is you will spend a large part of your life at your job. This guide was designed to help you land that first job and start thinking about a career that might interest you. Remember, as you go through the pages of this guide, the future is in your hands! 2 YOUTH CAREER GUIDE YOUTH CAREER GUIDE One good mindset to embrace as you go through these pages is the “ “ “Mamba Mentality” is a constant quest to be the best version of one’s self and it was developed by 5 time NBA champion Kobe Bryant! “If you want to be great in a particular area, you have to obsess over it. A lot of people say they want to be great, but they’re not willing to make the sacrifices Embarking on a journey to find work and explore careers won’tbe easy. There are bound to be setbacks and bumps in the road. Remember that you have to keep going and that it takes work and dedication to become “the best version” of yourself. 3 necessary to achieve greatness.” KOBE BRYANT YOUTH CAREER GUIDE Did you know HOW these famous celebrities got their start? TIFFANY HADDISH The famous actress and comedian who aged out of foster care got her first job working as ground staff at American Airlines. She stated her first job helped her grow customer service skills and helped her practice for her career by trying to make grumpy passengers laugh. “I worked at the gates and my goal was always to bring happiness and joy to people – still to this day.” DWAYNE“THE ROCK”JOHNSON Most people would be surprised to learn that The Rock got his first job as a dishwasher earning $3.45 an hour. It goes to show you everyone starts somewhere! All of these celebrities did not get here on their own, they had a support system. Tiffany Haddish credits Kevin Hart with encouraging her to set goals and he even gave her money to stay in a motel when she needed housing. Have you thought about who is in your support system? 4 Who can help me get the answers I need? Who’s going to keep it real for me? Am I doing this right? Am I going in the right direction? Who has my back? Who can provide a listening ear? YOUTH CAREER GUIDE BUILDING YOUR TEAM \#ADULTING Transitioning out of foster care and “Adulting” can feel pretty overwhelming. There can be a variety of questions. That’s why it’s important for you to build your individual Support Team based on what you personally value and need. 5 YOUTH CAREER GUIDE BUILDING YOUR TEAM / PaRT 2 Let’s take a minute to reflect on these qualities and identify 1-3 people who have one or more of the qualitites you want on your support team. |
EX. | NAME
Ms. Smith WHO ARE
THEY TO ME?
Teacher
PHONE

310-xxx-xxxx | HOW CAN THEY HELP ME?
Help me write
| | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | NAME

WHO ARE
THEY TO ME?

PHONE
| HOW CAN THEY HELP ME? | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | NAME

WHO ARE
THEY TO ME?

PHONE
| HOW CAN THEY HELP ME? | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 NAME WHO ARE THEY TO ME? PHONE HOW CAN THEY HELP ME? | | | --- | | | YOUTH CAREER GUIDE OUR STARTER KIT RESUMES, COVER LETTERS AND INTERVIEWING Here are some of the tools you will need to get a job. 7 YOUTH CAREER GUIDE RIGHT TO WORK DOCUMENTS There are no exceptions on this! You must have these documents! Right to Work Documents are documents that every employer will need to see originals of. Work with your supportive team to get them. Remember to keep them in a safe place as you will be needing these throughout your lifetime. Only carry your CA state ID or driver’s license in your wallet, don’t carry your social security card or birth certificate in your wallet! THE MOST COMMON DOCUMENTS YOU WILL NEED ARE: FOR U .S CITIZENS ONE Photo ID, such as:

FAQs

How can you build a support team when transitioning out of foster care?

Identify 1–3 people who match the qualities you value and need, and write down how each person can help you. Use your team to support your decisions as you explore careers and job opportunities.

What right-to-work documents do employers require?

Employers typically need original proof of right to work. The guide emphasizes keeping key documents in a safe place and distinguishes options for U.S. citizens (photo ID and Social Security card) versus non-U.S. citizens (such as a Green Card/Permanent Resident Card).

What should foster youth under 18 do to work legally?

If under 18, you generally need a work permit from your school with caregiver sign-off. You may need to maintain eligibility such as a certain GPA and can ask your counselor about referral to the Youth@Work program.

Sep 13, 2026

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