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Genesys Works CEO Byron V. Garrett trains underserved teens in emails and office etiquette, helping thousands land paid internships and careers.
Genesys Works, a national nonprofit led by CEO Byron V. Garrett, is training thousands of underserved U.S. teenagers in workplace skills such as email communication and office etiquette to address employer concerns that Gen Z isn't ready for work. Since 2002, the program has helped high schoolers land paid corporate internships and full-time roles, with 2,161 teens placed in 2025 alone.
Employers say the youngest class of corporate workers often lack the interpersonal, professional, and technical skills needed to thrive. Genesys Works aims to bridge that gap before students even graduate high school.
Inside the Genesys Works Training
Before stepping into roles at partner companies, students undergo an eight-week summer program the summer before their senior year. They learn communication, critical thinking, digital literacy, Excel, resume writing, and LinkedIn development. Mock interviews help refine speaking skills.
Participants are taught to keep phones away during meetings, avoid abbreviations in emails, and stay on top of meeting documents. Garrett says these core professional skills, including logic and reasoning, have become essential.
On top of etiquette, the program dives into artificial intelligence. While schools often haven't added AI to curricula, Genesys steps in to teach fact-checking AI work, understanding limitations, and protecting proprietary information. Students also learn prompt engineering to improve business efficiency.
Garrett explains that employers may not be looking for practical skill sets related to the actual position. Instead, we give you those office professional skills so you know what it means to go to work, to be on time, to report into a structure.
Paid Internships and Career Outcomes
Genesys Works only places students in paid internships, with seniors earning up to $14,000 during their senior-year internship. Garrett says this gives them a different sense of dignity, especially as money is tight for many Americans.
Over two decades, Genesys has served more than 14,000 students nationwide. It has worked with 205 corporate partners across 27 industries, including healthcare, technology, finance, and construction. Partner companies include JPMorgan and Mayo Clinic.
Alumni who are seven or more years out of the program earn an average salary of $67,000 per year, compared to $56,153 for similarly-aged recent college graduates, according to Clever. Genesys estimates that 73% of surveyed alumni earn more than at least one parent, and 20% own a home.
Challenges and Bright Spots in Youth Hiring
Gen Zers have struggled to land entry-level work as employers have reeled back hiring, creating intense competition. Garrett notes that some partner companies have had to tighten budgets, but there are still bright spots.
He says employers in healthcare have ramped up hiring of Genesys-trained teenagers. The program continues to prepare young professionals for roles they may have never been exposed to, giving them confidence and skills to enter the workforce.
Garrett disputes the notion that employers can't find talent. He says the challenge is that they want someone who is ready to go to work. Many young professionals come from backgrounds where they don't know anyone who has navigated workplace problems, so the training fills that void.
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