Telephone and in-person interviews with program staff determine whether candidates possess the communication skills needed to succeed in the industry and the commitment and readiness to complete the program. This step also assesses whether the program will serve the young person well. Selected applicants then interview with their pick of the program's employer partners who have committed to hire graduates. Once the employer partner agrees that it will hire a particular candidate upon graduation, the candidate is officially admitted into the program. This process ensures that each young person who takes the time to complete the program will be guaranteed a job.
Staff foster a professional yet nurturing environment between themselves and the students.
Where matters and issues beyond their expertise arise, staff refer students to professionals or counselors whose training is suited to meet the particular needs of the youth. Goodwill Toronto has a substantial resource pool of supportive services and individuals, both internally and externally, from which the Community Youth Program may draw. The Community Youth Program has developed a unique and intensive relationship with its employer partners, who are involved at all levels of the program. In addition to interviewing and selecting participants, employers attend monthly project team meetings, where the progress of participants and the program are evaluated, and return reports on their interns every two weeks so the staff may monitor participant development. This close relationship with employers helps ensure training is relevant to the industry, making the program very competitive and ensuring high quality training for the participants.