Rutgers Youth Success Program

The Rutgers Employment Success Program (formerly Rutgers Youth Success Program) provides workplace readiness and pre-apprenticeship training from experienced staff to young people throughout New Jersey — using transportation and infrastructure to create bridges to youth employment opportunities.

Funded by the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development, RESP is a job training program designed for college-ready students. Housed at Rutgers CAIT, RESP leverage CAIT’s existing network to encourage youth to join the transportation industry by connecting them with current professionals as trainers, mentors, and employers.

RESP provides pre-apprenticeship and workplace-readiness trainings in the ares of construction, heavy equipment operation, mechanics, and other critical trades in transportation sector — providing youth in NJ with the skills required for Registered Apprenticeships and jobs in the industry.

The program has provided job readiness, career exposure, work experience, and educational support services to more than 300 youth since 2021, successfully reaching a benchmark job/education attainment rate of 82%. Youth have landed jobs and apprenticeships with United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America; local auto and tire shops, PEP Boys, and AutoZone; and others